A recent Harvard alum was generous enough to share with us her thoughts about medical research and what she hopes would be useful for current students to consider. Lee Ann and I think it's a wonderful piece. Here it is in its entirety. Many thanks to this very helpful alum!
Dear current, past, and future pre-meds,
There are many advantages to attending the world’s pre-eminent research university, including, unsurprisingly, the opportunity to conduct world-class research. Completing a research project can be an extraordinarily enriching part of your undergraduate experience, or it can become the bane of your existence, depending largely on what you get yourself into. The more you think about what you are looking for before you apply for positions, the more likely you are to find a good match. Whether you’ve just completed the intro life sciences course or you’re heading out into the real world with a masters in hand, I hope that considering the questions below will help you find the perfect research position for you.
Do you want to do clinical or basic research?
What you’ll be doing on a daily basis will vary from lab to lab, but there are some basic differences between clinical and basic research. Clinical research often involves a lot of time spent on the computer and on the phone, communicating with patients, updating excel files, etc. Depending on the study, you may get to do a fair bit of interacting with patients, which can be exciting. But if the idea of sitting at a desk all day isn’t something that appeals to you, you may want to consider another type of employment. Bench research, on the other hand, can range from maintaining mouse colonies, to running hundreds and hundreds of gels, to endless hours spent under a sterile hood. The bottom line—you should consider where and how exactly you want to spend your working hours.
How much time do you have?
You need to be realistic about how much time you have, both on a daily basis, and on a yearly one. If you’re still in school, how many hours a week can you work without jeopardizing your coursework? And how long are you planning to work in the lab? Generally speaking, the longer you can commit to a lab, the more likely you are going to be able to get substantive work done on a project. If you’re applying to work right after college, consider whether you can make a two-year commitment. Many labs consider one year too short a time for someone to substantially contribute to a project.
How much time will you spend doing lab management?
Some labs have managers who order all the supplies and dishwashers who wash all the beakers. Some don’t. You should find out how much of your time will be spent doing general lab maintenance and then figure out whether that suits you. Generally, the less experience you have, the more likely you are to be autoclaving reagents, at least initially. But don’t get discouraged. People often start working in research labs before they have the scientific background necessary to contribute much—you will pick up what you need to know by being in the lab.
How big is your lab?
There is a difference between working for a 25-person lab full of students and post-docs and working one on one with a professor. In a larger lab, you tend to have more of an opportunity to interact with other students and researchers. In a smaller lab, you may get to know your PI better, but may not have anyone your own age to talk to. Consider what kind of a work environment suits you. Do you need to be around a lot of people? Can you spend a whole day working alone?
How famous is your boss?
There are upsides and downsides to working at the biggest lab at HMS. On the one hand, you might get to be involved in well-funded, cutting-edge research. On the other, your boss may never know you exist. This is related to the previous point, but think about the kind of interaction that you are likely to have with your PI. Is he a new assistant professor who may not have a recognized name but who will invest a lot of time and energy in you? Or is she a Nobel-prize winning researcher who will speak to you twice a year? You can’t always know this at the outset, but try to get a sense of who your boss is, and whether you think you’ll be able to cultivate the kind of relationship with him or her that you need.
How much do you really like rats?
Many labs conduct research on animal models, be they rats, mice, monkeys or flies. The majority of this research involves “sacrificing” the animals. You should be honest with yourself about how you feel about killing living creatures. Are you okay with mice but not monkeys? Flies but not mice? There is no point in spending your days doing something you find distasteful.
And finally, how will you get paid?
Although education can be its own reward, you still need to eat. If you have graduated, and are applying to be a full-time research assistant, you will get a full-time salary, so you’re all set. If you’re working during school, however, it’s unlikely that your PI will offer you a salary. Some labs offer stipends to undergraduates, but many don’t. Your best bet is to apply for a research fellowship, scholarship, or award. Fellowships and scholarships, including those listed on the OCS website, are generally intended to offset the cost of living for students conducting research instead of working. Before you begin your project, you will need to submit an application including a project proposal, and often a recommendation letter from your PI. Remember to always give your PI as much time as possible to review drafts of project proposals and compose letters for you. Another way to get funding is to apply to awards after the research is done. Harvard offers some prizes for independent research in a variety of disciplines, especially if you are conducting research for your thesis. Although you can’t necessarily count on awards, they are a good way to reap financial reward from all your hard work.
Conducting research can be an amazingly rewarding experience. Hopefully these notes will help you figure out what kind of research might suit you best, and thus enable you to get the most out of your research experience.
Cheers,
an ’06 alum
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