How to Get a Research Position 101

I have had several students approach me and ask about how to get a research position as an undergraduate, so I decided to list a few steps and tips to not only finding but also securing a position.

I have been working in labs and doing research for years now and I think that everyone with the desire to do research should be able to access the appropriate resources to get started, which all to often doesn't seem to be the case; which is why I'm writing this post. It isn't always easy finding good advice so I'll do my best to give my two cents on the topic.

As far as specific projects go over the last 6 months or so I have been working in different labs (doing bench work, etc.) on my universities campuses and for the past few years I have continued to develop my own projects with the help of different mentors around the world with the goal of one day publishing my work. So I have experience in two different research environments: wet labs and data analysis through surveys etc. As a premed, research experience seems to be at the top of everyone's list but the truth is it isn't necessarily required but if you have a passion for it or would like to learn more about it, it doesn't hurt you it is actually of great benefit to you in my opinion.

So how do you go about getting a position or starting a project?

STEP 1: Get your resume ready

Your resume is an important thing to be adding to as you acquire experiences and new certifications etc. and sometimes this task can feel a bit confusing. Questions such as: What should I include? How long should it be? Is my experience relevant? are all common questions and questions with general answers. These are questions I have had and after attending ample resume workshops and job fairs etc. over the past 2 years I finally found a few resources and helpful tips that I wish I had years ago. As a student your resume for positions will look different from a resume you would use to apply to a federal job ( Yes, I attended a Federal job fair in DC and it was really helpful and interesting).

First off, know your audience:

Is your resume going to go through a computer program before making it to an actual person?

Is this a student position with your school or is it a position with a private company?

These are a few important questions to ask yourself in order to help make yourself stand out and to decide how you are going to format your resume. For the purposes of this blog post lets say you are a student applying for a local position on campus of in your area.

Here is a helpful template that I was given by an absolutely amazing mentor that has helped me communicate why I am the best fit for a position and has been successful in my experience:

NOTE: If your university has a department such as career services, this is an important resource for you to take advantage of such as their resume workshops, advisers, mock interviews etc.

STEP 2: Select a type of research you would like to be part of including the topic and setting

A great place to start when trying to answer these questions is with a little bit of research on your part. Search through your schools departments databases of ongoing projects and look at the PI(Primary Investigators or Doctorates that are conducting research) and what their interests are. After seeing the types of projects this should provide a good amount of information about what types of lab positions and projects you can take part in.

Next look at what topic or department(if it is with your university) you would like to do work in; for example for me I wanted to work on a project that had a direct application in medicine and I also wanted to work on a project focused on treatment techniques etc. as far as department goes I was interested in being part of a project in the Neuroscience department or Biomedical Engineering department because of what I found in the previous step I mentioned.

Last but not least what setting would you like to work in. Would you like to work in a wet lab or would you like to work in more of a data analysis or interview setting. For me I wanted to work in a wet lab setting because it is something that I not only enjoy but it is also an experience that I had yet to have in the field of research which was a major point of interest for me.

These two factor can also depend on not only your interests but also your experience as far as your academic and other experiences go. For example if you are a student in Biomedical Engineering you may have an interest in using your skills in programming to make models etc. or if you have experience in a clinical setting, more of a clinical role may appeal to you. Experience also plays a large role in some cases in qualifying for a position but not always.

STEP 3: Qualifications/What are they looking for?

If there is a specific position posting, take a look at the requirements of the position and the qualifications that they may be looking for. There are a couple reasons I am mentioning this, #1 make sure you can meet the expectations of you, #2 use this to tailor your resume to highlight the qualifications you have that they are looking for.

If there aren't any specific postings there are two things you can do 1) you can skip to step 4 and then come back to step 3 or 2) you can make a general estimation of expectations they may have based on the work done in the lab and emphasize these things on our resume the move to step 4 (this is what I recommend you do).

Make sure to emphasize your strengths in the areas you will be using as a member of their team.

IMPORTANT NOTE: I mentioned at the end of step 2 that "Experience also plays a large role in some cases in qualifying for a position but not always. " the reason I say this is because there are a great deal of PI's that are just looking for passionate dedicated students that are willing to learn this is why even if you are a high school student or even a first semester freshman that would like to take part in research don't lose hope because you don't have much experience yet. If this applies to you I would recommend emphasizing any high school or most recent lab experience you have had as well as the academic course work that may be applicable that you have, as well as reaching out to shadow in a lab so you get a bit more experience and are familiar with the roles in the lab and also proper behavior and work ethic etc. (For more information on this take a look at my blog post "Shadowing in a Lab 101").

STEP 4: Make an appointment to meet with the PI in charge of the lab and the hiring.

This step is important! This is your chance to communicate your interest in working in a lab but also to show who you are as a passionate, dedicated, and enthusiastic student.

This process all starts with an email; try to be to the point. My rule of thumb is to keep it to 3 main points roughly including: Who I am/my passion for research(or the topic of their work), my interest in further discussing their work, and why I am reaching out(would like to work in their lab). I have never had a PI turn down my request to further discuss their work but if they were to tell you that they don't have any available positions I would still meet with them to discuss their work and any other possible opportunities they may know of. Everyone has connections.

In your appointment a few things to keep in mind and ask are:

-Be your authentic self, if you are passionate and excited about something don't be afraid to show it!

-Be respectful of your PI's time

-Relax and try not to be nervous, but if you are I'm sure they will understand because everyone has been there.

-Ask about opportunities and what they are looking for

-Ask about the process to begin working in their lab

STEP 5: After you have an offer

First off congratulations!!! Once you have reached this point there are normally a few formalities such as paperwork, extra training, discussion of timelines, requirements and other important aspects of your new position. Make sure to stay on top of your tasks and get everything turned in on time.

If you have the pleasure of having a number of positions to chose from a few things I asked myself to narrow down my list were:

- Think about commute times/ other time commitments (what fits into your schedule)

- Which project can you see yourself growing and exercising your passions in to the fullest

-Do you fit with the team

- Are you excited about the content of the project and the work you will be doing

-How long is the project (1 semester or 1+ years) For me a long project was ideal

-Are you making a difference in the way you would like to through this project?

-Are your goals and what is important to you being met or facilitated through the project.

I hope you have found this post helpful, if you have any questions or you have a comment on anything in this post please let me know.

As always Best of luck on your journey and I look forward to seeing all of the beautiful next steps you will be taking in this amazing journey.