One of the most commonly asked questions we see from college students is how they should go about obtaining a research position while they are in school. Whether the ultimate goal is applying to medical, vet, or other allied health programs, or the goal is to pursue a career in research, the process for identifying and then successfully obtaining a spot in a research lab is the same. Here are some tips for making that process work for you.
The first step is to think carefully about what your interests are.
For example, are you wanting to learn more about Alzheimer’s disease? Before looking into specific labs, think about why this is a compelling area of research for you – perhaps you have a loved one who suffers from Alzheimer’s, or you got intrigued when you took a class that talked about drug development for neurological disorders. Any lab that interviews you will ask you why you are interested in that lab, and you should be ready to give a response that is genuine and specific (not just that you ‘like research’). Doing so will require you to do some background reading on the topic and some introspection about what inspires you about that area of research.
The next step is to find labs that match your research interests.
Typically, especially in a major research university, professors that study a particular area can be located in different academic departments, so if you just go a single department’s website, you will not see the whole range of people doing the work you want to do. Instead, go to the website for the graduate program for that field. In the case of the above example of Alzheimer’s research, you would go to the graduate program in Neuroscience. Find the list of faculty who are part of that program, and read through their profiles, which will briefly describe their work. For a deeper dive (recommended for any professors whose work looks really interesting), go to their lab website to read about the current projects in more detail.
Finally, email the professors stating your interest in working in their lab.
Explain (as described above) why you are interested in their lab. Clarify if you are seeking volunteer experience, academic credit, or a paid position; note that your chances are highest if it for an unpaid position. Attach your CV (a more detailed version of your resume), transcript, and schedule indicating your availability for the lab. Note that many labs needs you to have at least 3 days a week where you have a open block of 4 hours (during the regular working day), as experiments typically need to be done at consistent times. Ask if they could meet with you to discuss opportunities, either in person or via Zoom. Then, before the meeting read a couple of the lab’s recent papers and be prepared with some questions. In the interview, express your enthusiasm and also ask about what types of work undergrad researchers usually do in their lab. Finally, be aware that most labs prefer to have someone come in before their final year in college so that the time they spend training you ‘pays off’ for them by then having you in the lab for at least another full year.
