—from the PI's desk
Each semester, I post an advertisement for the open undergrad research positions in my lab. The ad includes a description of the project, methods my lab uses, and overall objectives of my lab's research focus. Yet, each semester, several undergrads with interests completely unrelated to my research program apply for a position in my lab.
To be happy and successful during their research experience, I know that these students should choose a research project in a lab that aligns with their interests.
If you want to get an interview (and be offered a position), only apply to research positions that are genuinely interesting to you. If you dislike working with computers, then don’t apply to a bioinformatics lab, and likewise, if you want to do clinical research, don’t apply to a lab that focuses on freshwater ecology. When you’re genuinely interested in a research area, or the techniques a lab does, it’s much easier to demonstrate your enthusiasm at the application stage.
Professors who mentor undergrad researchers are adept at recognizing when a student is searching for any research position—regardless of the science the lab does. Even a well-written, professional email cannot overcome a lack of passion or genuine interest in the research position. In reality, most professors only look at an email inquiry for a few seconds, and then make a decision to ask the student for more information, schedule an interview, or eliminate the student from consideration. In only those few seconds, most select the students who are genuinely excited about the research because everyone wants to work with someone who is excited to learn.
That doesn’t mean that you need to fully understand the research focus or what the lab does to apply—and in fact most undergrads do not. But it does mean that you need to make a connection with the research, science, or techniques on a basic level that is meaningful to you.
Research is challenging. It has boring, frustrating, and annoying parts. It can be difficult to learn fundamental techniques, starts with information overload (both of which can be a blow to self-confidence in the beginning), and you must sacrifice time from your schedule to participate.
If you join a research project that is interesting to you—whether your inspiration comes from the topic, discipline, or the techniques—it makes the difficult parts easier to get through, and helps you stay self-disciplined if your motivation takes a temporary dip. But, if you choose to join a research project simply because you want to wrap up your search, you might soon find that trying to muster enough passion or enthusiasm for the project is more work than the research itself.
Your genuine enthusiasm for the science a lab does is the key to your short term success (getting an interview and offer to join the lab), and your long term success (being both productive and happy in the lab). It is definitely not true that just any random research opportunity will foster your creativity and be a meaningful use of your time.
In essence, if you pursue a research position you have no interest in, you’ll waste your time and possibly make yourself miserable. In the end, it won’t be worth it. Give yourself permission to keep searching until you find a research position that inspires you--even if it means that your search takes an entire semester.
This was adapted from Getting In The Insider’s Guide to Finding the Perfect Undergraduate Research Experience, now available at amazon books.
A version of this article was published on Student Doctor.net.