A Masterpost for the Future Scientist
GETTING INTO A LAB
The first step to getting research experience is actually being part of a lab group. Aside from having connections (which not all of us are lucky enough to have), here’s how to do that.
ATTEND TALKS
- The easiest way to determine whether a scientist is someone you’d like to work with is hearing about their research, in their own words. Talks and seminars provide an opportunity to stand out by asking thoughtful questions, or staying after to meet the researcher. That’s the time to express your interest, exchange emails, and set up a meeting to discuss a potential new member of the lab - you!
RESEARCH LOCAL COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES/YOUR OWN
- If you’re a current or matriculating college student, the best place to start is within your own major. Many faculty advisors are happy to help you find a research experience, because after all, your contribution is to their benefit! Find the faculty lists of departments you’d be interested in working in and just go down the line - usually field of research is one of the main bullets under any professor. From there, send emails, set up meetings, and come prepared - know enough about their work to prove why you want to be a part of its progress!
- High School students - all of the same tips apply! Just be careful, some universities won’t be willing to give away research positions to people who aren’t their own undergraduate/graduate students.
READ READ READ PAPERS!!
- There is no better introduction to scientific research than becoming accustomed to peer-reviewed journal articles. Use Google Scholar (scholar.google.com) or PubMed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed) to start with a broad search of anything interesting to you (Ex: pediatric heart disease) and read the first article that stands out. Read another. Read a paper in the references. Keep going.
- If you see a pattern in an author, look them up! This might be a challenge due to location, but I know I’ve chosen the schools I plan to apply to for my post-grad degress entirely because researchers whose papers I’ve read time and time again.
YOU’RE IN A LAB - DO THIS IMMEDIATELY
These are the things that no one ever tells first time lab members, but are really critical to know. A.K.A. what I wish somebody had told me.
FIND OUT WHERE THE SUPPLIES ARE
- What will you be using in the lab? Tips, Pasteur pipets, 10 cm plates, 96-well plates? Doesn’t matter what it is - you WILL run out, and you WILL need to replace it. Don’t let that happen in the middle of an experiment when you have no idea where to restock. As soon as your supervisor shows you something you’ll be using, ask where to find more.
- Anecdote time: the summer before my senior year of high school, I had my first lab experience doing bench work. I did minipreps every single day. Note to those who don’t know - you go through a LOT of pipet tips, especially when you have 20+ samples each day. I ran out constantly. I stole everyone’s pipet tips. Don’t be me. Don’t be the girl known for stealing tips.
NETWORK
- This is at once the easiest and hardest part, but there are some simple ways to begin making connections that aren’t too nerve-wracking. Have lunch with your supervisor/their colleagues! Most of them take on students because they want to help future scientists, so meeting with them in a casual setting can foster conversation person to person, making them a great future recommender.
- If you have meetings with researchers one on one, come prepared with questions about their work. They will like you. Trust me. This ties into always reading as many papers as you can.
- Again, attend talks! Many companies and institutions host seminars that students are welcome to attend. Use that time to meet another researcher - you never know when that connection will come in handy.
HELPFUL HINTS
Basic knowledge that you’ll accumulate over time - but why not have an idea to start?
ABBREVIATIONS
- BSA - bovine serum albumin. A very common protein used as a standard in protein quantification (Bradford assay) and MANY cell culture protocols.
- PBS - phosphate buffered saline. You will use this for EVERYTHING - washes and dilutions, which are the brunt of lab work. Love PBS. Live PBS.
- PCR - polymerase chain reaction. Used to amplify specific sequences of DNA. Learn more here: https://www.promega.com/resources/multimedia/pcr/introduction-to-pcr/
LINKS TO PRACTICE SKILLS
- How to Use a Hemocytometer http://bitesizebio.com/13687/cell-counting-with-a-hemocytometer-easy-as-1-2-3/
- Virtual Rat Dissection (MAJOR TRIGGER WARNING FOR ANIMAL DEATH) http://www.biologycorner.com/worksheets/rat_dissection.html
- How to Calculate DIlutions (All types) http://www.quansysbio.com/dilutions
- Read this cool article to get started - Role of DNA Methylation in the Nucleus Accumbens in Incubation of Cocaine Craving http://www.jneurosci.org/content/35/21/8042.short
That’s all for now!
If there’s any advice you feel is missing, shoot me an ask! As I’ve only ever had research experience in the US, this is very America-centric, but many of the tips should still stand.
Source: I’ve been in several different labs since I was 15, and I’m now almost 20. Do with that what you will.
