silver
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hi everyone,
i wanted to know for those of you who have done research projects, how did you go about finding one? was it through knowing someone already or was there a certain application procedure? basically how did you get your foot in the door?
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| Jackofknives
Ipwnpoker.com
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I was pretty lucky. I often read scientific journals and when I was in 3rd semester in one of the journals there was an ad from a neuroanatomy lab not far from where I go to school looking for people to conduct research. It was a lucky coincidence because they had 4-5 phd students and all graduated within a year, and I was lucking enough to be a 3rd semester student, if I were just one semester junior they would never take me.
So I called them and sent my CV, was being extremely enthusiastic and then the PI gave me a minor project to test me out. When I got that done I was well in the door.
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| silver
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that's interesting jok
anyone in the US who would like to share their experiences?
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| P4a99
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Jack, do you mind sharing with me what you had to say in your CV and what kind of project test they had for you?
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| yoga
usmlelogy professor
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u r lucky jack GL in ur project
i was looking 4 observership & i didnt imagine how hard it is 2 hunt programs ,, i hope i will get acceptance soon but f not i will try research 
i found very intersting observership program 4 junior student but it was 4 surgery & i am really not intersted in surgery,, however it seems very good esp that it require young student "contrary 2 other programs which require u 2 b in last yr of medschool"
life is hard
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| bioguy
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go through website of the faculty, read their research interests, if you like one approach them saying you want to volunteer in their lab. its as simple as that. ofcourse you have to use the word - volunteer - dont' expect a pay. if you need to be paid, that will require more committment!!!! research community in the US is usually very casual. however, don't be surprised to see the unusual... i mean mean ones
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| P4a99
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If some one is still in his first years of med. school, what exactly is it that he is going to help them with, regardless of being a volunteer or not?
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| silver
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thanks bioguy...good point to just ask them straight up! i have been a research assistant before, so i have experience--not totally cold feet. at that time i was a student, of course it was total volunteer work, money matters were under control.
however, now things are a bit different--i've graduated and now i'm at a point where i need to make some money!
so i'm wondering how do you get to a paid research position? i have heard of people doing it, so it does exist. just need to find one! perhaps starting out as a volunteer is one way to go, and then work from there.
i know they would be all open to having volunteers but how do you find a paid research position?
any suggestions guys? any universities anyone knows of who are friendly and accepting of people like us who are studying up for the exams and want to find some work in research?
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| Jackofknives
Ipwnpoker.com
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praying4a99 wrote:
Jack, do you mind sharing with me what you had to say in your CV and what kind of project test they had for you?
Not at all. As a student, green to research, they wouldn’t expect you to have any prior research experience whatsoever, I just wrote what I have learned in school, what I like to read and what I know in addition to regular school courses. When I started I was assigned for various jobs that technicians do, e.g. tissue preparation, microscopying and I had to read a few books about the methods used for anatomy research, basically I spent 1½ months on learning techniques. The first project is morphometric differentiation of the neocortex of various ages among a type of mini pig, I do everything on my own but under supervision. Of course, different labs have their own way to keep their students busy.
I’ve never heard of students while still going to school get paid for conducting research. The exceptions are if you are taking a year off, here we have grants that are fairly easy to get where you get paid roughly 2K USD per month for doing a year of research. Of course, you can also apply for funds, but the money usually goes to the lab and material and not in your own pocket.
Silver, if you v had previous research exp you prolly have been to conferences and have connections and that could lead to a job. Research followship and phd positions are supposedly easy to find but you have to make sure that you are getting into the field of your interest, otherwise its hell.
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| bioguy
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pray, its not possible, in my opinion, to do justice to both medschool and research at the same time. however, its not always that they extract from you. infact some labs are glad to accept volunteers whom they teach how to do experiments first and then give a project!!! just like in JOK's situation.
silver, for paid research job its like any other jobs. you have to find that lucky spot open for hiring!!!! mostly you will find open position advertised in the lab web pages online.
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| P4a99
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Jackofknives wrote:
Not at all. As a student, green to research, they wouldn’t expect you to have any prior research experience whatsoever, I just wrote what I have learned in school, what I like to read and what I know in addition to regular school courses. When I started I was assigned for various jobs that technicians do, e.g. tissue preparation, microscopying and I had to read a few books about the methods used for anatomy research, basically I spent 1½ months on learning techniques. The first project is morphometric differentiation of the neocortex of various ages among a type of mini pig, I do everything on my own but under supervision. Of course, different labs have their own way to keep their students busy.
Thanks alot Jack ... thats probably the first time that i get a clear answer regarding thas Q! 
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| P4a99
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bioguy wrote:
pray, its not possible, in my opinion, to do justice to both medschool and research at the same time. however, its not always that they extract from you. infact some labs are glad to accept volunteers whom they teach how to do experiments first and then give a project!!! just like in JOK's situation.
Oh, thanks bioguy.
I was thinking of this research thing as a "plan B" if i dont manage to get a chance for "USCE" hopefully during one of the up coming summer vacations.
Do you have an idea if such spots need any papers from my university? ( cuz they are the worst when it comes to paper-work ).
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| bioguy
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To the in-coming university or research lab, its entirely non-official. all you need is a yes from the Principal Investigator (PI). and if any paper-work is required from the PI i think they will do it. but coming down to visa issues, and paper-work from out-going university/country, i am not sure man!!! sorry about that! Is it tough to find research labs in your country. Coz, I did a 2-month research rotation in my own city (in India) which had a govt. funded internationally renowned research institute. There was no paperwork at all for that. It was all informal!!!!!
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