<p>Hey all! I am super excited to have committed to UCLA and can't wait for the upcoming quarter! However, I am a bit concerned that I might not be able to find some sort of research position by my sophomore year. I suppose this question is directed more towards students with experience. I just want to know how difficult it will be to find a position if you are not the "best of the best." </p>
<p>I had trouble in deciding where to commit because of this aspect; my sister attended the U of AZ and maintained a research position there for three and a half years. She essentially guaranteed my a volunteer position at this lab since she now works there. Despite this, I have decided to attend UCLA and potentially face struggle in finding a lab position. I suppose it depends on the type of position I would like, that being somewhat medically related, but overall, I would be interested to know if people have had trouble in finding positions of this field and whatnot. </p>
<p>Most people don’t start research until their sophomore year. If you want to do research earlier, it’s still possible. They mostly just want someone with solid grades and who’s willing to put in the time. For me, I got into several labs and the choosing process was more difficult than applying.</p>
<p>Definitely didn’t have any trouble finding a lab. I started working in a research lab winter quarter of my first year. I know lots of other first year students that also got involved in winter/spring quarter. There’s no pressure to get started in your first year as opposed to your second year. Just as long as you feel comfortable with time management and have a handle on your classes. There are tons of labs and space here at so you’ll definitely be able to find something you like.</p>
<p>@uclastudennnnt @TheEarlyBird that’s relieving to hear. I want to settle in my first quarter, but will begin to look for positions during the winter quarter. I’m just worried about the level of competition, but it is good to know that there are a wide array of options available. I suppose I am just worrying too much.</p>
<p>There are a couple of organizations that help with undergrad research (for more info just google the below terms):</p>
<p>UCLA Biomedical Research Minor: minor set up by Dr. Ira Clark who helps you get into labs.</p>
<p>UCLA Collaboration in Undergraduate Research Enrichment (CURE at UCLA): Student run peer mentoring group where junior/senior undergrads take up one-one-one mentorship with freshman/sophomores looking to get into a lab or are in a lab. This org provides info such as research scholarships, networking, how to excel in lab, CV revisions, etc</p>
<p>UCLA Undergraduate Research Center: UCLA run center for all undergrad research</p>
<p>UCLA Student Research Program listings: webpage that shows labs interested in finding an undergrad for research. It’s the “positions opening” page for UCLA undergrad research. </p>
<p>In terms of getting into research on ur own, in hindsight I’d tell my freshman self to follow the below steps:
- Ask yourself what science topic in science class did you enjoy reading/studying the most? Be honest, if you don’t like studying science, then don’t do research! Don’t just do it for ur resume or getting into grad/med school. Do what you enjoy and are passionate about, that’s number one.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Look up which labs at UCLA that are well-known for research in that topic. Having a good mentor is important in research. Sometimes this can be the lab of the department chairman/vice-chair. Or of a “distinguished professor.” BUT most professors without chair or distinguished designations are great as well so the key is to look for a good lab. CURE at UCLA helps with this b/c you can ask around about how supportive a lab is. How well-known ur PI is in his/her field of study also affects the weight of ur recommendation letter when u apply to med/grad school (but this shouldn’t be ur main focus at all, just a bonus). </p></li>
<li><p>(b) check SRP listings for labs researching ur interested topic and with openings.</p></li>
<li><p>Look up papers the lab has published (search the PI’s name is Pubmed or NCBI) and google the lab’s website - the PI’s name + lab (ie “Albert Einstein lab”). This is where CURE at UCLA helps a lot. Ur CURE mentor can help you with reading scientific papers and understanding the ongoing projects in the lab (which u can get from the lab website). Key is understand what exact projects the lab is running.</p></li>
<li><p>Prepare a CV. A CURE mentor can help with this too.</p></li>
<li><p>Send the PI an email of max 400 words (shorter the better cuz researchers don’t have time to read long emails) summarizing ur CV strengths and attaching ur CV. CURE mentors can help with wording ur email and figuring out which CV strengths to present in the email. I just finished working at a lab and my PI forwarded everyone at the lab on avg 5 emails per month from students… What happens is ur email will either (a) be ignored by the PI (in this case he/she is most likely not supportive and not worth ur time) or (b) in my lab at least (I don’t know about other labs) the PI will forward ur email in original wording to every researcher in the lab. Then, the postdocs/grad students will look at ur email for (1) a CV… if there’s no CV most post docs/grad students won’t have time to email u to ask for one unfortunately, (2) anything that stands out (ie a high gpa, sat score, interesting extracurricular - if you have any of these definitely write it into ur email to the PI - My name is X and I’m a X year X major undergraduate with gpa X, sat score X, and have experience working in X), (3) why ur interested in the lab - which is why its important to read papers and the lab website - if u can show u can understand their ongoing research to some degree it’s a plus.</p></li>
<li><p>Repeat until you get an interview chance from a lab (you may need to send up to 20 emails so don’t get discouraged if u dont get into the first lab u apply to).</p></li>
<li><p>Read papers and understand the lab’s ongoing research. Dress professionally and ace ur interview! CURE can help with this too.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>The biomedical research minor can help with the above steps as well.</p>
<p>I don’t recommend applying to and emailing a bunch of PI’s and applying to a bunch of SRP openings just for the sake of applying and having a chance to get into one, without looking into each lab’s research topic. Doing research just for ur resume or grad/med school isn’t the best mentality going into a lab. </p>
<p>Sorry for the marathon reply. Hope this can help a bit. Best of luck!!!</p>