<p>How would an inexperienced freshman get involved in research? It seems that all the labs would want people experienced in research. How would one learn to work in a lab, are there any ways to get experience freshman year?</p>
<p>I just made a lot of calls (~30 actually to JHMI) until someone said it was acceptable at my level. I made sure to specify that I needed assistance and wasn't the best at everything yet, so there would be no surprises. Remember the students are doing it for free, which can also be pretty lucrative. But I admit, especially in retrospect, that getting started that early without ANY xp seems a bit ambitious. Especially in bio, getting some basic labs done, and especially some orgo and biochemistry, puts you miles ahead of where you'd be otherwise.</p>
<p>It depends on the department I think. I can tell you that in the physics department, if you speak to your professor, they can hook you up. For example, three of my friends (all freshmen) are working with our first semester professor who does particle physics. He holds training sessions in which he teaches them the programming and all the other stuff they need to know.</p>
<p>I got a job at the med center doing research, you just have to be persistent</p>
<p>littlemage897:which branch(es) of the JHMI did you contact specifically to get research?</p>
<p>alonzojhu: did you get your research position the same way as littlemage897?</p>
<p>And for both of you: Is the research that you guys are doing clinical, related to public health, or laboratory-orientated. I would love to try to get a posotion working in a med center lab, preferably in molecular and cellular biology. Do you think this is possible if I follow the same venues you guys did?</p>
<p>Thanks in advice for any feedback!</p>
<p>For even more about Research at Hopkins, I'd recommend checking out this extensive discussion thread on the Hopkins Forums:</p>
<p>Hopkins</a> Forums -> Research Questions</p>
<p>There are a number of other perspectives from current Hopkins students that can be found there.</p>
<p>Just look up faculty members whose research you find interesting and email them either in August or once you get on campus. Explain your background, and maybe part of their work you're interested in and ask if they have any positions avaliable. I emailed probably 10 people, heard back from 3 or so and picked a lab from among those.</p>
<p>Sharif08, I just emailed a bunch of professors. I get paid 10 bucks an hour, working for free is for chumps :P</p>
<p>Oh and my research is definitely straight up all molecular biology in a laboratory</p>
<p>I agree with Alonzo. Mass emails is key! </p>
<p>I feel like professors are always looking for free labor. If you are able to approach them, demonstrate a reasonable maturity and passion in their studies, then you are fine. </p>
<p>You can also look into doing a Medical Tutorial (packets provided at the office of pre-professional advising). While a lot of these postings are fantastic shadowing opportunities, many of them are also research opportunities.</p>