<p>This question goes out to all of those who have done a simens or intel, etc. research project or know someone who did. My question to you is, what do you need to do to get started? By that I mean, do you have to have connections with college professors, or do you request them to mentor? Plus, how do you gain access to the labs and research areas? How did you get the equipment to do the meticulous research that is often required?</p>
<p>Any info would be great! Thanks</p>
<p>Basically, I am trying to ask:</p>
<p>How did you get started?</p>
<p>Well, I came up with a general idea of what I wanted to pursue. As in, what field? For me it was molecular biology, so I immediately began using GoogleScholar and PubMed to find articles that covered a broad spectrum of sub-topics. Eventually, I came across antisense RNA, and pursued that more heavily. I started contacting authors of articles, asking them questions, and if it got to the point, even asked them if they’d be able to refer me to anyone working with antisense RNA in my area.</p>
<p>Eventually, one of my e-mail mentors forwarded my dialogue with her to a colleague of hers at the NYU Medical School. I looked into his research (he pretty much wrote the book on Staph, the bacteria responsible for the MRSA epidemic), and began to formulate an idea of what exactly I wanted to accomplish.</p>
<p>We met, and I expressed my enthusiasm for working on this project, and he offered me a summer lab internship. And voila! I found a new cure for MRSA that didn’t involve the use of antibiotics. Because I had worked with a lot of the mechanical equipment necessary to complete my project, I got to do a lot of it by myself. I also asked my mentor if I could start going into the lab about 5 months before I was scheduled to start, this way I would be able to master any other techniques necessary.</p>
<p>Essentially, it’s all about building your knowledge base and contacting authors of articles that speak to you most. Eventually, you get a bite. I had a friend who contacted about 20ish people before she finally got an internship at a lab at Columbia University.</p>
<p>That’s a SUPER brief version of my history, but you’re welcome to PM me if you have any more questions. I’m currently advising a bunch of juniors who are in the process of what you’re doing right now, so just let me know! :)</p>
<p>Thanks, that really helps!</p>
<p>Anytime! Like I said, if you need any specifics about my process, I have template e-mails saved (for contacting researchers, ordering reprints of articles, etc) and whatnot. Just let me know. </p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>by the way, about how long did the whole process take for you?</p>
<p>The experiment itself? Or from the very start when I began researching anything and everything until the time I finished my internship?</p>
<p>How about both?</p>
<p>The actual experiment began the first week of July and ended on November 3rd. From July to the end of August, I was in the lab 7 days a week, about 60+ hours each week. </p>
<p>As for the entire process, I first began researching in September of my Junior year. I got my internship officially in January the same school year, but met with my mentor about two months beforehand.</p>
<p>Okay, thanks again.</p>
<p>No problem! Like I said before, let me know if you have any other questions. :)</p>