<p>what grade are you going into?</p>
<p>I'm going to be a sophomore.</p>
<p>What if you're going to be a junior ?</p>
<p>I would assume it'd be the same process. I might wait 'till December, or maybe 'till next summer to start.</p>
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One professor made me very angry, because he was researching the topic that I did my science fair paper on. Obviously, a high school student's research wouldn't be as accurate or important as that of an actual research team... but I wrote a very long paper on the subject, analyzed data, came to my own conclusions, and even created several theoretical chemical equations that would explain the phenomenon that the professor was researching.
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<p>Maybe he was afraid of the competition :D
Seriously, researchers do get defensive when people are doing the exact research they're doing. Everyone's worried about being scooped. You know, having someone publish a paper on their research, thus making the other guy ineligible to publish on that topic. Papers are a really huge thing in academia.</p>
<p>I just went to <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org%5B/url%5D">www.sciencemag.org</a> and I realized that I could actually understand almost all of the biology-related abstracts. I made progress! whooo...</p>
<p>I'm also studying evolutionary biology from the internet and books. I'm a bit afraid that cellular or molecular will be too hard and confusing, and they're not as fun anyway.</p>
<p>Oh, and Kamera, thanks, but I don't think I need worry. I know I won't do physics (my brain would explode). Chemistry and geophysical science are ok, but biology is my favorite subject within science and it's the one I'm best at.</p>
<p>To the OP</p>
<p>If you are interested in evolutionary biology, look into lateral gene transfer or host/symbiont endosymbiosis. There are many interesting things there and many researchers are studying it. Search "evolutionary biology" or "horizontal gene transfer" on pubmed and look through citations to see if anything interests you. </p>
<p>Don't be afraid to follow up your emails with calls, you have nothing to lose. Most of the times the professors will read your email but ignore it. If you call them afterwards (if they havent responded to your email) and basically repeat what you said in your email they will be much more responsive and helpful after seeing intiative and genuine interest. </p>
<p>The best approach is to call these professors, tell them briefly what you interested in, and ask for references to people they know (post docs who work for them, other professors etc.). These people will take you much more seriously. You will get a much better response if you ask for help from a professor, not comitment. </p>
<p>BTW, this worked very well for me. I narrowed down an area of interest, but not too specific. Contacted a couple professors in nearby universities who were working in this area. Called them and asked them if they knew anyone who would be willing to design a research project with me. He contacted a guy in a nearby lab and I found myself a mentor.</p>
<p>^ good advice, i think i'm going to try that</p>
<p>Honestly, the best professors for research are at fourth-tier public institutions. They'll love a good, smart student to teach. They're also used to helping others to understand complex concepts, rather than an Ivy professor who's used the same material for 20 years and gets away with it because the students can figure it out.</p>
<p>Usually, if you want your research to mean something, you'll start your own project, or start one with the help of a mentor.</p>
<p>Your idea has to be specific enough that no one's done it extensively before. You shouldn't be able to Google your topic and get all the answers.</p>
<p>You need to research your topic before you start, and you should have at least a bachelor's degree knowledge of the specific topic. For example, if you are researching the uses of receptor proteins, you should know as much as a graduate knows about receptor proteins. This does not mean you need to know everything about molecular biology. Just receptor proteins.</p>
<p>I've done research before, though not with an experienced mentor. At a recent symposium I attended, I found that your project is the most credible when you do most of the work. The mentor should be just that: a mentor. Many students make the mistake of having a professor do their work for them, and it makes your research worthless. Be original.</p>
<p>^ how do you think I should learn as much as a grad student in the field i want to do research? buy a book and learn it? or take a course at a local college?</p>
<p>Buy a book, look on the Internet, or talk to someone that IS a grad student or professor. Grads don't know as much as you think they do.</p>
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Many students make the mistake of having a professor do their work for them, and it makes your research worthless. Be original.
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<p>I kind of fell into that trap. My name IS on a paper - but the problem is that I don't even understand the paper that well. Also it's on a paper with lots of coauthors :p</p>
<p>The other thing is that it's more difficult to get your name on a prestigious paper if it's your own research. Taking a subordinate role under a professor is more likely to net your name on the paper - though not in a prominent position. </p>
<p>My recommendation? Meet with a professor PERSONALLY. The professor will usually give you a few papers to read over (this happened 3 times with me). Then talk about the papers with the professor. Then talk with him about what to do next. </p>
<p>==
Anyhow - yes - a lot of professors are quite receptive when you PERSONALLY meet with them. BUT - there is a luck of the draw when you choose a professor. Some professors will go on frequent trips, some professors will not care about your personal progress, and some professors just don't have much time to talk with you. And - it seems that assistant professors are often the most receptive (small sample size here - but I'm relying on the account of someone else I know) - but yet they have to fight the tenure battle. </p>
<p>And by the way - you don't have to start with busywork in a lot of fields.</p>
<p>==
Also, I'm academically promiscuous. It might be injurious to myself in the future run. <em>sigh</em></p>
<p>Can someone exaplain this to me please haha,
You find a professor who is willing to work with you in a subject area and you get to work with them on something that other professors and adults are working on, as a student in high school??
And how do you not sound completly stupid around them, since the obviously know heaps more of information then you do? Are they willing to teach you or are they just looking for help?</p>
<p>do you think that if i spend this summer thoroughly understanding the subject i want to research and then contact professors and do research over the school year and next year, it'll be enough time to complete an entire project? also, if i call professors, should i ask THEM to help me with the research or ask if they know someone who could help me start a project?</p>
<p>Some are willing to teach you. Like I said, go for fourth-tier public schools, they have the most helpful professors.</p>
<p>And when you're talking to them for the first time, write out your questions ahead of time. Seriously.</p>
<p>^^ Just ask them if they know anything at all. If they do, then ask about them being a mentor, if they show interest.</p>
<p>would you consider Rutgers University a fourth-tier school?</p>
<p>Put it this way. Meeting personally with a professor DOES NOT HURT. They can provide you with initial guidance over the most important papers in their field. However, make sure that you are NOT too academically promiscuous (like I am). That is proving to be my undoing right now...</p>
<p>Also - when you send e-mails, DO NOT put the e-mail addresses of ALL professors in the same "to: author" line. If the professor sees that - diffusion of responsibility takes place.</p>
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would you consider Rutgers University a fourth-tier school?
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<p>No. Rutgers is among the best state schools in research. A LOT of the state schools rank right along with the Ivies in many prominent research areas (and not just Michigan/Berkeley). It's just that their undergrads suck, which pull down their rankings.</p>
<p>==
Finally - professors can be quite different. Don't just take the first professor who gives you an offer. Try to observe - are they really interested in you? Are the professors interested in your academic progress as a whole - not just the research in itself?</p>
<p>lol i wish i could do research at princeton...its sooo close</p>
<p>when i call professors for the first time (my intention is to start my own project), should i ask them to help me with my research or ask them if they know anyone who is interested in the same field of research and would be interested in helping me?</p>