<p>^ what grade are you going into?</p>
<p>b3tt3Rt[-]4nU, PM me and ill give it to u. I'm not sure if PKswmr76 is addressing me or you.</p>
<p>I'm going to be a Junior</p>
<p>oh cool, same. i just wanted to know how old people that were looking into research were. did you start contacting profs yet?</p>
<p>No not yet, do you live in jersey too</p>
<p>js416256, I'm sorry to hear that you couldn't attend ISEF.</p>
<p>I'm interested in your project though. My friend (he's going to be a junior) worked on telomerase in cancer and normal cells, and I recall seeing a project at ISEF involving telomerase (I don't mean to rub this in anyway, so don't take it that way). What exactly did you research about? </p>
<p>Amen on the ISEF/Siemens/Competition thing, though.</p>
<p>Honestly, cancer and Alzheimer's research are soooooooo overdone when it comes to high school research. I went to a little gathering recently and nearly every project fit one of those 2 categories. Water filtration is also overdone.</p>
<p>anyone here intrested in bio and genetics?
if you are let me know what subtopics in those are good for researching or what you've found interesting so far
thanks!</p>
<p>I disagree with the ISEF/Siemens/Comptition thing. I think it is a good idea to not tell a prof that you're in it for a rec letter though because they don't even know if they like you yet.</p>
<p>But as for competitions, telling them your true intentions will let them know that you seriously want your own project, it will give them a time frame to work with, and will let them know that you're motivated. I've done 5 projects in the past 3 years, 4 of them in high school, and for each one I told my mentor which competition I was doing it for (ISEF twice, Siemens twice, STS once). They seemed ok with it each time and really willing to work with me to find a good, marketable project that I could finish myself (or with only a little help) in the correct time.</p>
<p>What's the best time to call a professor?</p>
<p>prob. afternoon</p>
<p>Only call a few days after you email though.</p>
<p>I posted on phdcomics.com</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
in my junior year I wanted to spend the entire school year doing cancer research (specifically on the enzyme telomerase which fascinated me) so I emailed a lot of labs proposing my idea. Unfortunately I was only accepted at one lab at nearby local college (Oakland University... it's in Michigan).
[/QUOTE]
</p>
<p>As Oakland University is a bit too far away, I went to the Wayne State website. However, its website is not exactly helpful to people who want to find out about the research of the professors so they can find out who to contact, and it's difficult to even find contact info. U of M is very helpful in this respect, but it's certainly not the type of fourth-tier public suggested.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
- First email the professors, writing them a courteous letter explaining your intentions and your passion for research. The labs I was accepted to all complimented my letters to them so if you want to see mine PM me.
[/QUOTE]
</p>
<p>Should it be a formal business email? I'd like to see yours, please.</p>
<p>
[/QUOTE]
- Try to play down things like ISEF and Siemens or potential rec letters because those are clear indicators that you are not sincere and you are in it for the wrong reasons.
[/QUOTE]
</p>
<p>I wasn't going to even submit to those, but now that I think about it, if I do manage to produce some of my own research, I might as well.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
- Try to learn a little about the professor's research. Contrary to what people have been saying in this forum you don't need to know the same amount as a grad student to stay afloat. Take it slow starting with basic material (textbooks) and move up to the lab's scientific journals.
[/QUOTE]
</p>
<p>That's relieving. As of right now, because I've gotten a 5 on AP Bio, it's safe to say I have the knowledge of someone who has taken an introductory course for non-majors. I would expect that for something like endosymbiosis (which, now that I think about it, seems VERY interesting), less studying would be required than for most cellular or molecular biology topics. However, I also expect that it'll take lots of time regardless.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
-Don't request your own separate project that interests you. If you want a project it will be something that is related to your lab's research. So far my projects have been extremely related to my mentor's project.
[/QUOTE]
</p>
<p>This brings me back to my previous question. Few labs either have imformation on their specific research topics other than those that are perceived to actually have a very great deal of relevance in the present day (developments in molecular biology mostly), and especially not the fourth-tier publics around here. U of M, though not a fourth-tier public, has plenty of professors doing research in subjects that I'm interested in. I would assume it would be important to have some familiarity with the specifics of the research before contacting the professor. As you said to contact lots of professors, should I contact professors from both?</p>
<p>Thanks, your post was extremely helpful!</p>
<p>Anyone know of some good labs in Arkansas?</p>
<p>zogoto, I agree with your standpoint but as people have different mindsets, I just think that avoiding the whole, "Can I have a research project to enter a science competition" mindset is a bad way to introduce yourself/talk about with a potential professor.</p>
<p>Ideally, if (and hopefully when) I'm able to get my PhD, I'd definitely be willing to help younger (high school) students with projects. Really, introducing young minds to science is perhaps one of the greatest things you can do in the field itself, as it engages them with opportunities that they otherwise would never see. That view, though, isn't necessarily popular among established researchers, and many probably think that you're using them for your own benefit.</p>
<p>Ok so I want to answer some of proliterait2's questions. I don't know exactly where you live in MI but I think you are being a little quick to ride off OU. I know its undergrad students are pretty average but its graduate program is quite remarkable given its size. The lab I worked for, proved a critical pathway in estrogen-responsive breast cancer that gained the lab national notoriety and has had its share of collaborators at highly regarded research institutions all around the world. Same thing goes with Wayne but even moreso, they have an ok undergrad student body but their graduate schools, especially their bio programs, in conjunction with the DMC rival Umich. So don't ride off these schools bc they are hidden gems. Personally, I chose OU because I live in the suburbs and its much closer to me than WSU, Umich, or MSU and the only reason I am able to do research at WSU is because my Dad goes to work in Detroit so he drives me (for such intensive lab positions that require a lot of time transportation and commute time MATTER). PM me about your research interests and I will help you to find a few good labs to email because I know WSU's website can be a bit obscure.</p>
<p>If you want to know specifics about what a professor is researching usually the website has their CV which lists their publications which will provide you with the different projects the lab has completed. Also Google Scholar is an invaluable tool to finding publications by the lab you are interested in.</p>
<p>I was also reading some of the posts on PhD comics from the thread you started and I think some of their advice is a little extreme. A lot of the students said you would be cleaning dishes and basically acting like a lab rat. Well in my own experience, and the experiences of many other high school researchers I know no one has ever had that experience in a lab. In all of my labs, I had a very hands on role in the research. Realize that you will most likely be an UNPAID intern which means they can't tell you to do anything because you are not on anyone's payroll. If someone comes up to me and asks me to clean something for them I have every right to say no, because that is not my job. Basically, as an unpaid intern you are free to do what you want: if you feel tired one day go home, if you want to go eat lunch and someone wants you to help them with an experiment say no, basically no one can force you to do anything you didn't sign up to do. </p>
<p>I haven't sought out a paid position yet because I feel that an unpaid position is more conducive to learning and to also having a good summer. As an unpaid intern I have gotten the chance to have a large role in a PhD's research which I wouldn't have otherwise have if I been a paid intern. Plus I don't have any set schedule so if I feel like doing something else that day I just email and say that I am not coming (it gets harder to take days off when you have a project and you are responsible for maintaining everything).</p>
<p>"zogoto, I agree with your standpoint but as people have different mindsets, I just think that avoiding the whole, "Can I have a research project to enter a science competition" mindset is a bad way to introduce yourself/talk about with a potential professor.</p>
<p>Ideally, if (and hopefully when) I'm able to get my PhD, I'd definitely be willing to help younger (high school) students with projects. Really, introducing young minds to science is perhaps one of the greatest things you can do in the field itself, as it engages them with opportunities that they otherwise would never see. That view, though, isn't necessarily popular among established researchers, and many probably think that you're using them for your own benefit."</p>
<p>I couldn't agree more with you and I wanted to add another point. While these competitions like ISEF, Siemens, etc. matter in getting scholarships and in college admissions when you apply for labs as an undergraduate (hopefully your interest in research didn't end at these "competitions") no professor will care how you did at a high school science fair. Rather, the knowledge accumulated in the lab including knowledge of the different procedures conducted will be far more impressive to a potential lab and will help you get the position over another undergrad who has no research experience. My point is- these competitions are trivial outside of high school science circles and many professors laugh at the idea of a science research competition.</p>
<p>what am i supposed to tell the professors when i call them?</p>
<ul>
<li>hi my name is ( ) and i am interested in doing research in your lab. </li>
</ul>
<p>wuts after that?</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
I don't know exactly where you live in MI but I think you are being a little quick to ride off OU. I know its undergrad students are pretty average but its graduate program is quite remarkable given its size.
[/QUOTE]
</p>
<p>I'm just a tad bit too far from OU. I'm about halfway in between U of M and WSU. Wayne State's website is a bit obscure, as is EMU's, but U of M's is extremely helpful. I'll PM you once I feel like it (probably within 24 hours, just feel too lazy to do so right now). Thanks.</p>
<p>w00t for doing research at home lol. i've participated (and done pretty well) in all types of research competitions since 8th grade, and doing research at home is definately the most fun/satisfying. I've worked in a lab before, and that is a great experience. I have some great connections now. If you can't find work in a lab, just try to do something at home (though you can't really do bio research...but maybe you can). I'm actually working on my own project at home now....yay. Granted, I've been doing independent work in this field since 9th grade (i'm a rising senior). And...research papers are always fun to read =) (no sarcasm )</p>