<p>Do we have to sign up for student research program?</p>
<p>Around when is the good time for undergraduates to start on their research?</p>
<p>Also, is it ok to research on different areas (i mean areas that are different from my major)?
I'm biology major btw, what area will fit for me?</p>
<p>Thank you</p>
<p>A lot of the SRP listings are grunt work. If you want to do real research, I’d recommend looking up professors and seeing what their research topic is on and email them about it with your CV.</p>
<p>Most people start doing research at the end of their 1st/beginning of 2nd year.</p>
<p>What’s a CV?</p>
<p>curriculum vitae. its where you write your life story for your employer to see if he should hire or blow you off</p>
<p>^ lol, thanks. (Any hints on that?)</p>
<p>A resume would be fine. A CV is more suited towards people in the graduate/post-doc level, where publications, licenses, and professional affiliations are included.</p>
<p>you people should learn how to use the search function :mad:</p>
<p>resume/cv and stuff on how to get a job:</p>
<p>[UCLA</a> Career Center](<a href=“http://career.ucla.edu/Students/CareerGuide.aspx]UCLA”>http://career.ucla.edu/Students/CareerGuide.aspx)</p>
<p>^ I do know how to use search, it’s just that it didn’t occur to me at the time. xD</p>
<p>And when I asked for hints, I meant more along the lines of personal hints. Like if you’re gonna do anything for the bio department, don’t mention anything about rabbits because the person in charge lost their toe to one, or so and so really love people who surf for fun. UCLA will only write certain things on their guides.</p>
<p>I recommend people reading this to pick up a copy of the Career Guide at the Career Center if you haven’t already done so. Or click on GrassBandit’s link. It contains the important features of a cover letter, resume, and curriculum vitae.</p>
<p>If you need proofreading of a resume, you can sign up at the Career Center and schedule an appointment with a counselor who will spend 15 minutes to help you “revise” your resume.</p>
<p>how is anyone suppose to know if the interviewer/professor/PI has lost a toe or whatever? so there is no way you can avoid that unless it’s common knowledge.</p>
<p>Did you even bother to read the stuff on that website? It really comes down to how knowledgeable and motivated you really are. professor are not going to want someone that might flake out.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I thought it was end of 2nd year? o_O’’ I just joined a lab now (I’m starting my 2nd year) and then they all say that I’m pretty early. And then the people that I am in a lab with say that you’d probably be at a disadvantage until you finish your lower division courses (aka end of 2nd year) and begin upper division. I guess it depends on which lab and such…</p>
<p>That’s correct, people don’t start research until 3rd year.</p>
<p>^…what?</p>
<p>i started my research in cardiac operating rooms during my 2nd year. maybe you need lower division courses for bio labs, but i would think research labs would want to see dedication, time commitment, and a willingness to learn.</p>
<p>But, it takes a lot of time to teach people about the basic things such as using pipettes and stuff or the reasoning behind things such as PCRs. This is all taken care of by the LS series. And it saves so much time to not have to teach people things the basics when you have things to do yourself. Of course you have to have the dedication, time commitment and etc. too, but it’s just easier with prior exposure to the methods and such, too… the main reason why I got into the lab I got in was because I did research at a much smaller lab not at UCLA. And the prof I was working with was willing to teach me what a pipette does, what it is, how to properly use it, etc. etc.</p>
<p>Cardiac operating rooms – that’s like clinical research right? Maybe that’s why. I don’t think they have any courses that simulate anything like that.</p>
<p>I joined a lab early - Fall of my sophomore year. However, it really depends on how prepared you are for the work, because without knowledge and some basic skills you’ll be doing pretty boring stuff. Regardless of when you want to start, make sure there’s a fit on both sides - will your mentor be there to train you (typically a grad student), and can you provide the lab with meaningful work. It’s just like any other job in that regard.</p>
<p>Will it be harder to do research if I am a transfer because I dont know any professors? Because it feels like I will be set back a year just getting to know professors and looking for a lab to join. Plus I have never taken a course at UCLA so will they be more reluctant to take me if I apply for a lab Fall quarter?</p>
<p>Search for another thread similar to this one (SRP) or undergraduate research. Google this: UCLA Faculty Research Interests. I never met my prof before doing research in his lab. And no, I doubt it to your last question.</p>