<p>Is it better to research in one lab for a few years (~4-5) on a single topic or to research multiple things at different places?</p>
<p>Before you answer "how can you research one thing for that long? There's nothing to learn from it", consider that some PhD's have an entire career without making any discoveries.</p>
<p>For example, the person who is working in the lab I am working at is an rising junior undergrad whose first year of research was in the summer of his rising senior year (and senior year). He works there during the summer and plans to be published by the end of this summer.</p>
<p>My instinct tells me a dedicated single project over years looks better for med school for several reasons:
1. Very good chance to publish
2. Shows dedication
3. (MOST IMPORTANTLY) Actually have a good chance to discover something useful
4. Great letter of rec.</p>
<p>I'm going to agree with the "dedicated" research thing, but I think it's a good idea to explore if you're a science major. I had a reasonably strong background in nuclear and radiochemistry, but I also did some o-chem research. I ended up writing my thesis on biophysical chemistry. I doubt that was the reason I got into med school after May 15 instead of before.</p>
<p>While I think you're right that the advantages of prolonged research outweigh the advantages of several projects, doing it the other way has advantages. The diversity of experiences helps make sure that somewhere, somebody knows what you're talking about or can relate to it. The diversity of institutions can also be a good thing.</p>
<p>Also, do the institutions have to be diverse or is it okay if I do different research topics at the same institution (NIH in my case)? (for example, eye protein research and biophysics of DNA strands).</p>
<p>The weight of getting a GREAT letter of rec from a single researcher with a relationship built over the course of two or three years is much more advantageous than pretty much anything else. </p>
<p>While it's great to contribute, great to get published, if your goal is an MD and an MD only the single greatest benefit of doing research is that killer LOR. If you think you can get a great LOR in only 3 months, than multiple projects is really maximizing your output. But the quality that comes from someone who actually knows you at a deeper level cannot be underestimated.</p>
<p>what about programs like SURFs or REUs that are only like 10 weeks long? If they are so prestigious, there's got to be something more to those kind of internships, right?</p>
<p>Also, if you were to apply to med school with 3-4 publications, would that put you ahead and how much of an impact would that have in the applications process?</p>
<p>SURFs and REUs are more resume builders than LOR generators for the very fact that they're prestigious yet short.</p>
<p>Applying to medical school with 3-4 publications would look very good, but you have to consider two things. </p>
<p>1) In the lab where I did my thesis, I put out work of publishable quality. However, since my lab was so big (6 research scientists, 2 post docs, 9 graduate students) there was a significant lag time (6 months up to 2.5 years) in writing and publishing papers. It probably didn't help that my PI was also Department Chair so he was also very busy with other things. So if you're in a lab like the one I was in for two years or so, you may see very little published.</p>
<p>2) You need to consider where your name will appear in the list of authors. It's better to appear towards the beginning rather than at the end because it implies your contributions were more significant or more important. Lots of papers with your name appearing at the end of the authors list is okay, I suppose, but it's much better if you have lots of papers with your name appearing at the beginning.</p>
<p>This may seem like too general question, but is it possible to continue my research at somewhere other than the place I began it? This research would not be primarily my own. I was thinking like networking with people from the lab if and when I go to a different area t continue the same research.</p>
<p>Unlikely. You will have to do the research assigned to you by your PI. Unless you find two PI's doing the exact same research, you won't be doing the same research project at two different labs.</p>
<p>Would it be a good idea if one could do research abroad during his or her summer vacation? Or is it better to choose one lab and do research in that lab every single summer?</p>
<p>This is just a general question, but I feel a bit apprehensive at hearing about people trying to get "several" first-authorship papers. I"m a first year in a lab right now, and my PI said that I'd be 2nd-authoring a paper at the END of next school year, and that realistically, I'd get a 1st authorship sometime before I'm out of college. I realize this kind of thing varies from lab to lab, but doesn't that seem a bit slow? Do other "competitive" Med school applicants have several first-authorships?</p>
<p>imran: I heard that it's extremely rare for undergrads to have a publication, let alone first-authorship, before applying to med school. So you shouldn't be worried even if you don't have any publications by the time you apply. Of course, there will be people with "several" first-authorship papers, but the number of such people will be very small, I guess. And just because you don't have any first-authorships doesn't mean you can't be competitive.</p>
<p>When you want to quit working in Lab X and move onto a new lab either because you find the work uninteresting or because you expect you'll never get published in it, or both, what would be appropriate to tell Lab X's undergrad research sponsor or prof as reasons for quitting?</p>
<p>
[quote]
To get first authorships wouldn't you have to do most of the research yourself? How could you do research on your own? It makes no sense to me.
<p>What do you mean? Of course it's possible to get first-authorship papers. If you join a lab, for instance, and they give you your own independent project, that you work on from start to finish and get good results, you could feasibly write up a paper and submit it as a first-author publication. Obviously it's very difficult to be in a position like that, but it's possible.</p>
<p>How good do you need to be if you were to receive an independent project? Do you have to ask for it, or does your lab sponsor/prof just give it to you?</p>
<p>Depends on your previous research experience and how desperate the lab is. If the lab is full of grad students and post-docs, you're probably not going to get your own project as an undergrad. My lab at the NIH has a research tech, a post-doc, and two post-bacs so everyone has their own project.</p>