<p>What is research experience?</p>
<p>Being a lab slave.</p>
<p>^^^ lol, I was wondering the same thing. I don’t know how undergrads can get their name’s “Published”…</p>
<p>For example, I am “doing research” at a medical school, and the research is extremely complicated…The team doing the research has 20 PH.D’s…all I do is follow the PH.D’s around the lab as they explain to me what they are doing(sometimes I am allowed to make chemicals, as a learning experience)…I saw the abstract for the research and only 5 of the PH.D’s names were listed as authors, even though the team has 20 PH.D’s…I don’t see how an undergrad is supposed to get his/her name published, when there are PH.D’s on the team who don’t have their names published…</p>
<p>Of course that’s not always the case. The usual scenario, as I see it, is one PhD- PI, Lab techs-Grads, and undergrads.</p>
<p>My lab has one PI, 3 post-docs, 4 grad students, 2 techs, and a lab manager (also a PhD) who does research as well. </p>
<p>I just graduated from high school, and I’ve gotten tons of experience, as I’ve been there for 7 months now. I started off doing grunt work, but now I’m pretty autonomous. I work under a grad student, but he basically tells me what to do, and I go do it on my own, and he’s there for questions I may have. I do everything from tissue sectioning to mounting to staining to data collection, as well as helping with surgical procedures (on animals) and other things.</p>
<p>I think you just have to find the right lab. It’s not basic stuff either, it’s neuroscience, but you just have to take the time to learn it, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get some good work experience. I got my name on a poster presented at a big convention, and there’s a good chance I’ll get on the next publication. Granted, they are being generous as I probably won’t do more than help write the abstract or make graphics, but still, it’s a publication.</p>
<p>That’s my research experience, FWIW.</p>
<p>^^ This has been my experience in my lab as well. It is a really rewarding experience!!!</p>
<p>ZFanatic, it seems like you’ve found a great lab and PI, and you’re not even a sophomore yet. LUCKY YOU!</p>
<p>^he’s not even a freshman yet.</p>
<p>I don’t see how most undergrads get their names published on the abstract, because its so hard to contribute intellectually…Lab meetings with everyone on the research team makes me confused as hell, because I have no idea what they are talking about…</p>
<p>A lot of the time it’s just a generous mentor throwing you a bone. But there are also tons of people out there who actually understand the stuff they’re doing. If you spend enough time in a lab, you’ll know enough about the subject (assuming it’s nothing super crazy) to be able to talk about it. I know I have, and my lab is a neuroscience lab…</p>
<p>Where can you find medical research as a high school student??</p>
<p>I have asked colleges and hospitals and they tell me you have to be 18. However, I have been told by several high school students that they perform research.
Confused…anyone know?</p>
<p>Parents and close friends perhaps. Many high schoolers are 18 for a good portion of their senior year. Are they seniors?</p>
<p>I mean I can talk about the research taking place, the people I shadow have done a really good job of explaining it…BUT I can’t have my name as an author because I haven’t contributed anything to the project…</p>
<p>Maybe you should consider switching labs to something a little less above your head or that you enjoy more? Abstracts are pretty easy to get your name on. You just have to make a poster and then go present it somewhere (unless you are talking about the “abstracts” of Nature)</p>
<p>Btw ZFanatic, what species do you work with? I also research in neuroscience and your description of what you do in lab is very similar to mine (i.e. “tissue sectioning to mounting to staining to data collection, as well as helping with surgical procedures (on animals) and other things”). I work with chick embryos and the molecular signaling taking place in their developing brains.</p>
<p>I work with ants :D</p>
<p>For another week at least.</p>