How to Get Involved in Research: A Guide for College Scientistas
Page 2Finding the Right Lab
But of course, before one starts experimenting, it’s important to know what gets you excited. “It is important to ask yourself the right questions. What kinds of research questions interest you? Then start reading profiles of faculty who work in that field. The more you read and look around, the more likely you are to find the lab that gives you the ‘that’s really cool!’ visceral reaction. Ultimately, you want to come up with a list of six to eight labs, and normally, I suggest prioritizing that list, contacting your first two choice labs and then working your way down the list,” says Georgi. Note: If you're looking for a lab, now you can browse through our new lab opportunities page! You can search for labs with available research assistant openings by criteria and by research area, and can apply directly from our site. Just create a free WISE Words member account and start searching. Making Contact Making the first contact can often seem intimidating, but a well-crafted e-mail can make even the inexperienced researcher stand out. As Georgi notes, that first e-mail is crucial, especially at a time when the faculty know nothing about you, so it’s important to use those few sentences in your e-mail to the faculty to make a good first impression, and make the faculty interested in taking you in. “In writing to faculty, it’s better to make the e-mail about the faculty and his/her research interest, and add what interests you about their work.” She adds that in their first e-mail letters to faculty, students should avoid generalities. “Students often send something that is too generic and not targeted enough to a faculty member’s specific research project or area, but that’s not a very productive approach. Professors are looking for someone who has done their homework, read their website, looked at current papers, and become familiar with what the faculty’s lab does. When that happens, faculty is much more likely to be intrigued that the student picked his or her lab out of the many at Harvard.” Georgi also adds that it is also helpful for faculty when students attach a resume in their e-mail, so they can gauge the student’s level of experience which makes it easier to find an appropriate project for that student. Always Follow Up Yet, as Georgi acknowledges, faculty may not always be the quickest to respond to student interest, but therefore it may be valuable for students to follow up. “If a lab was the first choice on your list, and you don’t hear back, it’s okay to send a follow-up e-mail. It may be that the faculty intended to respond, but was just too busy at the time and then forgot about it.” |
Meet Dr. Ann Georgi!
Ann Georgi is the Undergraduate Research Advisor for Life Sciences. She comes to this position after spending most of her adult life in research labs at Harvard, both at FAS and HMS. Her research interests over the years include studying the spatial and temporal regulation of gene expression with Fotis Kafatos at FAS, working on reovirus pathogenesis in Bernie Fields lab at Harvard Medical School and most recently studying cell cycle regulation in Marc Kirschner’s lab also at HMS. She and her husband, Howard, are Masters of Leverett House. In her copious spare time, she is an avid equestrian who competes with her horse in hunter divisions at “A” level horseshows throughout New England and New York. |
Know What to Expect
Furthermore, as Georgi stresses, finding the right lab and the right mentor is only the beginning, and students need to be aware of lab expectations. “Students should not over commit, and when you interview with a prospective faculty advisor, don’t tell them that you can work 12-15 hours a week when you actually can spend only 8 hours. You need to be realistic about what you can do. As you get into your junior and senior year and are more likely to be doing research for credit or working on a thesis, the lab’s expectations for your time commitment will increase. Occasionally, students and labs don’t communicate clearly, and this can lead to disappointment on both sides. It is always important to keep your coursework as your top priority,” she says. She also adds that if, at any time, a student is lost on what research path to pursue, it’s always a good idea to ask for help, whether it’s a research advisor, your professor or your concentration advisor.
Why Research is Worth It
After reading this, it may seem like the process of delving into research in college is a long, often arduous one. Yet, at the end of the day, as Georgi tells us, research is well worth it, and she encourages all students of all concentrations to get involved. “Research is the practice of science, and there is really no substitute for the hands-on approach to answering questions, and understanding that your results will open up new questions. It will change the way you think about science, as not just rote memorization, but about learning to ask the right questions. It’s where science becomes collaborative, and you learn to think through problems, and much like working together on a p-set, research fosters interaction,” she says. But who can forget the thrill of research? As Georgi adds, “Research is just plain fun. It’s the creative part of science, and it’s exciting.”
Furthermore, as Georgi stresses, finding the right lab and the right mentor is only the beginning, and students need to be aware of lab expectations. “Students should not over commit, and when you interview with a prospective faculty advisor, don’t tell them that you can work 12-15 hours a week when you actually can spend only 8 hours. You need to be realistic about what you can do. As you get into your junior and senior year and are more likely to be doing research for credit or working on a thesis, the lab’s expectations for your time commitment will increase. Occasionally, students and labs don’t communicate clearly, and this can lead to disappointment on both sides. It is always important to keep your coursework as your top priority,” she says. She also adds that if, at any time, a student is lost on what research path to pursue, it’s always a good idea to ask for help, whether it’s a research advisor, your professor or your concentration advisor.
Why Research is Worth It
After reading this, it may seem like the process of delving into research in college is a long, often arduous one. Yet, at the end of the day, as Georgi tells us, research is well worth it, and she encourages all students of all concentrations to get involved. “Research is the practice of science, and there is really no substitute for the hands-on approach to answering questions, and understanding that your results will open up new questions. It will change the way you think about science, as not just rote memorization, but about learning to ask the right questions. It’s where science becomes collaborative, and you learn to think through problems, and much like working together on a p-set, research fosters interaction,” she says. But who can forget the thrill of research? As Georgi adds, “Research is just plain fun. It’s the creative part of science, and it’s exciting.”
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