The Scientista Foundation
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Team
  • My Campus
    • Find My Campus
    • Start A Chapter >
      • Chapter Application
      • Chapter Application (In Progress)
  • The Periodical
    • Career Blog
    • Plan Your Education
    • Lifestyle Blog
    • Women in Science News
    • DiscovHER Science
    • Get Inspired
  • Events
    • Events
    • Symposium 2019
    • Symposium Testimonials
  • Join
    • Subscribe!
    • Internships
    • Test Membership
  • Sponsorship
    • Our Sponsors
    • Sponsor Scientista!
    • University Membership
    • Donate
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Team
  • My Campus
    • Find My Campus
    • Start A Chapter >
      • Chapter Application
      • Chapter Application (In Progress)
  • The Periodical
    • Career Blog
    • Plan Your Education
    • Lifestyle Blog
    • Women in Science News
    • DiscovHER Science
    • Get Inspired
  • Events
    • Events
    • Symposium 2019
    • Symposium Testimonials
  • Join
    • Subscribe!
    • Internships
    • Test Membership
  • Sponsorship
    • Our Sponsors
    • Sponsor Scientista!
    • University Membership
    • Donate
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

9/18/2012 10 Comments

Part Two: Navigating the Lab Dating Scene

[Republished from 11/15/2011]
By Stephanie Wang
You are single. Open. Interested.

 Yet, no one in the research community knows this yet.

It is up to you to make the first step.


Picture
What to look for in a potential Primary Investigator!
In Part One: Lab Drama and The Breakup, I explained the importance of finding a lab that you are passionate about, and how to break up with a lab that isn't "Mr. Right," so to speak. Now that you're single, it is time to start looking for a lab that is a good fit for you. Finding a laboratory is a fun and exciting process.  College is a place in which you have the freedom and opportunity to study almost any topic you can think of, from chemistry and physics to biology and engineering.  Here are some tips to help you get started on your search.

1.   How do I know what labs to contact?

Perhaps a better question is, what is your purpose for doing research during college?  Is it because you can’t get enough of a particular scientific topic and want to learn more?  Would you prefer a fast-paced, cutting edge lab setting, or rather a smaller, slow-paced environment? Are you looking to delve deep into a specific topic or to dabble in several projects? Do you want to gain the skills to one day go into industry or head your own lab?  Is it just for the experience?  Or is it a springboard for medical school?  Consider your intentions before beginning your search for a new lab.  By doing so, you may be able to narrow your search to better suit your own needs. 

2.   I want my lab to be tall, handsome, outgoing… and involved in the synthesis of new cancer drugs. 
Some people come into college knowing exactly what scientific topics they wish to pursue. They can easily do a search on faculty in their field of interest and pinpoint a particular one they want to work with.  

Yet, others might find the task of knowing which labs to contact daunting. Perhaps you've never conducted research, or you are looking for a fresh start. As a freshman, I had no idea what I wanted to study, and because of that, I felt frozen, unable to even begin looking for a lab. I had done some biomedical research at a hospital research facility in high school, but doing research in a college lab seemed like it would be on a whole different level—it was intimidating to me just thinking about it.  Moreover, I had no idea which field of science I would be most interested in.   

Brainstorm some topics that you find interesting. The Scientista Foundation suggests reading scientific magazines regularly to discover what topics interest you most [See: Top Five Magazines Every Scientista Should Read]. Another clue to your own interest is to analyze what you've enjoyed most from the courses you've taken. Perhaps you took a particularly interesting material engineering class, or really enjoyed your neurobiology lecture on human sexuality. L

For those who are uncertain like I was, you may be wavering between different topics in one field or between entirely different fields altogether.  Whatever your case, I recommend that you look up labs that you think you would enjoy. The cure for the freshman me would have been to just start somewhere by getting a sense for what sort of research my campus had to offer.  

3.   Alright. So then, where should I look?

Once you have located a general area of interest, it may be helpful to go straight to your campus's science departmental websites. Get familiar with these websites, as they are the "Ok Cupid" of the research world. There are often links that profile researchers and labs from that department, pointing you to specific research topics.  Take a quick glance—is there anything interesting?  Keep tabs on the topics that intrigue you.

At the same time, it is good to have realistic expectations: just like with relationships, it is rare to find a lab that is a "perfect fit." If you are interested in research, do not let your uncertainty about a particular lab be a hindrance!  After meeting with the PI and discussing potential projects, you can make up your mind as to whether you really want to try the lab out.  The worst thing you can do is to want to do research, but not make a move because you are unsure of what type of research you want to perform.

If you’re especially lost, it may be worthwhile to talk to someone with more experience than you. This could be a friend already in a lab, your academic advisor or even your favorite science professor.  I personally found my academic advisor, Bodo Stern, to be particularly helpful in my search for a new lab as he had many insights on whether a PI would be a good mentor or not for me.   

Good luck on your search! 

[WANT MORE TIPS FOR HOW TO GET INTO A LAB ON YOUR CAMPUS? Read Scientista's exclusive interview with Harvard Research Advisor, Professor Ann Georgi: How to Get into Research]


scientista finding a lab women in science

PART THREE: "Love" Letters to Lab

Once you've found your dream lab, what do you do? Next up, get your pens out and learn how to craft the perfect letter. 
Read more >
Letter of interest to lab for women in science
managing your lab relationship
Successful Relationship with Research 2/4

Share

Comments?


Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

10 Comments
website link
3/21/2013 11:52:04 pm

I have been through a situation like this and you are right. It is not easy but you learn a lot of things out of it.

Reply
카지노사이트 link
2/4/2022 09:08:20 pm

I want you to thank for your time of this wonderful read!!! I definately enjoy every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff of your blog a must read blog!.

Reply
바카라사이트 link
2/4/2022 09:09:34 pm

Thank you so much for ding the impressive job here, everyone will surely like your post.
I really enjoy reading and also appreciate your work.

Reply
스포츠토토 link
2/4/2022 09:11:10 pm

Great Information sharing .. I am very happy to read this article .. thanks for giving us go through info.Fantastic nice. I appreciate this post.

Reply
스포츠토토티비 link
2/4/2022 09:12:36 pm

Superbly written article, if only all bloggers offered the same content as you, the internet would be a far better place..

Reply
토토사이트 link
2/4/2022 09:17:48 pm

Thanks for the nice blog. It was very useful for me. I’m happy I found this blog. Thank you for sharing with us,I too always learn something new from your post.

Reply
카지노먹튀 link
6/17/2022 04:15:59 am

I ll recommend it whenever good comments come up. I ll let people know. I hope you can enjoy this blog.

Reply
먹튀검증 link
6/17/2022 04:16:15 am

If you keep it like this, I ll visit you every day. I will continue to grow. If this part is maintained

Reply
먹튀검증사이트 link
6/17/2022 04:16:33 am

recommended I might like this blog This post actually made my day. You can not imagine just how much time I had spent for this info! Thanks!

Reply
안전놀이터 link
10/20/2022 12:07:18 am

If I had found this before, my life could be much better than now. Thank you, and I would really like to let you know so that you will feel good.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    What's Hot

    scientista foundation

    Get the Digest

    scientista digest mailing list
    Close

    About the Blogger

    scientista career women in science
    Stephanie M. Wang Scientista Blogger
    Stephanie M. Wang is a Chemical and Physical Biology major at Harvard College, Class of 2013. She is a pre-med who just can't get enough of the hard sciences. She loves learning new things, frisbee, poetry, every kind of apple, people. Stephanie blogs regularly for the Scientista Foundation: Find her blog here! 

    Scientista Foundation About Stephanie Wang

    More From Stephanie

    women in science career

    RSS Feed


About

Mission  
Team


Connect

E-Newsletter
Facebook
Twitter
​
Instagram
Contact 


Press

All Press
Harvard Crimson
Harvard Gazette
Bostinnovation.com

Partner

Our Sponsors
Sponsorship Inquiries
​Partnership Inquiries
The Scientista Foundation, Inc. All Rights Reserved © 2011-2021 | Based in NY | contact@scientistafoundation.org
The Network for Pre-Professional Women in Science and Engineering
The Scientista Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) -- Donate!

Photo used under Creative Commons from Evil Erin