HOW DO I GET INVOLVED IN A RESEARCH LAB?
Below is a step-by-stem process for getting involved in research.
1. Find out about the neuroscience faculty and their research interests. Spend time on the neuroscience webpage and department webpages learning about each professor and their research interests. Choose a few professors that have interests similar to yours. Student research projects cover a wide variety of topics including the biophysics of ion channels and transmitter receptors, cell biology of neurotransmitter release, development of the nervous system (from stem cells to infants), sensory system development and physiology, sexual differentiation of the brain, neural control of the endocrine and cardiovascular systems, hormonal control of behavior, stress/anxiety/depression, motivation and addiction, cognitive function, learning and memory, speech and language, and neuroimaging.
2. Find out more about the professors and the labs that you are interested in. After narrowing down your list to a few professors with whom you’d like to work, do more homework on their research projects and lab environment. Read a few of their recently published papers. Read abstracts and posters that undergraduate students working in the lab have written (often they are posted outside the labs on the walls). Talk to students that are already in the lab (it’s OK to wander into the lab and ask questions). Find out what projects are currently running and what projects may be coming in the future. Ask yourself the following questions…Would I enjoy working in this lab? Do the lab projects interest me? How many hours am I able to devote to working in the lab?
3. Talk to the faculty member with whom you’d like to work. Meet with the faculty face-to-face. Phone calls and emails are not effective. Find out the faculty member’s office hours and go to his/her office. Tell him/her that you have spent quite a bit of time learning about their research and lab, that you have read their papers, that you have talked to other students in the lab, and that you are interested in joining their lab. Tell them what specific projects interest you, but be flexible and ask what projects need additional researchers. Tell them how many hours you are able to devote to doing lab work, but again, be flexible and ask how many hours the professor expects of his students. Professors are more likely to react favorably to you if you are well-prepared, flexible, and a bit persistent (but not overbearing). Labs are often full. If this is the case, ask if you can attend lab meeting to learn more about the research going on in the lab. Getting your foot in the door may help you get into the lab in the future.
WHEN IN MY COLLEGE CAREER SHOULD I SEEK A MENTORED EXPERIENCE?
Do It Now!! It is never too early or too late. Many professors seek out
bright freshmen or sophomore to work in their lab. It takes several
months to learn how to effectively do lab work. If you begin early in
your education, you will become productive in the lab by the time you
graduate. If you are a junior or senior, get involved ASAP—don’t waste
any more time. There are projects available for all levels of students.
HOW MUCH TIME SHOULD I DEVOTE TO DOING LAB WORK?
The more time you can devote to working in the lab, the more rewarding
your experience will be. A student that works 10-20 hours a week will
get more out of the experience than a student that is only in the lab
4-5 hours a week. Realize that the time commitment required to be an
effective lab member varies depending on the project, so make sure that
you discuss this with your potential mentor. Often a student begins by
spending a few hours each week to shadow other students, learn lab
techniques, and attend lab meetings. When a student assumes his/her own
project, a heavier time commitment is usually necessary.
CAN I GET PAID FOR WORKING IN THE LAB?
Generally students volunteer in the lab for a few months. After they
have learned a few techniques and know how the lab runs, students often
can work in the lab for university credit (Neuro 449R). You’ll need to
discuss this possibility with your mentor. There are also opportunities
to be paid for your research. Consider applying for an ORCA grant (a
grant from the university to an individual student that is doing
research). Some labs may have funding to pay students a salary for
their research work. This typically is available only to the most
productive and dedicated students after they have spent a couple of
semesters in the lab. Again, you’ll need to discuss this possibility
with your mentor.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM A MENTORED EXPERIENCE?
The types of experiences that students have as undergraduates at BYU
are equivalent to what graduate students at other universities
experience. You are at a rare and special place that provides
outstanding opportunities for undergraduate students to get involved!
In addition to developing a professional and personal relationship with your mentor and the other students in the lab, you will learn how to…
These experiences will help you prepare for your future. They will help you to be a better scientist, be a more competitive applicant to graduate or professional school, and be better equipped to “go forth and serve” in your chosen field.
