Know what you want
Why do you want to do research? And why this lab?
What research topics interest you?
Don’t get TOO caught up on topics – don’t apply to labs whose research you have zero interest in, but your undergrad research doesn’t have to/probably won’t become your life’s work
Considerations:
- Big or small lab
- Research for credit or $$
- Do they have a project for you
What are your goals? (Rec letters, getting published, getting a position for the summer?)
Know what they want
Highlight your strengths!
Be familiar with the PI’s research topic,passion/interest in research
Show previous research experience, having lots of time to spend in lab, being around over the summer, etc.
It’s okay if you don’t feel like you stand out in any of these areas (especially freshmen)! Everyone starts somewhere!
Look on department websites for PIs’ research topics; OUR website also has a list of Bio 200/500 labs (incl. WUSM)
*For BME majors, you can try reaching out to professors you had classes with
Send your resume to potential labs, explain what about their lab/research interests to you, and apply to more than one lab.
Don’t feel pressured to join the first lab that interviews you. That said – if an opportunity comes up that sounds like a great fit, don’t feel like you HAVE to keep your options open.
- There is no such thing as “too late”
- You don’t HAVE to do research
- 16% of WashU pre-meds don’t
- You can do it once you’re in med school too!
- You don’t HAVE to publish a paper
- Graduate students may take 5 years to publish a paper!
- It is not common for med school applicants to be first authors
- BUT, if you do get tagged in a paper, make sure to provide your middle initial
Other ways to find research:
- OUR Email List
- Networking
- Random posts on the OUR website
- Professors who are looking for undergrad researchers
- Etc. (Keep your eyes peeled BUT don’t solely rely on chance)
- WUSM labs are easy to metro to: take the Blue Line to CWE from Skinker (near Engineering Complex) or UCity/Big Bend (near Village)
- Take good notes of everything
- Procedures, things learned, where things are in the lab, etc.
- Ask questions! It’s better to ask more questions in the beginning as opposed to when you are supposed to know
- Be nice to everyone, join the community within your lab
- Come out having something to show for your time doing research (data and skills)
If the lab isn’t a good fit for you, make a graceful and polite exit (there’s no obligation to be stuck in a lab you don’t enjoy)
1 credit: 1-3 hours/week; 2 credits: 3-6 hours/week; 3 credits: 6-9 hours/week
Depending on the lab, some people do 10-20 hours of research a week. Consider joining when you have enough time to learn (for example, summer).
- undergradresearch.wustl.edu
- Advice on how to reach out to mentors
- EXTENSIVE list of summer programs (incl. some outside WashU)
- Postings about research opportunities that come up
- WashU Bulletin
- Tells you how much research you’ll need to do to prepare a thesis and graduate with honors
- Department websites
- Can search PIs and their topics easily
- Special requirements for doing research in that department (e.g., Chemistry has a form you need to fill out if your PI is outside the Chemistry department)
- Courses that are focused on research (e.g. Phage Bioinformatics and other Ampersand classes)