Student Research Journey:Conducting Your Research

  • Setting Realistic Goals & Expectations

    • Your primary task is to satisfactorily complete your courses & do well on the Step exams—don’t jeopardize your grades or set yourself up for failure or burnout
    • Work closely with your mentor to identify a discreet research or scholarly question—you can’t cure cancer over the summer
    • Ready yourself for failure, blind alleys and futile experiments—that’s research!
    • Take time to appreciate the joy in learning new skills and knowledge
    • While possible, most students do not publish in high impact journals

     

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  • Working in Research Teams

    • Today’s research is almost always done in teams
    • Just because you are a medical student doesn’t make you a team leader—be respectful of your team members, who will often be far more knowledgeable than you
    • Be willing to help with any task—whether mundane or routine
    • If you work in a lab, make friends with the technicians and core personnel who keep things functioning
    • Be able to say, “I don’t know”; ask questions and act humbly

     

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  • How much research is enough?

    • Your goal should be a research experience that demonstrates your interest, grit and hard-work—a project for which you can talk passionately
    • While some surveys report incredible student research productivity, the reality is most students will present a few times, and publish a few abstracts or papers
    • A single project over four years which yields a high impact publication or presentation is far better than multiple publications reporting inconsequential endeavors
    • Unless you intend a research focused career, don’t sweat it—enjoy

     

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  • Working with consultants including biostatisticians

    • Common research consultants include biostatisticians and other methodologists, academic writers, experts from cores or other scientific disciplines, and research administrators
    • The time to consult is before the project is begun—sample size calculations, research design, securing support for busy shared equipment, etc., are best sought early
    • Be respectful of consultants, even if you might be a content expert. More papers get rejected because of poor execution, not because the subject is blasé
    • Work with your mentor to hone the ask. Many consultants are juggling multiple projects and deadlines. Know what your questions or concerns are up front

     

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  • What if I have problems with a mentor or researcher?

    • Occasionally, a student and mentor may not see eye to eye. Very rarely there are issues of mistreatment or serious violations of conduct.
    • For minor concerns, a one to one with your mentor may be all that is required.
    • The Senior Associate Dean can help facilitate discussion of conflicts
    • For issues of mistreatment, use this link to report unprofessionalism as in any other situation. If in doubt, contact the Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs.

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