One of the first things I wondered before medical school was how to do research in medical school. Research in medical school is a non-negotiable. It is a part of your residency application and shows programs you’re interested in research. It also can connect you with really important people and opportunities. Research is the basis of all progress in medicine. It can be really exciting, and it’s so tempting to dive right in. However, it’s not always as simple and fun as it seems. Here are 5 important tips to know when looking into how to do research in medical school.
1. Do research that interests you
It is so easy to feel pressed about doing research that you dive into the first opportunity available. However, medical school is extremely busy. You will have so many obligations, that if you’re giving your time to something, it needs to be worth it. Research can also be really frustrating. If you don’t enjoy what you’re doing, then you may not be inclined to see the project through. Many research projects in medical school go unfinished due to a lack of interest. Don’t invest in something that you won’t enjoy through the good and the bad.
When looking into how to do research in medical school, find out what projects are already happening. It’s so much easier to join a team that already has the groundwork laid out. Most schools have webpages that highlight faculties’ current research projects. You can also talk to your advisors and professors to find out what they’re doing. If there is a project that sounds fun, or would be a beneficial challenge, then look into it and find out what they would need from you as a student researcher.
If none of the available projects interest you, but you are very creative, then you can initiate your own research. This is the harder route as you have to organize every last detail. But, it’s fun to take that initiative to solve a problem that you’ve identified. It’s also very impressive for students to initiate research projects. Find a faculty that has similar interests, or that is willing to support your idea.
2. Be flexible and expect delays
I am currently still trying to recruit participants for a project I initiated over a year ago. It’s so far behind that I’m not sure when we’ll be able to initiate it. But when you’re trying to figure out how to do research in medical school, you need to be flexible and expect delays. They are going to happen and your pretty timeline is going to be ripped to shreds. This is normal, and can be frustrating. But if you expect these, then it makes it a little easier to take them in stride and do what you can.
Also, if you’re initiating your own research, you have to be flexible with the layout of the project. I have had many ideas that were poked and prodded at by faculty and people who have more experience than me. This can be intimidating because you love your project and don’t want anyone to change it. However, many times, they can change it and make it better. They have more pull and resources that can take your project to new levels. When discussing your project with your advisor, be open-minded and at least listen. Then take what you want and leave what you feel like isn’t a good fit. At the end of the day, your name is going on the project so it needs to represent you.
3. Work with compatible researchers
I am the queen of wanting to do things myself. I feel like it’s easier, more convenient, and I get all the control. However, when thinking of how to do research in medical school, it’s going to be so hard to do projects alone. You are going to be so busy, that you are going to want a team. Working with others can be great! I have a wellness project right now that has 14 other students on it and they are awesome. They take over all the smaller minute tasks, as well as provide great feedback when discussing the project. You can divide the work and two brains are better than one.
However, research partners can also be stressful. If you both work on different schedules or have different ideas of how the project is going to go, this can lead to some disagreement. A difference in opinion is normal, and in fact, is probably necessary for the project to keep evolving. However, a lack of compromise makes for a stressful partnership. Medical school is already stressful. There’s no reason to add stress by working with a non-compatible partner if you don’t have to. Sometimes, you just can’t work with certain people because you both are reading two different books. It’s nothing personal, but it’s important to recognize that early in the relationship. Open, honest, and transparent communication with everyone on the research team is imperative.
If you’re not sure about your compatibility, discuss some of these factors and get a feel for how well they match up with yours:
- how they handle stress
- workload, both professionally and personally
- goals for the project
- the part of research they enjoy doing
- how often they would be okay working on the project
- overall interest in the project
- work ethic
- relationship with other researchers
4. Look for funding
When you are trying to figure out how to do research in medical school, see if there are any funding opportunities. There is an endless pool of money for research. The hard part is finding the right grant. Funding is great for certain research projects, especially intervention. Funding can also support you, as research may take so much time that you should be compensated. Summer research projects often provide financial supplementation to cover basic costs.
Funding is also important for covering the costs of the project. There is so muchmore you can do when places donate money, food, people, spaces, etc. to carry out your project. Make a list of the things you need and start looking for places to provide that. As far as grants, you can Google grants for specific themes, e.g. wellness, community health, rural health, genetic disorders, public health, etc.
Your school also likely has a grants and scholarship office that has additional funding opportunities and resources. This part of the process takes time, but when you find the right grant(s) then your project can really expand beyond your original expectations.
5. Have an end goal in mind
You can’t do research just for the sake of doing something. It needs to serve a purpose. You need to make sure that your research question is meets the FINER method: feasible, interesting, novel, ethical, and relevant. Who is this project going to help? What is new about your project, or what can your project add? Does your project solve a problem? Is it sustainable and realistic? These are all things to think about as you formulate your research plan.
Also decide what your end goal is for the data. Publications are important for residency applications. If you would like to get your project published, then you need to look into journals and platforms before you begin the research. Certain journals require certain steps for publication that must take place at the beginning. If you complete your research and then look at the guidelines, but there was something you. missed, then you either have to start over or choose a different journal. Look at journals and what content they publish to see if your project would align well with their other topics.
Also look into chances to present your research. Conferences are a great place to network and present your research. You can meet program directors, physicians in specialties you may be interested in, and also you get to practice presenting your findings to individuals. You don’t want to miss abstract deadlines, so before you begin your research, think about where you would like to present the findings and create a timeline that helps you meet all the deadlines.
By thinking about the direction of your project, you can reduce the chance of getting off track and being unsure what you’ve even done at the end of it. This will save you a lot of time and frustration at down the road.
Ask me about research
I’m conducting several research projects right now and hope to have some publications by the end of the year. I would be happy to answer any questions about my own research or helping you move forward in yours. Shoot me an email or fill out the form below!
Never miss another post! Subscribe now
3 thoughts on “How to Do Research in Medical School: 5 Important Tips”