Getting In The Essential Guide to Finding a STEMM Undergrad Research Experience

About this book

An empowering guide for students in STEMM that demystifies the process of securing undergraduate research experiences.

Conducting research is an important foundation for many undergraduates on STEMM career paths. But landing an extremely competitive research spot that is also an enriching experience involves knowing how to present yourself effectively and an awareness of your goals and expectations. In this book, an expert lab manager and a longtime principal investigator share their secrets for obtaining these coveted positions.

Offering advice to students in a wide variety of STEMM fields at both research-intensive universities and primarily undergraduate institutions, Getting In helps students navigate the hidden curriculum of academia, unofficial rules that disproportionately affect first-generation college students and those from low-income backgrounds and communities historically underrepresented in science. The authors provide not only an overview of STEMM research and lab opportunities but also specific strategies for the entire application process – including how to write emails that get noticed by busy professors, how to ask for a research position during office hours, and interview questions to prepare for – so students can claim their place in research settings.

With its emphasis on the many interpersonal and professional benefits of research experiences, Getting In equips all STEMM undergrads with the tools they need both to secure these valued positions and to develop habits that will build productive relationships with their future research mentors.

As an undergrad, Getting In will help you:
- determine how much time you can spend on research by evaluating your current activity level and goals.
- find the time to do research without giving up your social life or risking your GPA.
- avoid common mistakes in the search, application, or interview that make it harder to find a research experience.
- write emails that get you noticed by busy professors by customizing the included templates.
- prepare for tough interview questions so you'll impress the interviewer with your answers, and be able to determine if the position is right for you.

As a research mentor, Getting In will help your students:
- navigate the hidden curriculum of finding a research experience in science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine (STEMM).
- set realistic expectations for their research experience.
- understand why conducting research requires effort and will include some failure and other challenges.
- be active participants in their success in the lab.

Contents

Preface

Part One
1: Why Choose Research?
- What’s in It for You?
- Professional Development Opportunities
- Interpersonal Development Opportunities
- Academic Advantages
- Connections—Professional, Personal, and More
- Potential Financial Rewards
- Recommendation and Reference Letters
2: An Introduction to STEMM Research, Research Groups, and Lab Cultures
- What Is Scientific Research?
- Nine Parts to a Research Project, Simplified
- The Research Team and Work Environment
- Your Mentors
- Lab Culture
- 3: Will I Like Conducting Research?
- Understanding and Managing Your Expectations—Your Strategy for Happiness and Success
- Qualifications for Participation in Undergrad Research
- The Ideal Time to Start Undergrad Research
- The Time Commitment
- The Experience Paradox
- Using Lab Classes to Prepare for Undergrad Research
- Wet Lab Positions for Undergrads
- Projects for Undergrad Researchers
- Deciding Whether to Register for Course Credit for Research
- Summer Undergrad Research Programs (SURPs)
- Why Research Positions Are Competitive (and What You Can or Can’t Do about It)

Part Two
4: Your Search Strategy
- Ten Search Mistakes to Avoid
- Getting Started Is the Hardest Part
- Step 1: Schedule and Prioritize Your Time
- Step 2: Identify Potential Meaningful Research Experiences
- More Methods to Identify Undergrad Research Opportunities
- Tips on Selecting and Reading a Scientific Paper before Applying for a Research Position
- Maintaining Your Academic and Life Balance in Future Semesters
- 5: Your Application Strategy
- Ten Application Mistakes to Avoid
- Application Procedure
- Step 1: Craft Your CV and Obtain Your Transcript
- Step 2: Make First Contact
- Step 3: Complete Online Applications for SURPs and Other Opportunities (When Applicable)
6: Your Interview Strategy
- Ten Interview Mistakes to Avoid
- Tips Specific to Virtual Interviews
- To Seize Your Undergrad Research Interview, Ask the Questions That Matter
- Mentors’ Interviewing Styles
- Preparing for the Interview
- At the Interview
- After the Interview
- Congratulations, You’re Now an Undergrad in the Lab!
- Ten Tips to Prepare for Your First Day of Your Undergrad Research Experience

Acknowledgments
Index

Customer Reviews

Biography

Paris H. Grey is a writer, molecular biologist, and lab mentor. She has written articles on strategies for early-career researchers for Nature, the Lab Manager, Science, and elsewhere.

David G. Oppenheimer is an associate professor in biology at the University of Florida. His research program focuses on the proteins that control cytoskeleton dynamics and how this influences plant cell shape. Grey and Oppenheimer are coauthors of Life and Research: A Survival Guide for Early-Career Biomedical Scientists, also published by the University of Chicago Press.