Research seems daunting. You probably have friends that are deep in their research projects, spending any free time working on their cancer research.

But one thing is for sure: research is NOT an exclusive club for high achieving students.

Anyone can be successful at getting into a research lab and getting that publication that they dream of.

By following these insights, you'll find that beginning your research project is not only achievable but also a significant leap towards beefing up your application before applying to medical school.

Part 1: How to get started

Why are you even doing research?

As getting into med school becomes more competitive, it is a must to stand out. Research is one of the best ways.

But it’s important to know why you are doing it. You don’t want to go down this path just for it to waste your time.

Here are a few examples of why some students do research:

1. I need research to get into a good med school

2. I want to learn more about this interesting condition

3. I want to become a dermatologist so that I can treat patients for 3 days a week while making a boatload of money and spending time with family.

As you can tell, your motivation can stem from anything.

How to find professors that publish fast?

Some researchers suck at publishing their work. While others pump out publications every few months.

Find the second group of researchers. They are committed to delivering, and you can piggy back off that.

Here are 3 important factors that you need to consider when finding a research mentor:

1. What are their incentives?

Make sure their incentives are aligned towards publishing.

For example, the postdoc I was working with in undergrad was looking for professorships at nearby universities. And because of that, he was publishing all of our lab work like there was no tomorrow. 

This ended up getting me 3 2nd-author publications before the age of 20.

2. What is their publication and presentation history?

Someone’s research history can be a great proxy of how quickly they will publish in the future.

Here are 5 ways to check their research history:

• Pubmed

• Personal Research Website

• Twitter

• ResearchGate

• Google Scholar

Through these websites, you will be able to tell if they publish monthly? Yearly? Or even every couple of years (RED FLAG!)

3. Research questions yet to be answered?

Does their recent research still have lots of questions to be answered? Do you think that you can help to answer them?

You might need to talk to the research mentor to get this answer.

How to write that first outreach email

When it comes to emailing busy people, you cannot treat this like any other email. You need to have to be clear and to the point, while explaining why they should even care about your email. You can use the WIPA formula as a way to structure your outreach email. WIPA stands for:

W - Who am I

I - Interest

P - Proving yourself

A - Your ask

When they see your name in their inbox, the first two things they care about are who you are (W) and why you are interested in them (I). Here is a hook you can use:

Here are 3 rules of thumb:

• Try to be specific – naming the publication is better than saying you read their research. There is nothing better than to acknowledge someone’s 100s, if not 1000s of hours of hard work. 

  • BONUS: refer to a recently published paper as they may be continuing to do more research on that topic soon

• If you are early in your premed journey, state your major

• If you are late in the journey (senior undergrad/med school), say what year you are (and possible interests) 

If you want the rest of the formula with 3 full examples of the formula in use, email us at [email protected].

Remember, 1 good email can change the course of you getting your research publication.

Part 2: Thriving during Research Projects

Set expectations early

Surprises in the research world are generally not a good thing. So work with your research mentor and set expectations early.

Expressing a desire for extra feedback early on is crucial. By doing so, you communicate your commitment to understanding and meeting the team's needs effectively.

This proactive approach not only demonstrates your eagerness to contribute in the most beneficial way but also lays the groundwork for gaining independence.

As you receive and incorporate this initial feedback, you'll be better equipped to navigate the project with greater autonomy, ultimately leading to a more productive and successful research experience.

Say you would love for extra feedback in the beginning so that you can deliver in the way that is most helpful to the team and then gain independence.

Say yes to everything: 80/20 rule

When starting out, say yes to everything. You have nothing to lose.

Embracing the "Say Yes to Everything" philosophy, especially when guided by the 80/20 rule, can be transformative at the onset of your career or new endeavors.

This approach is predicated on the idea that by agreeing to various opportunities, you maximize your exposure and learning experiences. Initially, you truly have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

The 80/20 rule, or Pareto Principle, suggests that 80% of your outcomes come from 20% of your efforts.

By saying yes to everything, you increase your chances of discovering which activities yield the greatest benefits.

This strategy not only accelerates your growth and learning curve but also opens doors to unexpected opportunities.

How to respond to emails from your mentor

Imagine your research mentor emails you saying:

Thursday 5:30 pm

What most people do:

Well, I typically do research tasks on Tuesdays. I guess I’ll go through his edits this weekend. When Sunday comes around, you start going through the edits. But then get an invite for brunch So, you get busy with that and studying. End up doing another hour at night. Then you think, oh well, I guess I will finish it up and send it over on Tuesday.

What you should do:

As soon as you see the email, respond with:

There are many benefits to this new method:

• Your mentor knows you saw it and so they can quit thinking about it

  • This is huge

• Your mentor knows when to expect something from you

  • Typically buys you more time

  • They can’t get upset at you for going too slowly (without telling you when they want the next version)

• You get to keep your typical Tuesday research day

• You built instant accountability for yourself    - always show proof of this whenever possible.

This is part 1 of a 2 part series. If you want me to send you part 2, just email me at [email protected].

Best,

CKR