Research Resources

What are the common titles used in laboratories? 

• Principal Investigator

  • Abbreviations: PI. 

  • The lead researcher of a particular research grant project. The PI is responsible for making sure that the conduct of the research project follows the current laws and regulations. In universities, a PI is oftentimes also a professor/faculty member. 

• Co-Principal Investigator/Co-Investigator

  • Abbreviations: Co-PI/Co-I.

  • Co-PI/Co-I both assist the PI in a given research grant project. The Co-PI shares the responsibility of monitoring scientific conduct and sometimes also have spending authority on the grant. The Co-I is recognized as someone who makes significant contributions to the research project. In all cases, the PI still bears the primary responsibility.  

• Graduate student

  • Abbreviations: Grad student, PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) student

  • A graduate student is someone, usually with a Bachelor degree, who is pursuing additional education in a specific field. The most common degrees are the Master’s degree and the Doctorate/Doctoral degree. 

    • Master’s degree: Programs usually span 1-3 years and provides additional education in a specific field (academic or professional). Examples: Master of Arts (M.A.), Master of Science (M.S.), Master of Business Administration (M.B.A), etc. Caltech only offers M.S. degrees. 

    • Doctorate/Doctoral degree: A degree demonstrating a high level of academic mastery in a specific field. Examples: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Education (EdD), Doctor of Business Administration (DBA). Caltech only offers PhD degrees.

      • PhD (Doctor of Philosophy): A academic degree offered in a variety of fields that focuses on original research and domain-specific knowledge. Programs typically span 4-6 years (may be longer depending on the field of study and program). 

• Postdoctoral researcher

  • Abbreviations: Postdoc

  • A postdoc is a temporary research position for someone with a Doctoral degree to pursue additional research/training. There is no set length for a postdoc position, though a postdoc usually lasts 2-3 years. A postdoc is often in charge of independent projects within a lab and often are working towards a faculty position in their field.

• Research Scientist

  • A research scientist is a permanent research position at a research institution/university. Research scientist is also a term widely used in industry. 

• Technician

  • A technician is who employed by a laboratory to look after technical equipment or perform a technical process. Technician are usually highly trained in a very specific equipment or skill. 

What is the appropriate title to use? 

• Professor (Assistant/Associate/Full): For initial contact, you should definitely use a formal greeting like “Dear Professor Lastname,”. Usually, you would continue using this formal greeting, unless the professor explicitly tell you to refer to them by a different title, or you have interacted with them for a long enough time and you think they are okay with a more informal greeting. The same usually applies for lecturers/instructors, if you are taking a class taught by them. 

• Postdoc: Since most postdocs have received their PhD/doctoral degree already, you may refer to them with the title “Dr.”. For instance, you may say “Dear Dr. Lastname” in an initial contact email. Oftentimes, after some interaction (e.g. working with them on a research project), it makes more sense to revert to more informal greetings such as: “Dear Firstname,”, “Hi Firstname,” etc. 

• Graduate Student (PhD): Most of the time, it will suffice to refer to graduate students by first name: “Hi Firstname”. 

• Undergraduate Student: Since you are an undergraduate student as well, it is customary to use “Hi Firstname” in emails.

What is the structure of tenure? 

• Definition of Academic Tenure:

  • Definition: “Indefinite academic appointment that can only be terminated under extraordinary circumstances.” 

• General Tenure Process: Assistant -> Associate -> Full

  • Assistant Professor: An entry level professor position (may or may not be tenure track). This position is typically held by someone with a doctoral degree and a few years of postdoctoral experience.

  • Associate Professor: Promotion above Assistant Professor, but may or may not be tenure track. 

  • Full Professor: A professor who already has tenure. Professor are promoted to this position after a distinguished track of scholarly achievement at their university and within their field.

• Common non-tenure track titles: 

  • Teaching-related: Lecturer, Instructor

  • Research-related: Research Professor, Research Associate

What is the difference between a wet lab and a dry lab?

• Wet lab: a laboratory that requires running water or other piped utilities as well as safety precautions such as ventilation hoods or shower stations. An example of a wet lab course offered at Caltech is Chemistry 3A/X.

• Dry lab: any lab not requiring the features of a wet lab. Many dry labs require precise temperature and humidity control and otherwise clean conditions. However, computational or analytical labs do fall under this category. An example of a dry lab course offered at Caltech is Physics 021.

What is a lab/group meeting?

• Lab/group meeting: a time set aside for members of a research lab or group to present their ongoing projects, receive feedback about their present status, and discuss potential obstacles as well as their future direction. The frequency of these meetings is largely case-dependent with the size and discipline of the lab/group as major factors. Many labs have more frequent subgroup meetings to discuss the progress in subsections of active projects. Please remember that you should be invited to lab meetings by a PI, postdoc, or graduate student before attending. 

What is a proposal?

• A grant proposal: the means by which individuals and research groups formally request funding from grant-providing organizations or programs. However, at Caltech, undergraduates will more likely have to draft research proposals for professors and the SFP office rather than grant proposals. 

• Traditional research proposals serve the purpose of presenting and justifying to a PI the value of the research you will be embarking on. For SURF applications, the research proposals acts as the way for the SFP office to grasp what research you will be performing over the summer. Whether it be grant proposals, traditional research proposals, or SURF proposals, it is important to have one’s audience in mind when choosing the depth of content.

• While most applications have their own specific requests, most proposals follow the same general format:

  • Title page

  • Abstract

  • Introduction (statement of the problem, the purpose of research or goals, and significance of research)

  • Literature review

  • Project narrative (methods, procedures, objectives, outcomes or deliverables, evaluation, and dissemination)

  • Personnel (Relevant only for grant proposals)

  • Budget and budget justification (Relevant only for grant proposals)

(Source: https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/grant-proposals-or-give-me-the-money/)

What is a grant?

• A grant: an allotment of money provided by organizations or programs for the purpose of pursuing research in a specific area. Due to the current state of scientific research worldwide, research grants tend to be competitive, making grant writing a critical and invaluable skill. The link below has a diagram with a  more detailed look into the process of grant writing.

(Source: https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/grant-proposals-or-give-me-the-money/)

What is an abstract?

• An abstract: a summary of a research project typically found at the beginning of research papers and grant proposals. Abstracts provide readers with sufficient information to determine the nature of the research, encapsulating the important methods and findings of the project.

•  When reading papers, abstracts act as the go-to for information on the research, most digestible.

What is a conference presentation?

• Scientific conferences: large gatherings of individuals in related research fields, where scientists present their current projects to their peers in either a talk or poster format. The talk type refers to a presentation with the help of visual aids for approximately 10-25 minutes followed by a short period of questions and discussion between the presenter and the audience. 

• On the other hand, researchers can be given the opportunity to present at a conference by way of a usually A0-size poster. Poster sessions are portions of a conference when poster presenters are approached by roaming peers with questions about their work. 

How do I find projects I am interested in? 

• Faculty pages, upperclassmen with research experience, talking to professors (with/without being in their class) are a great place to start

• If you are looking for Summer Research, the SFP page (sfp.caltech.edu/undergraduate-research/programs/surf) is a great resource, especially the announcement of opportunity page. 

Conducting computer science-related research

• There is a distinction between research that uses CS skills and fundamental CS research. If you are a CS major, you will be able to gain greater experience in computer programming from both types of research, although fundamental CS research may be more relevant if you are applying to graduate schools.

• At Caltech, labs in different fields (e.g. biology, chemistry, astrophysics) welcome undergraduate students to conduct research that have inherent computer science/programming components. For instance, you may use your knowledge of Python and Jupyter Notebook to do data analysis for biology research. 

• Fundamental CS research focuses on advancing particular fields of computer science. Research in areas such as machine learning, quantum computing, and networks are examples of fundamental CS research. 

Pizza class to research opportunity

(Pizza classes listed under Frosh resources: here)

• Pizza classes are a good way to learn about the research in different labs on campus, especially if you already have interest in a particular research field. If you attend a pizza class and find a particular talk interesting, the best time to express interest is right after the class! Ask the professor follow-up questions to learn more about their research, and express interest. You can ask the professor on the spot if they are accepting new undergrads, and see if there would be a good match. Exchange contact information and maybe even set up a meeting if possible. 

• Many students don’t realize that expressing interest doesn’t mean you are binding yourself to that lab! It’s good to express interest in different lab groups and keep your options open before deciding on a specific group to research with long term.

How do I email professors?

• If the professor has an assistant, it is highly advised to CC their assistant.

• Dear Prof _____, (See What is the appropriate title to use?  above)

  • In sending out the first email to a professor or a grad student mentor, it’s always better to err on the side of being too formal. This means addressing a professor by “Dear Professor X,” or “Dear Mrs. Y,”.

• Provide an introduction that includes your name, major, and what you are looking for (e.g. Looking for an opportunity to conduct academic year research)

• Then provide details about what part of the Prof's research interests you. 

• If you have performed research before, please add a brief statement including the laboratory you worked in, a brief description of the research performed, and how long your internship was. Please highlight your specific contributions and the techniques that you know and how those may fit into the professor's research.

• If applicable, provide the time commitment you would be able to contribute.

• End with a statement about how you would want to meet with the professor to further discuss available opportunities.

• Attach a resume and transcript

• General Tips:

  • Factor in your understanding of the lab culture in writing an email. For example, if you get the vibe that the lab culture is a very strict, no-nonsense environment, your email should reflect this. Again, it’s always better to err on the side of being too formal. (Keep things within reason, though.) 

  • Some professors will not reply as frequently. PIs tend to be very busy people. It is okay to bump your email a week later if you haven't heard back from them.

Template:

Dear Professor ______________,

My name is <John Smith> and I am a <frosh/sophomore/junior> studying _________(1). I am interested in ___(braoder topic)___ . I saw your paper on ___(narrower topic within the broader topic above)____ and thought it was fascinating. I would love to contribute to your lab's research on __(project name)____.  I've had previous experience with _______(something relevant, if applicable)___________(2). 

Do you have any positions available in your lab this summer? If so, would you have time for a thirty minute conversation to discuss a potential SURF sometime in the next few weeks?

Thank you,
<John Smith>

(1) alternatives to "studying ____" include: who took ____ class with you, who saw you talk at ____(pizza course)____ lunch seminar, ...

(2) describe previous research, lab skills you have, relevant course work, etc. 

Example:

Dear Professor Bob,

My name is John Smith and I am a frosh studying environmental science and engineering. I am interested in human impact on biodiversity. I saw your paper on the using existing satellites to quantify the number of polar bear species in the Arctic and thought it was fascinating. I would love to contribute to your lab's research on remote sensing. I've taken CS 1 and CS 2, and previously did an independent project remotely tracking deforestation through my AP Capstone Project in High School.  

Do you have any positions available in your lab this summer? If so, would you have time for a thirty minute conversation to discuss a potential SURF sometime in the next few weeks?

Thank you,
John Smith

What is a lab tour? 

• The professor, postdoc, or graduate student will show you around the lab and explain the different projects or opportunities in the lab.

• This is a great time to ask more in-depth questions about projects you are interested in. You can also ask about how you could fit into that project.

• Ideally, you should spend a few minutes browsing the lab’s website to become familiar with the types of research specific to that lab. Asking relevant questions will make a good first impression.

• Also a good chance to learn about the lab culture (see next question!)

Lab Culture (e.g. small lab versus large lab, how hands on is a professor)? 

• As we mentioned above, one of the most important parts of getting acquainted with a lab is getting to know a lab culture. Often times, this can include a variety of different things:

  • Is it a fast-paced, high-stress lab? 

  • Do people often have to share lab spaces and other materials? 

  • How collaborative is the environment? 

  • Is the PI more hands-off or heavily involved in people’s research? 

• These are important questions that you need to answer for yourself. To find the answers, try taking a look at the lab environment first hand. 

• Ask the current grad students and undergrads in the lab, in addition to asking former students too (alumni are sometimes listed on the lab website or on the ARC Research Page). 

What safety training may I need?

• Common examples: Cryogenic, vacuum, robotics, electrical, wet lab, chemicals, biological.

• You will always have a lab safety tour. It is important to know where fire extinguishers, etc. are located. This is especially important for wet labs (link above).

• The type of training will vary depending on the lab. Graduate students may train you on specific equipment in the lab. Safety training that is common across multiple labs often have group trainings (especially at JPL).

• Frosh labs (e.g. Ch3, Bi10, etc.) are great classes to learn about safety expectations in a given discipline.

How do I obtain funding?

• Over the summer, many Caltech students apply for SFP programs (sfp.caltech.edu).

• Other universities tend to have similar programs.

• The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) is a program through the national science foundation (NSF) that also funds students. (nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/) Note that the deadlines are generally earlier than SURF deadlines!

• Otherwise, funding mainly comes from grants, foundations, and donors that you are not expected to apply for yourself as an undergraduate.

What sort of compensation is available for academic year research? 

• Academic Year Research can be done for academic credit, pay, or occasionally on a volunteer basis (no compensation).

• Academic Credit: Research for credit should be added by Add Day. The name of the course varies by option, but is often called “Applied work in ___” or “Research in ____.” Research for money should be negotiated with your PI (Principle Investigator, the Professor). Generally, the Deans support signing overload petitions for research projects.

• Work Study: Research can also be done for work study. The student would need to apply to be an employee of Caltech. Funding is provided ¼ by lab and ¾ by federal funding. It is very important to be aware of the 16 hours max for work study. This includes all institution positions including TA, Deans' tutoring, research, waiting dinners, and library shifts. You cannot get work study and credit at the same time. 

What do timescales for projects look like? 

• This depends on the discipline and the complexity of the opportunities available. Often 8 weeks is on the short end while 3 terms is a decent length for a complete project (e.g. a senior thesis), but it also depends on the field. Some people stay in the same lab for multiple years. 

Academic rigor of your research

Commitment levels in research can vary widely. Before you join a lab, it’s a good idea to ask yourself how much time you can reasonably commit to research/lab work. Most people fall under one of the following categories:

1. Lab Technician: Especially in wet lab situations, this is typically where people help with overall lab maintenance and upkeep, including preparing materials and even running some basic experiments. Undergraduate lab techs normally come in whenever they have free time on a quasi-regular basis, and typically do it for work study. If you’re interested in being a lab tech, there are sometimes emails sent out from lab members asking for lab techs, or you can also express interest to a professor in being a lab technician.

2. Researcher: Undergraduate researchers are typically paired with a graduate student or postdoc mentor, and their primary purpose in the lab is to broaden your knowledge and academic career through conducting publishable research. Typically, this involves helping conduct experiments and doing laboratory work that contributes to a particular project. This is likely the most common form of research done on campus by undergrads.

3. Project Lead: Depending on your previous experience, level of research commitment, and how long you’ve spent in your current lab, you may have the opportunity to design, execute, and carry out a project of your own. This is by far the most difficult, but most engaging, form of research. In this situation, you would likely coordinate with your PI to present a project that both of you find interesting that also fits in the scope of the lab. Most students are not able to do this without consistent time spent in lab for at least two years. 

Getting Acquainted in a lab

• When choosing a lab, there’s only so much you can learn about it from looking at their website, publications, and other online material. Especially if you’re working in a laboratory setting, try seeing if you can take a look at the lab space on a typical weekday before you decide to join. Sit it on a group meeting if possible. These are all important steps to help you understand the lab dynamic and culture, which can vary widely depending on the size and age of the lab, and even the PI’s personality!

• It’s important to realize that these steps of getting acquainted with the lab setting is a continuous process, and happens while you’re looking for a lab in addition to your first couple of weeks on the job. In the initial learning phase, it’s important for you to ask questions to get accustomed with how things are run in this particular research setting. Every lab has a particular system that they like to get things done - certain protocols, certain storage places, certain schedules, etc. Better to ask questions earlier than later!