Doing Research
We are so glad that you're in research. Science really, really needs you.
Diversity Increases Research Innovation
This 2020 study followed the careers of 1.2 million US doctoral recipients (from 1977 to 2015) into their publishing and faculty positions. Amazing, innovative work is being done by diverse scientists. It is being held back by bias and racism.
Science needs you. Science systems don't always know that. Network with peers and mentors to find support, and use tools like this site to help you. You can work in science.
Hofstra B, Kulkarni VV, Galvez SM, He B, Jurafsky D, McFarland DA. (2020). The Diversity–Innovation Paradox in Science. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2020 Apr 28;117(17):9284-91.
Diversity's Influential Community Research
Another great 2020 study found that African American/Black applicants tend to propose community-focused research grants more frequently, a research topic they found was underfunded by the National Institutes of Health. However, these research topics least likely to get funding led to more influential publications when they were funded, as defined higher median relative citation ratios (RCR) of those papers.
Your research matters. To communities, to scientists. Do the work that matters to you.
Getting Started in the Lab
It can be overwhelming to start with a new research lab, especially when you're new to research. Everyone is busy, so how do you make the most of your training?
Step 1) Ask questions. Make this a habit. In the lab. In science. In life. You can keep a list of your questions so you don't forget. Science isn't knowing the answers, it's learning how to ask questions. Scientists like questions. If you don't think someone liked a question, don't stop asking. Instead, ask: "What would be a better question?" or "Is there a different person, or another time, that would be better to ask?"
Step 2) Get oriented. Watch what people are doing. Notice what is exciting to you. Meet people who are doing things you want to do: in the lab, in the department, in the field. Ask them how they got started. When you face challenges, reach out to people who may have faced similar challenges, and ask them what they've done that works. Read the articles below to get a sense of what to expect and common mentoring pitfalls and opportunities. Take time to think about what you want and don't want, and look for ways to follow your interests and meet your needs (others will let you know how they want you to follow their interests and meet their needs). In the lab, ask how tasks you're working on fit into the larger picture of what the project is trying to learn, and what that knowledge could help people do.
Curious what the lab does? Often you can do some sleuthing of funded projects (current and past) using the National Institutes of Health RePORTER (aka amazing database of funded projects)
Pro tips from EXITO Alums
Be brave, contact your research mentor
Ask about logistics and accessibility barriers (remote research, online trainings)
Get your ethics and safety trainings done early
Reflections from a scientist as they learned to mentor students. Remember, you're both learning .
Goodwin SJ. (2017, Jun 23). My lessons in mentorship. Science, 356(6344), 1302. Access article via Science.
Mentoring from an academic perspective. This article has checklists that may be applicable for you. Your mentoring relationship and training goals will be unique. This puts some of those puzzle pieces into perspective.
Zerzan JT, Hess R, Schur E, Phillips RS, Rigotti N. Making the most of mentors: a guide for mentees. Academic Medicine. 2009 Jan 1;84(1):140-4. Access via Academic Medicine
Academic and research mentorship are not the whole story. Don't forget about including peers in your mentoring network. Especially those going through something similar, like BUILD EXITO or your graduate program.
Remember, mentors are learning, too. For transparency around the mentoring process, here are some of the training materials we use
A Guide to Academic Advising for STEM Faculty (National Science Foundation/Aspire; requires form completion, but it's a pretty comprehensive document; No cost)
What Might Research Training Look Like?
Everyone's training plan will be different. Your training plan will be shaped by your interests.
Think about the scientific focus areas that interest you, both in and out of the lab. You may think of it as:
a research topic you want to learn more about
a research skill that you want to develop
a type of problem that you want to solve
a community or population you'd like to work with
an audience you'd like to reach with the information you're learning (it could be the same community or a different one)
Pro tips from EXITO Alums
Literature searches, reading, and citation management are fundamental research skills
Ask for more work when ready
Ask to shadow meetings to observe
Find out when your schedule overlaps with your research mentor's
Thinking about what is interesting to you helps laboratory mentors better match a lab project to your interests. This is a starting place. You can always adjust, so look at each project from a growth perspective. For example, if a project doesn't resonate with you, think about why. Learning about what you don't like is as important as learning what you do like. Your trajectory likely won't be straight. Most aren't. Follow your interests and think critically about what training you need to get to where you want to go.
Your research training should help you find your interests so you have a better sense of what you may want for your next steps.
Aligning Expections in the Research Lab
Communication is everything.
Some things that are really important:
How to professionally network in your research lab (like emailing your lab principal investigator (PI), coworkers, students in lab)
Setting boundaries (in time, expectations, etc.)
Some things to communicate:
Find out the rules of the lab, project coordinators, who to ask about logistics.
If things are going well, ask your research mentor "what else can I do?". Ask for what you want - more work, more papers, specific trainings, etc.
If something happens (lab mistakes/accidents/errors happen), sometimes the communication is about acknowledging the error, apologizing (if needed), and moving forward after a mess up. From an EXITO alum "writing with confidence after making a mistake is a hard soft skill".
Some periods during the year may be really busy for research mentors (teaching, submitting a grant), so getting a training plan identified can help during those busy periods.
Pro tips from EXITO Alums
Find out who to ask random questions when your lab's PI is not available
Find out the rules of the lab, project coordinators, who to ask about logistics.
Find people like you and ask them how they did it.
Mentor up - be active in reaching out to your PI as much as they reach out to you
Assume the best! PEOPLE ARE NOT MAD AT YOU!
Creating an Individual Development Plan (IDP) for your Research Training
Your research training is just one component of your overall professional development. You will learn so much. Where are you interested in learning more first? Follow your interests. What are the next steps and how might research help you get to where you want to go?
Examples via:
BUILD EXITO Individual Development Plan
Developing a Mentoring Compact
A mentoring compact is an agreement of goals between mentor-mentee during the training process. These serve as ways of communicating training goals and expectations to each other.
Examples via:
University of Wisconsin (multiple examples)
University of Guam (via the amazing Dr. Andrea Blas)
EXITO Mentor-Mentee Agreement (via Clackamas)
Research writing and support
Writing your research findings for a conference abstract or publicaton comes with a lot of uncertainty, especially when getting started.
Here are some tips for getting the most out of your mentors as you begin writing.
Hughes, B. Mentoring Research Writers. In: Pfund, C., Branchaw, J. and Handelsman, J. (2015). Entering Mentoring 2nd Edition. New York, NY: W.H. Freeman & Co.; Pfund C. and Handelsman J., eds. Entering Mentoring Series Access PDF via American Psychological Society.
Sustainable Practices in Research
Remember, your research training is one aspect of your professional development.
Balancing life with an RLC is important.
Pro tips from EXITO Alums
For those with children, ask for permissions about childcare expectations and boundaries for accessibility. In some settings, children may attend meetings if you get stuck.
Action Steps - Considerations for Changing Labs
Sometimes a research lab isn't a good fit. For many possible reasons, like
You may have changed research interests
You want to learn different skills
You may not get along with someone in your lab
If things aren't working,
talk with EXITO's research coordinator or their support staff for help
Get support from your friend network for moral support as you go
Know that it can be mentally challenging when things aren't working. Lots of imposter syndrome and frustration can arise. You are not alone. Talk with us.
Pro tips from EXITO Alums
Would a break be a better option?
Document and date any detailed stressful or abusive behavior (especially if it is severe). A former panelist recommended emailing a witness after the event to serve as a time-stamped record of what happened.