Why Diving into Research at the Earliest Opportunity is a Great Idea

If you’re an incoming undergraduate science student… listen up, this post is for you! I’m a fourth-year student in the Biochemistry and Biotechnology Combined Honours program who has worked in a systems biology lab on campus since the early days of his degree, and I have some useful tips.

In 2015, I was very lucky to receive a Dean’s Summer Research Internship or DSRI, from the Faculty of Science. Since then I’ve been returning to the same lab each summer thanks to funding from NSERC and my supervisor. So alongside my formal schooling during the fall and winter terms, I’ve been able to receive a “hidden education” — one you won’t experience unless you work in a lab (or on the field). In said education, not only do you learn valuable new methods and exchange novel ideas, but you also have the chance to apply concepts from class to the real world. You get to craft your own examples, and that really deepens your understanding on the subject.

The sobering professional environment that comes with it all is another reason why I strongly encourage new students to join a lab at the earliest opportunity. It’s a way to make science your life, and often times that’ll make it easier to find inspiration for future endeavours. Through my lab work terms I’ve also made some amazing friends, met some incredible people, and built good relationships with professors who now know me by name. Connections like these are great for when students need references for future placements or expert advice from professional researchers. And if you have a visiting researcher in your lab, that can open up doors if you want to take on lab placements elsewhere (even abroad!). Lots of people have lots of connections, so you really never know.

Despite all these benefits, it’s true that some research placements can be tricky to find. Checking the Faculty of Science website frequently as well as that of our library’s Discovery Centre is great for staying up to date with announcements. Also, be diligent about checking your Cmail since some internships are only advertised via email! If instead you want to receive a credit for doing lab work, during the fall or winter, head over to the undergraduate calendar for your program to find out if any such courses are offered in the second, third or fourth years of study (e.g. directed studies or independent research).

If your grades are decent and you’re willing to undergo the learning curve, there’s really no excuse. And although the remunerated positions will always be the most appealing, there’s plenty of volunteer and course-based options to go around too. In my time involved in Carleton research I’ve even witnessed high school students shadowing tenured professors around our research building. This proves that research is for everyone — you just need curiosity! So whatever your aspirations may be, if research has a place in your future, get involved!