medical student research - how to ask for a publication
Are you a medical student looking for a short term research project that will get you a publication?
How do you communicate this to the professors / investigators you want to work with?
This is a dilemma facing many medical students, who are looking for research experience that will lead to publication(s), which–let’s face it–are becoming more and more important for residency applications.
My feeling is that this is not as difficult a problem as many students think. My advice: be honest when you meet with faculty members and tell them up front what your objectives are. The fact of the matter is that your labor (with the expectation that you will work hard and not vacation, which is unfortunately an alternate definition of “research” for some medical students) is highly needed and sought after by medical faculty members who usually do not have the benefit of graduate students. Also, faculty members (should) understand the increasing demands placed on medical student to achieve certain research-related accomplishments. Therefore, it is very reasonable to state that while you are in it for the chance to learn something new as well as perform serious clinical research, you are also looking for a publication.
If you feel compelled to further explain yourself, blame it on the residency application process but also express interest in learning about the publication process, which you have heard so much about (at the very least from the Mudphudder). To be quite honest, going through the publication process really is a very good learning experience–it exposes you to an important aspect of academic medicine that you don’t see in medical school.
Most faculty you will meet with are actually quite understanding–maybe surprisingly so–but occasionally you may run into someone who is not very receptive to your needs. That’s fine–just respectfully express your understanding of their sentiments and tell them you will have to think about their research proposal.
Remember, your time and effort are valuable and can result in good productivity under the right guidance. If a publication is important to you, then don’t settle for less–unless you can get something else that is as important you.
Finally, the manner of this discussion is always a real-time decision and depends on the context you are in. You will realize if you are in a situation when it is okay to be more frank than others–so use your judgment.
However, my main points are:
1) it is okay to be honest and state that one of your goals is to get a publication
2) your time and effort are valuable–and needed–so keep this in mind.
