For a student, laboratory testing is essential for any kind of research work, and selecting the perfect laboratory for a research student will be a difficult task. There are several things to remember, but choosing which to consider can be difficult. Personal study skills, preferences, and career aspirations differ greatly, so an atmosphere that is ideal for one individual can be disastrous for another. That being said, being made this choice twice, once as a research student and once as a research assistant, I’ve discovered that there are a few key factors to remember when selecting a laboratory.
I’ve put together a list of suggestions that could be useful in making this choice. This isn’t a comprehensive list; rather, it’s a set of helpful hints that might not be clear to a beginner.
Inquire about a potential lab’s funding
Before finalizing the decision, it’s also essential to inquire how much funding a potential lab has. Although appealing for internships and scholarships to support your research is admirable, do so as you won’t be able to complete the degree of Ph.D. or find work elsewhere can be extremely exhausting. So, the first thing to do while choosing the right laboratory is, inquire about a potential lab’s funding.
Find the reliability and amount of the potential lab’s reports.
The rate at which laboratories report and the output impedance of the publications in which the report change. If you’d like to continue the academic research, you should work in a laboratory that publishes regularly in reputable journals. A word of warning: A laboratory that generates a lot of huge impact factors articles might have a chaotic, high-pressure atmosphere that isn’t exactly supportive. So, another thing that you must consider while choosing a laboratory for you is, find the reliability and amount of the potential lab’s reports.
Select a research topic that you’re passionate about
Finding a laboratory that examines a subject you’re interested in is a good place to begin. You’ll most probably spend many years in this laboratory; doing research on the thing you’re passionate about will help you get through the unavoidable bumps. If you’re a research student, you do not know what your “primary endpoint” is, and that’s perfectly fine. Maybe a laboratory with a wide research emphasis would be beneficial to you, one that could offer you a vast arsenal of strategies that will serve you well later in your life.
When I was a new research student searching for laboratories to work in, I naturally assumed that research interests were the only factor to keep in mind when selecting a laboratory. Although fascinating research is essential, other considerations like the mentoring method of the lead researcher, the laboratory setting, journals, and funds are also essential. So, another thing to consider while selecting a laboratory for you is, select a research topic that you’re passionate about.
Take advice from other people:
You can also choose the right laboratory for you by taking advice from other people. So, keep it in mind as well while selecting a laboratory for you.
