Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I am currently working on a science research project. I have been pre-approved by the SRC. My main concern is finding a research institution that would be willing to host my research experiement. Can any science expert offer any suggestions or helpful approaches that will help me get one step closer to finding a research institutuion. My project is about investigating the effects of carcinogenic agents on adipose tissue. A professor at a university is willing to work with me, but he is out of the country, and will not return to the states until February 14. If I wait until he returns from his trip, I most likely will not be able to finish my research by the science fair deadline.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Hi,

This is a difficult problem. Do you have the professor's e-mail address? Perhaps the professor could refer you one of his colleagues. Also, if the professor has a lab, there might be someone in the lab who could help you get set up so you can start your experiments. If this is not possible, then send an e-mail to other professors in the same department an e-mail message asking for help. You can also call the department main phone number and ask to be referred to someone who can help.

Your project idea sounds challenging, but very interesting. I hope you can get started soon.

If you aren’t able to submit this science project for this year, you could plan to work on it for a longer term and submit it next year. Is there a related project that you could do for this year that would not require access to a laboratory?


Donna Hardy

Hi ivyprospective,

Most likely, you will be working with a postdoc, grad student, and/or lab tech in the lab on your project, not with the PI (lab head). You could ask the PI to introduce you to the person you will be working with in the mean time (through email) so that you can get started. When he comes back, you can introduce yourself to him and talk about your project.

If not, you could always look for another professor to work with (just send lots of emails).

Hope that helps!

-Sam

Hi,

Finding a research mentor and facility is definitely not an easy task.

Like the other experts had mentioned, if you cannot reach your possible mentor by February, you can submit the project to a contest a next year with more sufficient data.

Another option is to find journals on the topic you are currently interested in using google scholar, pubmed, science direct, etc.

Once you find a few journals that discuss or are similar to your topic, read them and email the author to ask if you can work with them by summarizing your understanding of their work and proposing a project to work with them.

I hope you will soon find a research home!

-Grace