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Research is definitely a major part of Tufts, even for undergraduates. I recently got involved with the Clark Lab in the Chemistry Department and it has been a great experience learning and furthering my knowledge in my field. Trying to get involved in research at Tufts may sound intimidating but I promise that once you know the approaches that students take, it’s surprisingly easy! Here, I will explain, from top to bottom, how I was able to manage getting a spot in a research lab and some important things to keep in mind when applying for these spots.

Know the professor

I think that it’s very intimidating to cold email different professors trying to get into their labs. In a number of cases, it works out perfectly but I personally dislike this route, because you don't have much of a sense for the professor's personality or the work of their lab outside of the online description. This is where knowing the professor can really help. I took a class with the current professor I am doing research with and it really helped me boost my confidence to ask about research opportunities.

I think what also benefitted me was that I really tried to make a personal connection with the professor. Whether I was going to office hours or scheduling meetings, it really did help me get to know the professor and be more curious about the work they do in the lab. Also, a lot of the times professors talk about their research in class, which helped me gain a better understanding of the lab work they are doing and what some of the overlaps with my personal interests may be. Needless to say, I would argue that trying to get to know the professors in a personal way really helped me and goes a long way for accessing opportunities down the line.

Do your research about different labs

Applying is the easy part, but really understanding what the labs you are applying for are essential. I’ve spent a good amount of time reading the literature that my professor has written and attempting to understand the kind of research that they are doing. I think this allows you to see how your goals align with the research being done and how the research can help you in your career aspirations. In my personal experience, I was fascinated by assay development with what we learned in class and wanted to expand my knowledge on how to use different analytical techniques to get to the results we wanted. If professors recognize that you are genuinely excited about the work they are doing, they are more likely to want you as part of their research team.   

Interview Process

Once your application has been read, the usual next step is the interview. Although this may sound daunting, it is really nice to be able to chat face to face about the research as well as your interests. What’s really cool about research is that Tufts professors want to tailor your undergraduate research experience to your career goals and aspirations. In this way, there is a bit of flexibility for the professor to know you and what you want, as well as how you would be able to fit into the research group. Be honest and genuine as if they feel you are fit for another lab, they would love to recommend you, which means that it is a win-win situation. Take advantage of this interview opportunity and really showcase who you are as a student and a researcher! 

Talking and matching with a graduate student

Once the interview is over with the Professor, you get to meet a variety of graduate “mentors” who have different sub projects within the lab. I’ve met with a couple of them trying to see where I would be a best fit. Similar to before, it’s important to be genuine about the kind of research you would like to do within the group, considering you would be working with this project over the course of the semester. What I appreciated most here was the idea that I had the creative freedom to pick what I wanted to explore and create a smaller project that I was responsible for. This was both exciting and scary for me as I embarked on this new journey of being a researcher. At this point, you are involved in the lab and are ready to do research!

Ending Remarks

All in all, it's quite simple to access research opportunities at Tufts, especially with the many openings that are available in different departments. Although this was about a STEM field, I know plenty of people who are involved in humanities related research and the process is very similar. I believe that if there are opportunities for research and you have the time for it, I would highly recommend getting involved. Your experience within the lab can really have an impact on future career goals as different companies love to have people who have had experience using different techniques and research. Even to this day, I am enjoying everything I do as an undergraduate researcher and continue to do research up until I graduate!