A Beginner’s Guide to Joining a Lab on Campus

Q: I’m interested in doing research at Smith, but I don’t know where to start! How do I join a lab on campus?

Research at Smith is robust in almost every department– as a predominantly undergraduate institution, Smith students have the unique opportunity to engage in research throughout their four years at Smith, since they don’t have to compete with graduate students for spots in research labs. Any Smith student, regardless of prior experience, should take advantage of the accessibility of research opportunities here on campus. Research is tough, yet equally rewarding. No matter the type of research a student pursues, they will gain skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, time management, and collaboration.

There is no ‘one path’ to joining a lab at Smith, but there are a few tips and tricks I wish I'd known before I began my Smith research journey.

Applications: Lab-Specific vs Departmental

Some labs on campus rely on department-wide applications to facilitate lab placements, while others have applications for their specific lab. It is important to determine which type of application your lab or department of interest uses to properly apply for a lab position. Department-wide applications will ask general questions regarding a student’s research interests to determine which lab within the department would be the best fit. Then, those applications will be sent to specific faculty in the department, where they will be reviewed by the P.I. of the lab. Lab-specific applications are much more individualized, asking questions relating to your interest in the research of the lab. These applications would tie you to one specific lab. The application will go straight to the P.I. of the lab instead of the whole department. If you are unsure which application a lab uses, just ask! You could talk to a professor, email the department head, or ask peers in your science classes.

I applied for a lab position(s). What comes next?

Most labs on campus will have an interview process! These are typically casual. Be prepared to answer questions about your work ethic, interest in the lab’s research, and your previous experience (not that you need any! You can also talk about classes you have taken that have prepared you for a lab position.)

How do you figure out where you would fit best?

Do your own research! Go to the faculty profiles in your department of interest and read about their research.. You can also skim papers they have written to get a better sense of their work. You don’t have to understand the research to reach out.

Attend lab meetings! Email the P.I. (principal investigator) of any labs you are interested in and ask to attend their lab meetings. This will give you insight into how the lab is run, the size of the lab, the general lab culture, and what the day-to-day research looks like. Make sure to talk to undergraduate lab members to hear about their experience in the lab. You can even ask them to grab a meal so you can chat more.

Attend departmental lunchbags! Many departments have research-centered lunchbags aimed to give students a better understanding of how research in that specific department works. Since many P.I.s attend these lunchbags, they also allow students to ask professors questions about their own labs and research. Many departments have peer advisors who attend departmental lunchbags and can also be a helpful resource for joining a lab.

Talk to your professors! If you are in a super interesting class, talk to your professor to see if they have a research lab. Odds are, they do! If not, they will likely point you in the right direction.

By Emilia Sholly