4 tips for medical students to get their start as researchers

If you’re a medical student with limited experience, that shouldn’t impede your pursuit of research endeavors. Learn more.

By: Brendan Murphy , Senior News Writer, AMA

Research can be a career-long pursuit for physicians. A physician researcher’s journey often begins in medical school.

Few are more in tune with the research process than Luke Finck , EdD, the associate director of the office of medical student research at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine . Finck offered these tips for medical students trying to get their scholarly pursuits off the ground.

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Deadline: July 16, 2024. Learn more.

No experience required

In his role, Finck oversees Vanderbilt’s four-year research curriculum. When medical students begin their work in the school’s research track, many, but not all, have some research experience. Finck highlighted that experience is not necessary, however.

“When students come to medical school, they want to work with patients,” Finck said. “Previous work that they did in the lab does help them understand the translational aspects of research, but may not be the type of research they want to engage in. So, students who don't have any experience aren't necessarily at a disadvantage to those who have it, because the type of research they're likely going to do in our program may not be the same research that they did before they came to medical school.”

For medical students looking for an additional opportunity to showcase their research, the deadline for abstract submissions for the 2024 AMA Research Challenge—the largest national, multispecialty research event for medical students and residents—is July 16.

Dive deeper:

• 1st-time poster presenters offer tips on medical student research.
• From poster to print: Get published as a medical student, resident.

There are no bad ideas

Finck cited the 3D model as an example of how passion drives research. So, if you have an idea that inspires you, don’t consider the potential reasons not to pursue it. 

“The ideas that I get excited about are the ones that a student brings up, and I have to take a step back and say, ‘Let's figure that out together,’” he said. “It's really saying: What are your passions? What are you interested in? Let's find some experts to surround how we can approach that.” 

⭐️ Check out the full article ⭐️ for more tips and advice to advance your research career.

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