Looking for an available lab at one of the largest research universities in the country is definitely a lot easier said than done. Home to a plethora of resources and organizations through Robert Wood Johnson, The Waksman Institute, etc., along with professors and faculty doing their own independent research, Rutgers is one of the best places for new and innovative discoveries in the life sciences and medicine. Though there is a massive source of labs at hand, there’s no way to tell how many of them have open positions or are open to the idea of accepting undergraduates.

That being said, it is possible to find a position, even if the process seems to last forever, so here are some of the things I learned on the way.

1. Finding a lab may take longer than expected

For me, it took a few months, almost the entirety of spring semester. This undertaking included finding labs doing the type of work I’d be interested in, applying to various internships, and emailing professors all ending in a slew of rejections.

2. You’ll first have to research the type of research you think you’d be interested in

This fulfills two important purposes. By only choosing the labs and professors that are doing something which you can picture yourself doing as well, you can portray your interest and enthusiasm when trying to contact them which allows for a more meaningful conversation on both ends. It also saves time in a way, because you eliminate the projects which don’t appeal as much to you and take out the time it takes to write up an extra application or well-written email.

3. By the end, you’ll become an expert on writing emails

The first few emails might take a little longer than usual to construct, but by the end, you’ll have a personal template that works well for you for whoever you are writing the email too.

4. And you’ll end up making little changes to your resume each time you send a new email

Each professor/internship/program has their own set of requirements and expectations so when you find a skill that you have that is also very unique and desired, make sure to include it.

5. Not all professors will reply back

It goes without saying, they get too many requests from students to count in between all of their urgent emails, so don’t be discouraged if some don’t reply back immediately if at all.

6. And the ones that do may not always follow up

I’ve had a couple of experiences where I got really excited because a professor emailed back saying that they would be interested in setting up an appointment or that they will need extra help in the lab but email back at a later time. Sadly, that first response would be the only response in some cases.

7. It’s always a good idea to reach out to mentors and upperclassmen

They’re the ones that will always give you the best advice and maybe even put in a good word to their colleagues and professors that they have previously done research with for you.

8. Try to set up an in-person appointment with a principal investigator or meet at an event outside of their lab

This worked for me, personally, and I couldn’t be more excited. Watching someone give a detailed seminar or lead a discussion on their work is a great source of any new questions you might have and it really shows commitment and motivation for the field.

9. It may just come down to a combination of luck and the perfect timing

Some students graduate while others decide the lab isn’t for them. One month the principal investigator may not need any undergraduates and the next, they have a free space open. These two factor in more than what you may think.

10. I may not even like working in a lab, but I’ll take that chance

As a pre-med student, everyone says to do research and to start as soon as possible. However, a good fraction of students end up not liking the laboratory environment and the activities that come with it. Right now, I have the ambition for it because of my fascination with biological processes at a microscopic level, but only time will tell if it is the right fit for me. Even if I end up hating it, I’ll still be grateful for the fact that I took on a new opportunity.