The experience of my research residency seems to exist as either utter confusion or joy. I haven't yet found a middle ground. Let me present some examples:
Utter Confusion
Scenario One
Residency Advisor/Mentor (RA/M): "I have a great project idea for you!"
Me: "Oh, that sounds exciting!"
RA/M: "I think that you should enter this data into SPSS and analyze the differences between the groups."
Me (in my head): My classes have only covered SPSS peripherally, I have only a limited idea of how to use the program. I can theoretically discuss descriptive statistics and regression techniques, but I haven't ever applied them beyond the carefully selected examples in last year's classes. Help!
Me: "That sounds really interesting, but I might need some help with the program, we've only used it a little in class."
RA/M: "I only use STATA. There is a book on how to use SPSS here." RA/M points to SPSS for Dummies.
Me: "..."
Scenario Two
(Searching for creamer to add to my desperately needed coffee in the breakroom.)
Me: "Come on, there has to be half and half in here somewhere!"
Other Office Person Who Happens to Wander In During My Desperate Search (OOPWHWDMDS): "There's creamer don't worry!" OOPWHWDMDS then hands me a container of liquid soy product.
Me: "Uh, I'm from Chicago....so I don't usually use soy... stuff... in my coffee."
OOPWHWDMDS: "Don't worry! You'll love it! And if you don't like this one, we have three other flavors that you might like better!"
Me: "..."
Scenario Three
RA/M: "I need you to do X."
Me: "That's a big topic. I think that I can do the background over the next week."
RA/M: "I need it tomorrow."
Me: "..."
Moments of Joy:
One: Sitting in meetings where I think, I can't believe that we are doing such amazing research and the whole world isn't throwing a party. I am so lucky to be involved with something so important!
Two: Finding half and half in the fridge.
Three: Working on something I find so interesting that I work an entire 8 hour workday and it feels like thirty minutes.
Four: When I finish something, and somebody says, "Hey, good job!"
So far, I think that this is a pretty normal research residency experience. It is much more joy than utter confusion. I'm learning (some of it by trial and error) and I'm meeting some of the best researchers in my topic area.
It is thrilling and overwhelming...sometimes all at once.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Progress!
I may be getting closer to a more specific question for my dissertation! Also, I may be getting closer to a data set! I don't want to say too much...(I am after all a nurse, and while I don't believe in jinxing myself, I also don't disbelieve in the possibility...)
Anyway, it may be Saturday, but there is work to be done. I have found that I do get more done when I leave the house and go to the library. One of the many reasons why is pictured below:
But, sadly, in the summer my school library is closed on Saturdays. Oddly enough, they are open on Sundays. Maybe they want to force the neurotic, overworked graduate students to do something besides school on Saturday? I'd like to think that it is something like that instead of just budget cuts.
I have lots to do and I'm off to start it!
Boris is determined to help.
I just wish he'd stop stepping on the caps lock key.
Anyway, it may be Saturday, but there is work to be done. I have found that I do get more done when I leave the house and go to the library. One of the many reasons why is pictured below:
 | ||
| Boris Sherlock, on my desk |
I have lots to do and I'm off to start it!
Boris is determined to help.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Research Residencies
I know that I promised everybody a discussion about research residencies a looooong time ago. I apologize for the delay! I'll go ahead and post that information tonight.
First, a disclaimer: I'm not entirely sure if a research residency is a requirement in other PhD programs and additionally, I'm not sure if they are actually called "research residencies" even if they are required. However, I suspect that most programs that are offered in research intensive universities would require that a student gain some hands on research experience during their courses.
In my university (which shall remain nameless to protect my anonymity and ability to post honestly), roughly two quarters, or the equivalent credit hours of work done over a different number of quarters, are required. Additionally, the research residency must be performed before a student can write their qualifying exams, which I've written about previously. Since most people "write their quals" as it is called during the summer and/or fall following their second year, it is a good idea to do the research residency late in the first year or early in the second.
What each student does as a part of their residency is fairly unstructured. It should be something new, the student should learn something, and ideally, it would also benefit the professor or researcher. I have had classmates who have helped investigators file their IRB (Institutional Review Board or ethics committee) applications, help with participant interviews, write or edit publications, enter data, clean data, run statistical analyses or help with qualitative interpretation of data. While it might be nice to participate on a research project that directly related to a student's area of interest, that is not required.
Research residencies get chosen based on research topic, opportunities to learn necessary skills, comfort with a particular researcher, interest in an aspect of research that won't be covered in a student's program or sheer convenience. Some students, who are really quick, are able to negotiate credit for a research assistance-ship. Essentially what that neat trick results in is getting both credit and payment. To do that, a student would usually have a ton of work, and would exchange money for credit hours or credit hours for money. Hmmm, that came out wrong! I made it sound like a research drug deal - let me rephrase. Most students who are able to mix a research assistance-ship and research residency would get fewer than the usual three credit hours per quarter and not the full monetary benefit of the research assistance-ship position. It's both a win-win and lose-lose if you look at it closely.
The general consensus is that they are quite a bit of fun, if also a ton of work. My residency has so far helped me to feel very close to actual research, but it has also made me realize how amazing it is that any research gets done! The paperwork, huge amounts of data to be analyzed, committees, review boards, and work are stunning! I'm hoping to stay in my residency through December. Right now, I'm doing pretty much anything that I can to help. I've entered and cleaned data, done a bit of research on a topic that related peripherally to the project, helped the PI (primary investigator) do some paperwork, summed up other relevant research articles into little briefs for people, and been allowed to sit in on meetings.
So, that is the information. For the next few months, I'll be writing about my research residency in addition to my courses. Fall quarter is seeming closer every day now!
First, a disclaimer: I'm not entirely sure if a research residency is a requirement in other PhD programs and additionally, I'm not sure if they are actually called "research residencies" even if they are required. However, I suspect that most programs that are offered in research intensive universities would require that a student gain some hands on research experience during their courses.
In my university (which shall remain nameless to protect my anonymity and ability to post honestly), roughly two quarters, or the equivalent credit hours of work done over a different number of quarters, are required. Additionally, the research residency must be performed before a student can write their qualifying exams, which I've written about previously. Since most people "write their quals" as it is called during the summer and/or fall following their second year, it is a good idea to do the research residency late in the first year or early in the second.
What each student does as a part of their residency is fairly unstructured. It should be something new, the student should learn something, and ideally, it would also benefit the professor or researcher. I have had classmates who have helped investigators file their IRB (Institutional Review Board or ethics committee) applications, help with participant interviews, write or edit publications, enter data, clean data, run statistical analyses or help with qualitative interpretation of data. While it might be nice to participate on a research project that directly related to a student's area of interest, that is not required.
Research residencies get chosen based on research topic, opportunities to learn necessary skills, comfort with a particular researcher, interest in an aspect of research that won't be covered in a student's program or sheer convenience. Some students, who are really quick, are able to negotiate credit for a research assistance-ship. Essentially what that neat trick results in is getting both credit and payment. To do that, a student would usually have a ton of work, and would exchange money for credit hours or credit hours for money. Hmmm, that came out wrong! I made it sound like a research drug deal - let me rephrase. Most students who are able to mix a research assistance-ship and research residency would get fewer than the usual three credit hours per quarter and not the full monetary benefit of the research assistance-ship position. It's both a win-win and lose-lose if you look at it closely.
The general consensus is that they are quite a bit of fun, if also a ton of work. My residency has so far helped me to feel very close to actual research, but it has also made me realize how amazing it is that any research gets done! The paperwork, huge amounts of data to be analyzed, committees, review boards, and work are stunning! I'm hoping to stay in my residency through December. Right now, I'm doing pretty much anything that I can to help. I've entered and cleaned data, done a bit of research on a topic that related peripherally to the project, helped the PI (primary investigator) do some paperwork, summed up other relevant research articles into little briefs for people, and been allowed to sit in on meetings.
So, that is the information. For the next few months, I'll be writing about my research residency in addition to my courses. Fall quarter is seeming closer every day now!
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