Research
Find research opportunities, cold-email PIs with confidence, and track your hours — all in one place.
What is Research?
Research comes in many forms. You don't need to work in a lab with pipettes to have meaningful research experience.
Types of Research
Why It Matters for Your Application
Research is not strictly required for medical school, but it significantly strengthens your application. AMCAS provides a dedicated section for research experiences, and admissions committees view it as evidence that you can think critically, work independently, and contribute to advancing medical knowledge.
Even if you don't publish, meaningful research involvement shows intellectual curiosity and the ability to work on complex problems over time. That said, the depth of your involvement matters more than the name of the lab. A student who spent 18 months on one project and can speak about it in detail will always stand out over someone who briefly rotated through three labs.
Most medical schools — especially research-heavy institutions (MD/PhD programs, top-20 schools) — explicitly value research experience. For community-oriented schools, clinical or community-based research can be equally compelling.
Being a named author on a publication (especially as first or second author) carries significant weight. It demonstrates that you made a substantial intellectual contribution — not just pipetting or data entry.
That said, many strong applicants don't have publications at the time of application, and that's fine. What matters is that you can describe your contribution clearly. If you're listed as a contributor or acknowledged but not a named author, be honest about your role.
If you do have a publication or poster presentation, list it in the AMCAS Research section with the full citation. First/second author papers and peer-reviewed journals carry the most weight, but conference posters and abstracts count too.
How to Land a Research Position
Getting research is mostly about initiative. PIs are busy, so you need to come to them — clearly, professionally, and with genuine interest.
This is the single most effective strategy. Find faculty whose research interests you, read one of their recent papers, and send a concise, specific email. Most PIs appreciate students who show genuine curiosity about their work — not generic "I'm interested in research" messages.
Advisors often know which labs are actively looking for undergrads and can make a warm introduction. Even if they can't place you directly, they can point you toward departments or programs you didn't know existed.
If you did well in a biology, chemistry, or public health course, reach out to the professor. You already have a relationship — use it. Ask if they have openings or can recommend a colleague.
Most departments host weekly talks that are open to undergrads. Show up, listen, and introduce yourself to the speaker afterward. PIs notice students who attend voluntarily — it signals genuine interest.
Many universities hold annual research fairs where labs recruit undergrads. This is often the lowest-friction way to get connected. Bring questions about specific projects, not just "do you have openings?"
If cold-emailing feels daunting, structured research programs provide built-in mentorship and training. Check the Find Opportunities section below for NIH, NSF REU, and HHMI programs. These are especially strong for students at schools without large research programs.
Your first research experience doesn't need to be in your dream specialty. Any serious research teaches you the scientific method, critical thinking, and how to work on a team — all transferable. You can always pivot later.
When & Where to Start
There's no single right time, but earlier is better. Here's a practical timeline.
Where to Look
Find Research Opportunities
Find Research Institutes Near You
Search for NIH-funded research institutions by city using the NIH Reporter database.
For best results, enter your city name (e.g. "Cleveland" instead of "44111"). Results show institutions with active NIH-funded grants.
How to Find Research & Staff
A practical guide to identifying institutions, navigating faculty directories, and doing your homework before reaching out.
Not just universities — academic medical centers, independent research institutes (like Scripps, Broad, Salk), VA hospitals, and NIH-funded centers all run active labs. Use the NIH search above to find funded institutions near you, then check their website for a faculty or labs page.
Most institutions list faculty by department. Look for sections labeled "Research," "Faculty," "Laboratories," or "People." Filter by department (e.g. Biology, Neuroscience, Medicine) and look for faculty who list "Research Interests" or link to a lab website.
A good faculty profile tells you: their research focus, current projects, recent publications, and whether they mentor undergraduates. Look for phrases like "undergraduate researchers welcome" or "training opportunities." If the lab has its own website, check for a "People" or "Team" page — if undergrads are listed, they're likely open to taking more.
Before emailing a PI, search their name on PubMed. Read at least one recent abstract so you can reference their work specifically. This shows you've done your homework and makes your email stand out from generic requests.
University labs tend to be more basic science (bench research), while hospital and institute labs often lean clinical or translational. Both are valuable for premeds. University labs may be easier to access as a student; hospital labs may offer more direct patient-related research. Don't limit yourself to one type.
Online Research Portals
National programs and databases where you can find structured research opportunities.
Cold Email Generator
Fill in the details below and we'll generate a personalized, professional cold email to a PI using AI. Your email will sound like you actually wrote it — not a template.
Research Hours Log
Track every research session. Your data is saved locally in your browser.
| Date | Lab / PI | Type | Hours | PI / Mentor | Reflections |
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