Hello! Over these past six weeks working as a research assistant, I can confidently say that this experience has been very different from my initial expectations. This fellowship is my first time conducting research, so my expectations were based on what I’ve seen on TV. I had imagined research to be dozens of scientists working in a high-tech lab, wearing protective equipment, and working with advanced technology. Of course, this wasn’t the case. Research can look like so many different things. It doesn’t always entail working in a lab setting. I’ve learned that the term “research” is an incredibly broad term, and it encompasses a plethora of different fields and techniques. My research project is a very specific and unique topic, and it is one amongst millions of different projects that someone can pursue in the context of oncology alone. This aspect of research really surprised me.
Throughout my research project, I have learned that research can be very time-consuming. Finding solutions to some of the greatest challenges our world faces can’t be done in a few weeks. Research is truly a commitment, and I really do hope that it is something I can continue to pursue throughout my undergrad. Research has also challenged me in many different ways. I have spent a lot of time outside of my lab learning about all of the intricacies of the field I am working in, in order to be a better researcher when I’m in the lab. The field of oncology is incredibly vast and complex, and it has taken me a lot of time to learn even the basics of this field. I often find it very overwhelming to understand all of the science involved, and I think this has been one of the greatest challenges I have faced throughout my research experience.
And as far as my social identity, I don’t believe it has as big of an impact on my research as it would for other research domains. I believe this is because the type of research I am conducting is experimental research, and it does not involve qualitative or descriptive research methods which may involved a more subjective interpretation of data.