Matthew Yi, a Junior majoring in Human Biology, Health, and Society, has been working in the Schaffer-Nishimura Lab in the department of biomedical engineering at Cornell University since his Sophomore year. The lab specializes in utilizing in vivo imaging techniques to investigate the mechanisms and pathology of Alzheimer’s disease.
Keep reading to learn Matthew’s perspective on frequently asked questions about research opportunities at Cornell.
Absolutely not! My research experience at Cornell was my first one. Professors know that you are just an undergrad, and they care more about your interests in the subject than any previous experience you have. They are here to mentor and develop you as a researcher, not hire you as a technician.
Reaching out to professors can seem daunting at first, but I believe the best way is to cold email or talk in person. Does the work your chemistry professor does interest you? Talk to them after class or during office hours! Professors love to talk about their work and are generally pretty happy to see a student interested as well.
The most important thing about a lab is the work that you’ll be doing? Know the difference between wet lab and dry lab. Do you like to work with patients? You probably won’t like working at the bench with bacteria. Remember, working in a research lab is something you’ll commit to spending 6-8 hours a week for the semester, being excited about the topic, and enjoying the work you’ll be doing will make the experience so much more rewarding.
Don’t sweat it. Professors are super busy, and your email probably got lost in the hundreds of messages they get a day. If it’s a professor you are really interested in working in, be persistent! Follow up through email or even try to approach them during their office hours. Showing initiative makes an impact!
There are many programs here that are geared towards helping students gain research skills and experience. Programs such as the Nexus Scholars Program in the College of Arts and Sciences gives students an opportunity to do research and develop their career during a summer in Ithaca. Other resources include the Cornell Undergraduate Research Board, the Shoals Marine Lab, the Career Development Toolkit Research module, and many more. Check with your Career Office to learn more!
“Doing research at Cornell has been an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s helped me grow a lot, not just with lab skills, but also in how I think about science and problem solving. If you’re even a little bit interested, I would definitely recommend just going for it. Send that email, talk to a professor after class, or apply for one of the programs. There are so many opportunities here, you just have to put yourself out there a little.”
