This was a training I developed during my tenure as president of the World Health Organization of Students at UCI.

1. THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION OF STUDENTS RESEARCH The ROAD TO MEDICAL EXCELLENCE

2. What Research Should Mean “ Careful or diligent search, studious inquiry or examination; especially : investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts, or practical application of such new or revised theories or laws, the collecting of information about a particular subject” – MERIAM WEBSTERS Dictionary Research : What it Really Means “ Analyzing topics in science and thought through the profiling of facts, laws, trends, phenomena, statistics, effects, causes and pathways regarding a specific or general subject in nature or a scientific model.” -Everyone that actually counts

3. What Research Should Mean to You YOU MEANING: The philanthropic individual The constructive member of society The student The premed major who wants to go to medical school and will do the impossible to get there. Learning and studying medical topics that are a concern for humanity and looking for novel methods or treatments for therapeutic purposes with the hope that these advances might one day save the lives of citizens across the world. There is perhaps no field of research that is more noble or most respected than medical research, for it seeks to prolong the life of humanity and preserve without agendas or goals.

5. How Do I get Involved in Research R espectable academic background E xplore your interests S elect your faculty E xplain yourself to the faculty A sk questions R ead diligently C harismatic and active around lab H aving a constructive relationship with your mentor/faculty

6. Respectable Academic Standing 1. At least 3.0 cumulative GPA and above 3.0 science GPA 2. Taking Special interest courses (i.e. if you are into oncology, take oncology specific classes)- Its not impressive to have courses you have had to take. Jack’s Transcript First Quarter Chemistry IA Bio Sci 94 Second Quarter Chemistry IB Bio Sci 96 Jill’s Transcript First Quarter Chemistry IA Bio Sci 94 Freshman Seminar (Cancer) Second Quarter Chemistry IB Bio Sci 96 Bio 25 (Cancer Biology)

7. Explore Your Interests In Medicine MEDICINE MOLECULAR? Non-MOLECULAR? GENETICS? ONCOLOGY? VIROLOGY? IMMUNOLOGY? SURGERY? EMERGENCY? Organ Specific? OTHER?

10. Score! Sure Why not, but first I’ll need to interview you hot shot! Monday 10:00 AM, my office! He’s Probably Thinking This guy’s probably looking for a letter of rec. for med school. Or he might just be interested in my lab’s research, that would be worth having him, think about it why would I invest my time, energy, and precious supplies teaching someone whose only in it for the name and not much else…I guess we’ll see on Monday The deal is not as done as you think it is!

13. WELCOME ABOARD! YOU THINK ITS OVER? BUT ITS REALLY JUST BEGUN…

14. Asking Questions When you start in lab, you will probably be working with a Post-Doc or a grad student on a project that is already going. When you sit down with your lab person ask them a lot of questions on your research so that you understand it completely what you are doing in theory. This means that you will be referred to a lot of material to read and digest. That is a good start. Whenever possible, use the information you learned in your discussion with him or her so that they can see progress. Whenever you have questions about the reading, go back and ask, this might mean more reading but you are learning a lot and gaining the respect of your PI and associates. Reading Diligently

15. Charismatic and active around lab Don’t ever sit around doing nothing in lab. If you are waiting on something, or waiting for your PI to finish something, always have something to read, preferably, a journal article. Do not use the lab PC’s for games, or other recreational purposes, it could cost you your stay in research. Above all, don’t look lazy and uninterested or fall asleep, it builds you a bad reputation of being a slob.

16. Have a good relationship with your faculty Always stop by and say hi, or asking questions related to research, or maybe something interesting you read about the topic. Attend lab meetings and be vocal Inquire about conferences and always keep an ear out for seminars and other event related to research (especially international conferences -ohh yeah) But don’t expect to be invited unless you have contributed something

17. Any Questions? Help with writing emails, CV’s? Ahmed Ibrahim [email_address]