GDB Practicum: Debunking Common Myths and Misconceptions
GDB Practicum: Debunking Common Myths and Misconceptions
Learning about the practicum and its requirements, all the way to finding a mentor and writing your practicum report, can be daunting at first. This journey can be accompanied by many misconceptions, inaccurate perceptions, and internal fears.
The GDB practicum is a one-quarter research experience, done in any field and on any topic that is broadly related to health and disease. It’s a unique experience that allows GDB students to immerse themselves in the research field, understand the research process, and experience writing a proper scientific manuscript ready for submission.
For many GDB students, the practicum introduces them to a world of research they had never thought about or understood before becoming part of it. GDB has allowed them to go out, explore their interests, and find the research topics they enjoy working on.
Despite the enriching experience, some students might have concerns about the practicum, especially during the searching process. In this article, we will be debunking some common myths that you might have or have heard about the practicum and giving you the answers you might be looking for!
Finding a Mentor
Myth 1: If I am interested in joining a lab, but I don’t have any lab experience, I won’t get accepted into any labs, and professors won’t consider my application.
At UC Davis, we have lots of labs that recruit students, and many professors want to train students to become future scientists. Many professors on campus understand that students want to join their labs to build experience from scratch, and they welcome students who are willing to learn and become part of their team.
What matters most to professors when recruiting students is their passion, commitment, and willingness to learn. While you’re reaching out to labs, you might find some that require some level of experience. In that case, you can either look for other labs with similar research interests but different requirements, or join other labs, gain the experience required, and reapply to the lab of interest.
This means that there are many opportunities to explore, regardless of your level of experience or research interests. You might need to reach out to several labs and be open to different types of research, but don’t let a lack of experience discourage you from trying.
Myth 2: I have reached out to many labs and professors, and I didn’t receive an answer. Maybe it’s me.
UC Davis is a research institution with lots of highly regarded labs. Many students in Davis reach out for research positions, so some labs might not need a large number of students, or they might not be able to respond to everyone. However, this does not mean that there is anything wrong with you, and it’s definitely not personal.
If your emails are not answered, try to follow up a week after the initial email. If you still receive no response, move on to the next ones. There will always be other research opportunities to explore, so don’t let a few unanswered emails discourage you.
Myth 3: I haven’t had much luck finding a mentor, and I am worried that I won’t find one to do my practicum with.
Finding a mentor can take time, and every student’s journey will be different. Some students find a lab quickly, while others might need to reach out to several professors before finding a research opportunity that fits their interests.
If you are struggling and need help, the GDB advising department should be your go-to, as they can help you through the process. Don’t hesitate to ask for assistance.
Myth 4: I cannot do my practicum with a professor who taught me a class before.
It is possible to do your practicum with a professor you had before. This depends on many factors, such as their lab availability, their willingness to take you, and how much they know you and want you to be part of their team.
If one of your professors conducts interesting research and you want to be part of their lab, try to talk to them during class and office hours and ask if they’re accepting new students in their labs.
Choosing Your Research
Myth 5: If I am not interested in lab-based research, I won’t find research to work on.
While lab-based research might be the most popular among students around you, it’s not the only type of research that you can work on. Depending on your interests, you can find research that works for you.
For example, if you’re interested in the medical field, you can reach out to doctors from the Medical Center who conduct clinical trials or patient-focused research. If you like working out in nature, you will find many labs that recruit students to do sampling, testing, or other studies related to the environment.
In addition, many labs conduct data-analysis-based research, where you work with existing data and analyze the results to identify patterns or correlations.
In many cases, students discuss doing literature-review research with their mentors, where they answer a research question by reviewing and critically analyzing existing research on the topic.
Students have a variety of options to choose from depending on their interests, their PI, and the type of research they would like to pursue.
Myth 6: I cannot do my practicum with a mentor who is not affiliated with UC Davis.
Many GDB students have conducted research overseas or worked with mentors outside UC Davis. Some students might do internships overseas and want to do their research on the topic they focused on during that internship, which is a perfectly fine choice.
If the student decides that this is what they want to do for their practicum, all they have to do is find a professor on campus who agrees to be their Instructor of Record, guide them through the practicum writing process, and sign their final manuscript before it is submitted for grading.
Many professors have agreed to do this role in the past, so students can pursue the research they like. Whether it’s an experience overseas or at another institution outside UC Davis, you can still use that experience for your practicum by connecting with a faculty member on campus.
If you need to discuss that more, GDB Advising is more than happy to help.
Myth 7: If I am interested in research that is not directly STEM-related, I won’t be able to do it for my practicum.
GDB advising requires the student to do research on topics related to health and disease in the broader sense. This means that the topic options are unlimited, and they don’t have to be STEM-focused as long as they relate to health and disease.
If there’s a topic that you’re interested in doing for your practicum, but you’re not sure if it’s going to be accepted, reach out to GDB to further discuss it.
Myth 8: I need to find a mentor who is doing research related to my future career.
You do not have to do research in the exact field you want to pursue in the future. The practicum is an opportunity to explore research interests and learn scientific skills. Your research topic does not have to match your future career.
Always think about something you would love to explore more, even if it’s not directly related to the path you want to pursue in the future.
Understanding the Practicum Experience
Myth 9: If I spent a quarter or two in my research lab, I cannot stay longer to work further on my project.
GDB requires students to spend at least one quarter doing their research. However, this is the minimum time required, and in many cases, students choose to stay longer to gain more experience and possibly get more data to write about in their report.
If you think that you need more time, you can discuss that with your PI and think about a timeline that fits your academic plan.
Myth 10: If I stay in my research lab for more than two quarters, I cannot get credit for the time I spend there.
While GDB offers GDB 189 for only two quarters, students can still get research credit by signing up for other research courses. These are usually research courses with course numbers ending in 98, 99, or something similar.
To get more credits, talk to your PI and ask whom you should reach out to if you want to sign up for research units in that department. Every department will have its own courses that you can sign up for.
Myth 11: I need to fully understand the research before I am part of the lab.
You will need to know what the lab is studying and the research project that you will be part of, but there will be many details that you will learn while conducting research, and your knowledge will improve as you get more involved in the project.
Myth 12: I will be doing my own research the moment I join the lab.
When you join the lab, you will work under the supervision of a grad student or a postdoc in the lab who will train you on the different techniques used in the lab.
As an undergraduate student, you will most likely work with one of the lab members on their project. Some students, later in their time in the lab, will be given independent projects to work on, but this, again, is something to discuss with their PI.
Myth 13: I need to finish the entire research project before writing my practicum report.
Science is cumulative. When one question is answered, many others will come up. Students don’t necessarily finish the projects that the team has been working on for a long time, but they do need to answer the scientific question they developed with their PI.
The question is usually a small part of a bigger project in the lab, but it still contributes to the science the lab generates.
Myth 14: I can only do my practicum during my senior year.
While many students do their practicum during their senior year, they don’t have to wait until then to finish their practicum.
If they have found the lab, worked on a project, discussed it with their PI, and they are ready to complete the practicum, they can sign up for the classes and finish them before their senior year.
If this applies to you, make sure you discuss that with GDB Advising for further guidance.
Myth 15: I cannot switch my research topic or professor after joining a lab.
You can definitely switch labs after spending some time in one and realizing that this is not the research you want to do.
When considering this, there are many factors that you need to think about, such as whether you have enough time to collect enough data and write your practicum report after switching labs.
You can also consider writing your report based on the data you collected and then switching labs to work on other projects.
Balancing Research and Other Responsibilities
Myth 16: I will not be paid for the research I do.
Most students join labs as research assistants, which means they volunteer their time to assist with ongoing research projects without getting paid for the work.
However, this is not always the case. Some students start as paid workers in their labs and later begin doing research, which means that part of their work may be paid.
Every student has a different experience, and whether you are paid or not is something that you will need to discuss with your PI.
Myth 17: I cannot do my practicum while working another job.
This depends on the student, as each one knows what they can do and how much time they have in a day.
Some students have done this in the past. They worked part-time jobs, did research, and kept up with their classes. On the other hand, some students preferred to spend more time in the lab and focus on their classes without having a paid job.
A student should consider their other priorities and whether they want to be part of other clubs, organizations, or events on campus and how that affects their day-to-day schedule.
Final Thoughts
Students might have different concerns when it comes to their practicum experience. Instead of worrying, try to fully immerse yourself in the project you’re working on, learn as much as you can, and discover the joy that comes with science.
Even if the experience is not ideal, you can still learn what you enjoy and what career best fits your interests.
All in all, use your GDB experience to explore your interests, discover how much you love science, and think about what path you want to pursue in the future. And remember, never stop learning!