Are you looking for ways to beef up your med school application with research opportunities, but at a loss for where to start? Why not try virtual research?
That’s right! You can gain research experience without even having to leave the comfort of your own home. Isn’t that amazing? Now, no matter how busy your schedule gets, you can still find time to pack in those extra opportunities that will really make your med school applications shine.
Keep reading to learn all about virtual research and how you can find virtual research opportunities for medical students that are compatible with your schedule and interests.
This post is all about virtual research opportunities for medical students.
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Find Out How To Find Virtual Research Opportunities For Medical Students
What Is Virtual Research?
Virtual research allows you to perform research activities remotely rather than in-person. For virtual research, you don’t have to physically show up in a lab or a clinic. Instead, you can make contributions from anywhere, as long as you have a device and an internet connection. Pretty cool, right?
Pros of Virtual Research
There are lots of great things about virtual research. To me, the best part is the flexibility. If you have a super packed schedule that doesn’t afford you enough time to make it into the lab or clinic physically, virtual research is an excellent solution.
There’s literally no commute time because you can do everything straight from home. Let’s say you end up with a surprise half-day at work. You can spend the rest of your afternoon at home putting in work on your virtual research project!
Virtual research also makes it possible to get involved in a wider variety of opportunities. Since you don’t have to report in person, you aren’t bound by the same location restraints as other research positions. You might even discover a new passion for a field that none of your more local positions offer. Branch out and see what you can find!
The lack of travel expenses is also great to put a little extra cash in your pocket when you need it.
Cons of Virtual Research
The biggest downside to virtual research is that you won’t always have access to all the same opportunities that you would in an in-person position. Some studies rely on in-person interactions or hands-on activities that you just can’t replicate online. However, there are still tons of fulfilling virtual research positions that either don’t require those types of interactions or offer solutions to get around the issues. For example, you might work in a hybrid research position that only requires you to come into the physical location once a week.
Virtual research can also be difficult for anyone who doesn’t have access to a fast, reliable internet connection. You don’t want to be constantly disconnecting and reconnecting every time you log in. That’s frustrating for both you and your colleagues. But, you can get around this issue by hanging out at a friend’s house when you do your virtual work or heading to a place that offers free, stable WiFi, like the library or a café.
Why Is Research Important?
Both pre-med and medical students should gain some research for two main reasons: opportunities and experience.
Research is one of the best ways to make yourself stand out from the crowd and showcase your commitment to medicine. This is especially true for anyone who doesn’t have the highest GPA. I applied to medical school with a lower GPA of 3.3, but, thanks to my well-rounded resume full of research, volunteering, clinical experience and more, I still earned a whole 10 acceptances!
For students who are already in medical school, research opens up doors to future opportunities, especially when applying for your residency. It lets you explore different fields to help you discover where your passions lie. You can also form connections with doctors who already work in those fields, making it easier for you to network and find full-time positions later in your career.
How Much Research Do You Need?
Most medical students don’t have a set number of required research hours, but I would recommend aiming to earn between 150-200 hours of research experience. If you really want to solidify your chances and make your application as eye-catching as possible, you can spread your research out over a few years and accumulate upwards of 300 hours.
Don’t stop at just boosting your pre-med resume though, there are so many important strategies for the application process you want to make sure to incorporate in order to get accepted.
I’ll go into details on the most important ones in my Free Premed Workshop. Here, you’ll learn how to identify residency bias, turn generic essays into unique and compelling stories, what it means to apply early, how to cast a wide net and more.
Save your seat for the next available date and I promise to make every minute worth your while.
Virtual Vs. In-Person Research
If you’re like me, you probably spring for virtual opportunities more often than for in-person ones. Just because virtual research can be such a handy solution when you don’t have a lot of free time to devote to an in-person position!
Plus, it opens up the door to so many more opportunities from different fields that you might not be able to find in-person at the moment.
What Is Virtual Research Like?
Since you don’t necessarily have to work in a lab or clinical setting, virtual research can involve a pretty big variety of tasks. You might help analyze data from surveys and trials, conduct telehealth appointments, or monitor health metrics from afar.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the tasks you might perform as a virtual researcher.
Remote Health Monitoring
Wearable technology and remote monitoring devices allow researchers to collect continuous data on participants’ health metrics, such as heart rate, activity level, and sleep patterns, without the need for in-person visits to a clinical setting. As a virtual researcher, you might monitor these data streams and sort or analyze findings.
Telemedicine Consultations
Ever since the pandemic, telemedicine has become a huge part of our daily lives. Virtual appointments are a convenient and accessible alternative for lots of people who can’t make it to in-person appointments.
In the context of research, telemedicine consultations might be used to conduct clinical assessments, discuss treatment plans, or collect data on patient outcomes. Depending on your current level of background and experience, you may simply sit-in on consultations or conduct them yourself.
Virtual Reality (VR) and Simulations
Sometimes research projects call for the use of virtual reality (VR) or simulation technologies. You might use VR as a virtual researcher to simulate medical procedures, assess cognitive function, or explore anatomical structures. It’s a really cool and engaging way to learn, especially if you don’t have a ton of experience with real life clinical scenarios yet.
Do You Get Paid for Virtual Research?
Whether or not you get paid for virtual research, or any research opportunities in general, usually depends on the institution hosting the research. Although many research programs are conducted on a volunteer basis, you can still receive some form of compensation for your time spent contributing and studying. On top of your salary, you might also receive additional benefits like health insurance.
Keep in mind that some research opportunities also come with a price tag so that you would have to pay for your involvement and the experiences you can gain from them.
Participating in virtual research can be much more affordable though! You don’t have to worry about travel expenses as long as you have a working device and internet connection at home. The main cost will be upkeep on your device and the price of your internet, which you’re probably already paying for anyway.
How to Find Virtual Research Opportunities
So, now you know virtual research is a thing. But, how do you get your hands on a position? Don’t worry – I’m about to give you 5 different ways to do it!
1. Ask Around at School
If you’re already in medical school or a pre-med program, your professors, academic advisors, and fellow students are your greatest resource. Ask staff and professors if they know of any virtual research opportunities either at your school or other institutions. Your peers may also be able to tell you about their experiences with virtual research and offer advice about where to look for opportunities.
2. Consult Online Research Platforms
Some websites are dedicated to connecting you with researchers from around the world who are looking for help with their projects. EBSCO and ResearchMatch often feature virtual research programs seeking volunteers. You can even use the search functions to narrow down your choices based on your interests and availability.
Also make sure to check out the research programs listed by AAMC, since they sometimes have virtual positions among them.
3. Research Grants and Fellowships
There may be funding opportunities specifically designated for medical students interested in virtual research. Look into grant programs and fellowships offered by government agencies, private foundations, and nonprofit organizations to see if there are any opportunities that catch your eye.
4. Join Clubs and Organizations
Whether you’re in a pre-med program or a full-time medical student, you can use your involvement in clubs and organizations on campus to your advantage as well. Most clubs have pre-established connections to various clinics, labs, and research institutions, so simply asking around at your next meeting could help you find a fitting position.
5. Branch Out to Other Schools
If you keep striking out on research opportunities at your own school, try reaching out to other universities. Search through the websites for their science departments to check for postings about open research assistant positions. You might not be able to land a paid research position right away, but volunteering gives you an opportunity to showcase your skills. If you do a great job as a volunteer, the leader of the project might ask you to come back or stay on for future paid positions too!
Final Thoughts on Virtual Research Opportunities For Medical Students
Virtual research can be such a handy tool for us busy pre-med and medical students. No matter what type of research piques your interest, chances are that you can find a virtual research opportunity perfectly suited for you. Whether you’re passionate about clinical trials or behavioral research, don’t miss this chance to hone your skills and gain experience without making a massive time or financial commitment.
What are you waiting for? Get out there and start researching!
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