by Paik Hwa
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| Research may not be for everyone. |
20th of November, 2013 - Academic Medicine Society (AMS) held a Projects Evening where NUMed students who have been involved in research projects shared their respective experiences to the audience. The following is the lineup for the night:
Student (Stage)
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Subject
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Thelma Tembo (4)
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Delineation of risk factors in paediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia with favourable cytogenetics. (Public Health)
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Ng Zee Yong (3)
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How does the brain respond to the melody of speech?
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Andrea Lim (3)
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Defining the functional role of the autophagy regulatory gene Ambra-1 in melanoma invasion and metastasis.
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Jaya (4)
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Neuroblastoma
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Alireza (2)
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Kajang Prison Project
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Paik Hwa (5)
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The role of colour in object recognition.
SSC 1 Research (Pathology Department)
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Ho Ka Liang (5)
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SSC 1 Audit (Emergency Department)
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Muzammil (2)
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Immunohistochemical analysis of hypoxia, glucose transporters and neuroinflammation in the hippocampus of the TASTPM and P301L mouse model of dementia.
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The evening aimed to give the audience an overview of their peers’ experiences with their research projects and hopefully spark their own interest to take the same initiative in future. Whether you are sure or unsure about your passion in research, any new lesson gained in life is certainly worth its while. Nearly two hours of presentations later, here is obviously why you should not be hesitating and leave yourself behind in the pursuit to be on a discovery cloud nine.
2. Scholarships
If you were at the lecture theatre, you may have jaw-dropped at least once. Not to mention it is a nice addition to your CV.
3. New skills
Perhaps a rare ability like slicing mice’s brain, practical in real-life or not. It was not an easy feat as Muzammil revealed in a picture, “It was performed in a cold box, almost like a freezer.” A presenter also said, “I probably learnt more about research methodology during the short period of project (6-8 weeks) as compared to an entire duration of a course (years).”
4. Making new friends from around the world who share the same interest.
Zee Yong said, “I was in the UK doing a research project, but none of my colleagues including my supervisor are from the UK.”
5. Being in an intellectually stimulating environment.
Gotta deviate from the usual routine and one-up it sometimes. GO and step on a different soil.
6. Be prepared for mistakes or accidents, learn from them, and meet the deadline.
Things often go awry as the deadline approaches. It happens to almost everyone, but no one quite understands why that is the case. Except, it is a common way for discoveries to be made for civilisation: by mistake or accident. You either find out that you have been collecting data from the wrong specimens in a blind experiment; the stem cell culture did not turn out as expected no matter how rigid you followed the procedures; flies that did not like the food you cooked for them despite following the same recipe everyone else was using.
7. Getting published.
Last but not least, you should aim for this if given the opportunity.
If you were at the lecture theatre, you may have jaw-dropped at least once. Not to mention it is a nice addition to your CV.
Perhaps a rare ability like slicing mice’s brain, practical in real-life or not. It was not an easy feat as Muzammil revealed in a picture, “It was performed in a cold box, almost like a freezer.” A presenter also said, “I probably learnt more about research methodology during the short period of project (6-8 weeks) as compared to an entire duration of a course (years).”
Zee Yong said, “I was in the UK doing a research project, but none of my colleagues including my supervisor are from the UK.”
Gotta deviate from the usual routine and one-up it sometimes. GO and step on a different soil.
Things often go awry as the deadline approaches. It happens to almost everyone, but no one quite understands why that is the case. Except, it is a common way for discoveries to be made for civilisation: by mistake or accident. You either find out that you have been collecting data from the wrong specimens in a blind experiment; the stem cell culture did not turn out as expected no matter how rigid you followed the procedures; flies that did not like the food you cooked for them despite following the same recipe everyone else was using.
Last but not least, you should aim for this if given the opportunity.
I made the list with its corresponding elaborations in a lighthearted manner. In all seriousness, I often looked back to that summer in 2011 when I was first involved in a research project, and really appreciate the invaluable knowledge I was exposed to. It was one of the best times of my life.
Depending on your involvement, it may bring you to new places, for example our fellow Alireza who had the opportunity to visit a prison in Kajang. He had this to say, “Contrary to what people think of research, it has no rules and structure, it’s chaotic. If you want to do any sort of research, you need to be passionate about your idea and your work.”
Have I encouraged you enough? The next step for you is to talk to someone who can help give you a head start with organising and planning. The Academic Medicine Society, obviously, is a good start.
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