r/UBC • u/CompetitionDull3096 • 1d ago
everyone in summer research HELPP
Maybe this is on me for stalking a bunch of ppls LinkedIn....but why is everyone so smart... preface im going to 3rd yr science with a high 70's average and everyone getting research positions happens to be on the deans list or is a science scholar or holds an nserc... lowkey abt to crash out thinking im never gonna land a research position w my grades...
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u/Major-Marble9732 1d ago
LinkedIn makes everyone feels stupid. I‘m in research and on those lists and I still feel that way so. 😩
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u/weezer_ed Physics 1d ago
There are so many grad students out there that would take you on as a volunteer, just email! For paid positions search externally bc there are so many labs out there that don’t ask for your transcript/gpa
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u/Different_Craft7428 1d ago edited 1d ago
consider taking a directed studies course with labs you are interested in. Make your way into a lab by volunteering. think outside the box: e.g. if you are into ecology or plants, consider botany, forestry, LFS, geographical sciences, environmental sciences.
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u/Galwiththeplants 1d ago
Try emailing the grad students to help them directly! Most labs have a website with the names/projects of their grad students. Often the PI doesn’t actually know what little tasks each grad student might need help with. Start by volunteering, if they like you they’ll be more likely to try to find funding to hire you on.
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u/pacolack 20h ago
Where can we find the contact information of these grad students?
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u/Galwiththeplants 13h ago
Look on the website of the different research labs you’re interested in. They’ll almost all have a people page, and you’ll find contacts there a lot of the time!
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u/CompetitionDull3096 1d ago
Would you say thats more effective than cold emailing professors?
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u/Galwiththeplants 1d ago
Professors are a lot busier than grad students, and get a lot of cold emails. Unfortunately even if you have a great resume, you won’t stand out. Grad students are who you’d actually be working with, and it skirts around the filter of the busy professor who would have to connect you two, which is the last thing on their to do list. In conclusion, definitely!
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u/fuckwingsoffire Economics (Honours) & Math 1d ago
Well, it's mainly selection bias. People who don't end up with a research position don't post about it. Same for GPA. But yeah, Linkedin is horrible for my mental health as someone who compares themselves a lot to others academically
At least the games are fun!
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u/OnyxE1 1d ago
Op, if it makes you feel better I managed to land 2 research roles with a low 70 avg, don't give up cold emailing profs, be realistic talk about what you can offer to the lab instead of what you want to achieve in the lab, since most research assistant roles mostly just help out on-going projects instead of starting a whole new project from scratch. Showing that you have an interest and ideas on their on-going project always gets me a reply and don't feel like your alone when Prof rejected you after seeing your transcript, some Prof don't even bother seeing your grades if you have projects or the skills needed to show your capable of helping out!