WHAT IS RESEARCH?
A research project is intended to expand your knowledge in a certain topic and see the results of an experiment you have in mind. Whether you're inhibiting a certain molecule or exposing cells to varying concentrations of a substance, a research experiment includes manipulation, as well as analysis of the effects of the manipulation. Research is what leads to great discoveries, innovative medical treatments/cures, achieving technological breakthroughs, and drives us to learn more about our natural world.
THE RESEARCH FIELDS
The following are examples of popular fields of biomedical research:
- Cancer (Oncology)
- Molecular & Cellular Biology
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Genetics (Genomics)
- Stem Cell Research
- Embryology
- Aging (Senescence)
- Microbiology
- Psychology
RESEARCH TIPS
If you're a student in the Academies interested in pursuing research, these frequently asked questions may be of some help to you:
Where do I get a research idea?
Most people new to research struggle to find an interesting topic. If you aren't able to decide what you want to research, first think about the fields or biological processes most interesting to you. What concept really fascinates you, or what disease has had an affect on your personal life or a loved one's. All of these questions are a great place to start looking for topic ideas. It's important to remember to do research in a topic/subject you find interesting and important. The most important ingredient to successful research is self-motivation, and the only way to be motivated in something is if you're interested in it. Choose something that matters to you and you think will make a difference. When you have your topic, for example, cancer, try to learn more about it. Learn about all it's properties or steps, and learn what would happen if you could manipulate certain things. Make yourself educated with your topic, so when it's time you carry out your experiment you know all the reasoning behind your actions, as well as whether you need to consider certain things in your research.
How do I know if my idea is good enough?
The best ideas for research are the ones that will make a difference in the world, or add some value to the world. Whether a discovery, a potential treatment/cure, a potential drug/antibiotic, or whatever else, if it has a meaningful impact on the world or will give some value to the world, and has a genuine purpose, your research idea is beyond good enough.
How do I start my research?
Don't hesitate to reach out to the faculty throughout the research process. Once you have your research idea and have learned as much as you can about the topic, put together a research proposal. Submit your proposal to the faculty in the science/research department, and explain your idea. Have a conversation, and let the faculty visualize your research idea. Make sure to have a research mentor to guide you in your research. It really helps!
Your mentor should be able to give you access to necessary equipment and facilities. Learn more by viewing our instrumentation guides, lab techniques, and MSDS.
How do I publicize my research?
If you're at the stage where you have completed your research, let your research mentor know so he or she can guide you on how to publish your findings or discovery. Popular publication platforms include ScienceDirect (Elsevier), NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information), PubMed, ResearchGate, etc. You also get the opportunity to publish in our school's very own scientific journal, Academy SciJournal! Once your abstract and research gets approved, your research is published!
Am I able to submit my research to a competition/exhibition?
You can submit your research to a variety of science and technology competitions, and even earn up to $250,000. Some of the largest national science competitions in the US are the Regeneron Science Talent Search, Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), ANN Neuroscience Research Prize, Envirothon, Google Science Fair, International BioGenius Challenge, National Science Olympiad, etc.
Where do I get a research idea?
Most people new to research struggle to find an interesting topic. If you aren't able to decide what you want to research, first think about the fields or biological processes most interesting to you. What concept really fascinates you, or what disease has had an affect on your personal life or a loved one's. All of these questions are a great place to start looking for topic ideas. It's important to remember to do research in a topic/subject you find interesting and important. The most important ingredient to successful research is self-motivation, and the only way to be motivated in something is if you're interested in it. Choose something that matters to you and you think will make a difference. When you have your topic, for example, cancer, try to learn more about it. Learn about all it's properties or steps, and learn what would happen if you could manipulate certain things. Make yourself educated with your topic, so when it's time you carry out your experiment you know all the reasoning behind your actions, as well as whether you need to consider certain things in your research.
How do I know if my idea is good enough?
The best ideas for research are the ones that will make a difference in the world, or add some value to the world. Whether a discovery, a potential treatment/cure, a potential drug/antibiotic, or whatever else, if it has a meaningful impact on the world or will give some value to the world, and has a genuine purpose, your research idea is beyond good enough.
How do I start my research?
Don't hesitate to reach out to the faculty throughout the research process. Once you have your research idea and have learned as much as you can about the topic, put together a research proposal. Submit your proposal to the faculty in the science/research department, and explain your idea. Have a conversation, and let the faculty visualize your research idea. Make sure to have a research mentor to guide you in your research. It really helps!
Your mentor should be able to give you access to necessary equipment and facilities. Learn more by viewing our instrumentation guides, lab techniques, and MSDS.
How do I publicize my research?
If you're at the stage where you have completed your research, let your research mentor know so he or she can guide you on how to publish your findings or discovery. Popular publication platforms include ScienceDirect (Elsevier), NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information), PubMed, ResearchGate, etc. You also get the opportunity to publish in our school's very own scientific journal, Academy SciJournal! Once your abstract and research gets approved, your research is published!
Am I able to submit my research to a competition/exhibition?
You can submit your research to a variety of science and technology competitions, and even earn up to $250,000. Some of the largest national science competitions in the US are the Regeneron Science Talent Search, Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), ANN Neuroscience Research Prize, Envirothon, Google Science Fair, International BioGenius Challenge, National Science Olympiad, etc.