The Lovely Professional University is one of the top 20 varsities in India and is undisputedly the finest private research varsity both by the number of patents and expenditure. I believe we Vertos don’t take full advantage of the facilities, neither do we consider research opportunities as treasured assets, which undoubtedly it is.
Either as a grad student or as an inquisitive researcher, I would heartily suggest that everyone should indulge in research for at least a term while at their grad school. It not only gives you insight into the field of your interest, but it also helps you to understand the information that we are presented in our courses can be applied in the real world so concisely.
Even during the coronavirus reigns, several research facilities on campus continue to operate with the lower operating capacity restrictions. It can be tough to be a part of a research laboratory, particularly during these unprecedented times. Here are my tips to land a research position at a laboratory of your preference.
(1). Networking:
Follow the pioneers of the domain you are interested in. Participate in workshops, conferences, seminars, where you can meet individuals with common interests. These forums allow you to interact with scholars and get a better image of the subject.
(2). Apply to research internship programs:
For scholars interested in research opportunities abroad, initiatives such as the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), AIESEC, and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) connect brilliant Indian minds pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), who want to obtain research experience at a research facility or an educational institution and contribute to humankind. The scholarship directory by DAAD is the perfect place to start searching for research grants. Every scholarship listed on the site includes the basic qualifications, standards, amount, and instructions to register. EduInfo, Researchx, and other popular sites can make the process a lot smoother.
The following are among India’s finest research internships available: Summer Internship Programme by IIT-BHU, Summer Internship Programme by ISRO, Summer Undergraduate Research Grant for Excellence (SURGE) program by IIT Kanpur, Summer Internship Programme by DRDO, The Raman Research Institute Internship Program, Summer Internship Program by National Metallurgical Laboratory (CSIR-NML), CSIR-IIIM Jammu Summer Internship Program, Summer Internship Program by R.C.Bose Center for Cryptology and Security of Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Summer Research Programme by the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc), Summer Internship Program by the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), etc.
(3). Emailing professors:
Go through professor’s most recent projects, patents, and publications on the official pages of their institutions to get a sense of their area of expertise. Examine how their objectives align with your areas of interest. It helps if you’ve already worked in any of the fields they’re interested in.
What to write? Instead of focusing on what you’ve learned, the apprenticeship/ internship cover letter should concentrate on what you intend to do. Begin by introducing yourself and stating the role you are applying for. Then, provide additional context on what you’re currently learning as well as your goals for a future in that domain. Include any appropriate experience you have in that domain.
Use short paragraphs to explain what you intend to do with the insight you will be acquiring during your research and how working with that specific professor will help you achieve your goals.
If it fails, work on yourself!
You don’t need to panic if you are unable to secure a research position. Don’t blame yourself for the limited resources that have arisen as a result of these turbulent times. You should work on yourself if you can’t find a laboratory to work in. Lovely Professional University offers free online courses on topics ranging from programming to statistics on Coursera plus, all of which would be useful for potential research prospects. Taking these courses now will help you become a more desirable applicant for potential research positions.
