AAPM&R-RPC: Resident’s
Research Packet
Finding a Mentor
No scientist can
work in a vacuum. Every researcher needs other people to provide receptive
ears, timely advice, and an occasional helping hand. If this is one of your
first research projects, it is especially important that you find someone who
can answer questions for you and basically guide you through the research
process. In other words, you need a mentor.
There are a
number of places a resident can find a mentor. The first place to look is, of
course, within your own department. Ask around to see what your attendings are
doing and have done. You’ll probably find surprising diversity in their
work, especially with the more senior people. An attending may have worked in
your area of interest in years past, and s/he might be happy to guide you
through another project in that area.
Unfortunately,
attendings aren’t always readily available as mentors. They have many
clinical responsibilities, and the younger ones may not have had much research
experience of their own. Perhaps none of them works in the field you would
most like to study. Don’t give up! You still have many other options!
Next, look at
the other departments in your institution. Many areas of PM&R also find
interest in other specialties and you may find someone in another department
doing research similar or related to your interests. Don’t forget the basic
science departments. Basic scientists generally enjoy working with clinicians.
Such interaction generates new research ideas and helps to develop insight
about the clinical relevance of basic research. Hooking up with a basic
scientist can have many advantages for a resident. The basic scientist should
be well trained at doing research and may be able to help with lab space,
computer access, equipment, or even funding for your project.
Finally,
don’t be afraid to look outside of your institution for help and advice.
Call people who have done work similar to what you want to do. They may be
able to save you a lot of trouble. A lot can be accomplished with a phone, a
fax machine, e-mail (most active researchers have accounts on the Internet),
or regular mail.
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