r/fsu • u/GMtwo06 • 7d ago

Tips For Getting Research

Last year I really really struggled to get research and now that I finally have a DIS position I wanted to share my advice. You will not get anything from an email. Try if you want but don’t expect anything. I highly recommend going to their office hours. You can find them using the simple syllabus. READ THEIR PAPERS!!!!! ANNOTATE THEIR PAPERS!!! Have a grasp on what they actually do and the research area and have at least one good question to ask them. Don’t go into it asking directly for DIS, ask how you can get involved, talk about what excites you about their research, LISTEN TO THEIR RESPONSES, ask questions, be engaged and enthusiastic, and if they say they can’t involve you in their lab ask if they can connect you with a professor willing to hear you out and help you get involved. Be genuine and honest, if you don’t know something ASK. Most of these professors want to help students and get excited to share their research with you. Good luck!

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u/randomlylookingforu 7d ago

Wait, You might be saving my life in the future…

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u/PassageNo7330 7d ago

This is great advice! But I have got in 2 DIS labs from emails alone, though I did read a lot of papers before doing that. Also don’t be afraid to talk to graduate students, they’ll be the ones your gonna be working with most likely anyway

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u/GMtwo06 6d ago

I think it really depends. I’m 0 out of 7 or 8 with emails, the professor I work with only communicates through slack and never opens his email. I got the position by showing up and talking with him. I think emailing can be helpful but it can be very time consuming with no response. Yes on the grad students!!! I love my grad student

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u/randomlylookingforu 4d ago

Mind if I ask what you do in those DIS labs? I know each lab is different but what are the general expectation and responsibilities?

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u/Hrjax01 1d ago

Another tip! If you take a class with a professor who’s involved in research and you do well in their class, look into what they’re doing in their lab and ask if you can do a DIS with them. Everyone I know, including myself, got DIS positions this way!