College Experiences That Helped A Graduate Research Assistant At USC Succeed
To achieve career success, undergraduate experience in a research lab is crucial, providing "a lot more training" and direct mentorship. Learning diverse techniques and practicing them repeatedly ensures long-term retention, benefiting future career endeavors.
Laboratory Experience, Research Techniques, Mentorship, Skill Development, Long-Term Learning
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Daria Timonina
Graduate Student / Research Assistant
University of Southern California
University of Arizona / 2015
University of Southern California
Biology & Related Sciences
Healthcare, Medical & Wellness
Research and Development (R&D)
Honors Student, Immigrant, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Gain lab experience early: Undergrad lab work provides valuable training and mentorship, setting a strong foundation for future research.
2. Seek direct mentorship: Actively volunteer and work on projects under the direct guidance of experienced researchers.
3. Master relevant techniques: Focus on learning and repeatedly practicing techniques relevant to your research interests to build long-term proficiency and memory retention.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
I gained lab experience as an undergrad, which provided more training than advancing to higher levels. This experience truly set me up for success.
Volunteering in a lab and working on someone's projects, where you're directly mentored, is valuable. It's also beneficial to be in a lab where you're interested in learning specific techniques and potentially pursuing that topic further.
While that can be challenging, learning techniques you find useful and interesting, and that you can apply more broadly, is important. Practicing these techniques many times helps you remember them long-term.
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