SiF: Research for Students

Are you a research-lover? Do you want to get into research but don't know how? Studenter i Forskning (SiF) might have the answers that you are looking for!

What is SiF?

SiF stands for Studenter i Forskning which is Swedish for Students in Research. We are a student-run organization that holds events like journal clubs and research seminars, as well as provides valuable information to students that want to pursue research at Karolinska Institutet.

Q & A with the SiF board

1. How did your journey inresearch start?

DIDAR: I actually have not started my academic research journey yet! I only recently started gaining an interest in it when I noticed how intriguing research is.

JENNY: When I was in high school I started volunteering at a lab in molecular biology and genetics at a local university. I learned the ropes around the different lab techniques and eventually got to work on my own project, which I subsequently won a scholarship for at a science competition for high school students.

MARIA - NEFELI: During my bachelor studies at Karolinska Institutet, I started working in a laboratory part-time. I greatly enjoyed learning new techniques while applying my knowledge from my bachelor courses, so I have continued doing research in parallel to my studies to this day.

ALI: In my first semester I came in contact with a bunch of students researchers, in the semesters above. I landed my first research assistant job through them .

CAROLINE: I got my first research position with one of my lecturers in my first semester of medical school. I had been in contact with her due to an international exchange and just asked her if she wanted to take in a student – and she did!

2. What advice would you give to someone that wants to get into research but doesn't know where to start?

DIDAR: Find out what you think is interesting, take a few steps in that direction and see if you like it. (You can find a list of professors who is interested in hosting students at studenteriforskning.se)

JENNY: If you keep an open mind and you’re in it for the experience and to learn, anything is possible. I would start with reaching out to as many labs of your interest as you can; talk to supervisors and staff at the lab and go from there. Research requires a lot of patience so I’d give it time to figure out your ultimate life’s calling.

MARIA - NEFELI: In the biomedical programme, all lecturers are also conducting research and they always talk briefly about their work in the beginning or end of the lecture. If you find their research topic interesting, make sure to approach them and discuss their research, laboratory techniques they use in their lab, and ongoing projects that you could potentially join.

ALI: I would definitely start by scouring the internet – more specifically KI sites and SiF’s website – for interesting research groups. After finding one, we enter the stage of spamming and religiously attempting to come in contact with the PIs or researchers at the lab, asking for a job!

CAROLINE: investigate your interest and ask around! Maybe you have an interesting seminar leader, know someone who does research or similar? There are so many ways to get into research and the most important advice I can give is to show your interest and to be honest about your background and what you are capable of in both terms of time and skillset.

3. What is something you wished you knew before getting into research?

DIDAR: What I have noticed a lot of people mention is that professors choose their research path for a reason, so talking about their work is fun for them. This is why, if you are interested in doing what they do, you should not be afraid of inviting Professors for a cup of coffee to talk about their work.

JENNY: That it’s not necessarily about the results. As I said, research requires a lot of patience so it’s mostly about the journey and the process.

MARIA - NEFELI: That this is a learning process and things won’t always go as planned. You should see every mistake and failed experiment as an opportunity to learn more and improve yourself. Also, always remember that many great discoveries happened by mistake!

ALI: Be willing to change labs early! Evaluate carefully if the current research group will benefit you in your own development.

CAROLINE: Think about what type of research you want to do. Research is so different, from working in wet labs, with patient registries, computer softwares and being in the clinic having patient meetings. Not all needs to suit everyone and it can be a deal breaker!

4. What was your favorite eventthat SiF organised and why?

DIDAR: The “How To Research Lecture” for sure! Gave me everything I needed to know about starting my research journey, as well as a few resources.

JENNY: The different webinars we’ve organized so far. I find it interesting to learn about the different fields of research and what the latest discoveries are.

MARIA - NEFELI: The psychedelic research webinar was a great event where top researchers in the field, both from Sweden and abroad, spoke about this rapidly advancing field of research.

CAROLINE: Research colloquium, a very nice gathering in Gamla Stan with dinner and discussions of a research topic from different perspectives.

5. What has being part of SiF taught you?

DIDAR: Researchers can be fun people too. :)

JENNY: That research students aren’t antisocial mythical creatures but actually are fun with active social lives.

MARIA - NEFELI: That researchers are so fun that they have created a parody of the Nobel prizes called the Ig Nobel prizes, which are awarded every year for achievements that "first make people laugh, and then make them think".

CAROLINE: That there are so many researchers who want to work and engage with us students!

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FIND OUT more about how to contact SiF in the Medicor Magazine! You may also find some easter eggs for the competition in this article ;)