Reflection: What advice would you give past you about research?

Research had always felt something like an unattainable dream for me. Seeing all the immensely difficult and groundbreaking projects being conducted by renowned researchers, I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of contribution I could possibly make to any of these projects. This REU, however, was able to propel me into the world of research and teach me the necessary skills to succeed. Now I can confidently move forward with an optimistic outlook for any of my future research endeavors.

If I could give my past self some advice about research, they would come three-fold. First, it takes a high level of perseverance. There are many times in research where the tasks at hand may become menial and taxing but keeping the end goal and the potential impact in mind, it’s important to keep pushing on until arriving at results. Second, the areas of research that are being conducted is so broad that it’s highly likely you’ll be able to find people doing research in your niche of interest. If not, you can always be the first to pioneer that space! Third and lastly, research is hard – especially when you are just beginning to get into it. Therefore, it’s important to have great mentors and to ask for help. Research is a collaborative journey where intermingling ideas can lead to bigger and better discoveries. Don’t be scared to ask for help because no one is good at research right off the bat.

Albert Lee | Johns Hopkins University