What does it take to be successful as an undergraduate research assistant?

My habit of perfectionism has found a home in the EPL, as it seems to be a theme that flows there. Everything has an exact place, time, and purpose in the lab, and if it doesn't, then someone- anyone- should actively look into it and then follow through.

The graduate students have made a strong impression on me because they are not satisfied with mediocre work: they are constantly striving to look at things in a new and different way so that they can improve upon the work they have already completed.

Everybody learns their initial responsibilities, then it is up to them to carry them out whenever they are in the lab. It may involve doing several things, such as calling participants, scheduling tests, and updating the computer [databases].

Every detail is important and it is critical that everybody understands their responsibilities and how they relate to what everybody else is doing.

Taking an active interest in solving problems as they arise in the lab is beneficial to you and the success of the study.

One can get the most out of the lab experience by putting in plenty of time and paying careful attention to what is done, as well as taking initiative to learn about everything going on in the lab.

I believe that if you are willing to take on responsibility and learn new tasks you will definitely get the most out if the lab experience

Working in this particular lab requires a desire to interact with other people. …An individual should work in the lab if they really want to learn about what is involved in carrying out a study and can be enthusiastic about all the different elements that are involved.

One must be able to communicate effectively or adapt your ways of explaining to suit [the participant's] needs.

... though I did not believe I was ready to place EKG leads on a participant after having practiced on volunteers, I was assigned to do so on a graded exercise test. ...I did just fine. The only way I was going to become comfortable with participants was to be "thrown in the mix" just like I was, by learning through experience.

Another strength of the lab that I mentioned earlier is the continual search for improvement and attention to detail. I think this is what makes the lab a successful as it is; everyone is challenged daily to continually improve and be better than the day before.

If something is amiss, who better to investigate it than the person who noticed it in the first place? On a grander scale, such a concept separates the complainers from the doers in life. In the EPL, it has been emphasized in one way or another that we all need to be doers.

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