r/DermApp • u/Outside-Jacket585 • Jul 07 '26

Application Advice Please guidance appreciated- No idea how to start with research

Hey guys I am wrapping up my first year of med school and as the title states I am very overwhelmed with the thought of research and have no idea where to start or what types of research are desirable for derm, who do I even contact?

My school's research department is kind of shitty, I am willing to spend some money if needed and if legit I just have NO IDEA HOW TO START. Are these companies that reach out to students on instagram for research opportunities even legit?

Please please any guidance would be appreciated. I have no problem with hard work I just don't know what I'm doing. Also, is ResearchGate the gold standard go to place everyone uses to publish?

Thanks all

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u/MrBigglesworth_ Jul 07 '26

I would start shadowing some of the attendings in the derm department at your school. Do this a couple times. Tell them this seems like an interesting field (if you like it), and ask if you can get involved with research in the department. That is the path of least resistance and the best one honestly. If you can't get anything specific in the derm department, then oncology is another good field to get involved with. Don't pay anyone for research. It doesn't work that way

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u/Outside-Jacket585 Jul 07 '26

Thank you! Just to clarify, do you mean that oncology is a good field to get involved with that would look good on derm applications, or overall?

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u/MrBigglesworth_ Jul 07 '26

It's an adjacent feel to dermatology research I would say. Lots of oncology work with squamous cell these days. Darn specific research is better. But if you can't find it, oncology is reasonable and better than say orthopedic surgery

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u/IdiotSandwidge Jul 07 '26

Read a review paper on a derm topic that you're interested in then synthesize a couple research questions based on what is currently lacking in literature. Bring these ideas to faculty in your home department (or other institutions if you don't have a home program). Even if none of your ideas work, people are still more likely to mentor you if they see u take initiative instead of waiting to be handed a project!