ResearchLife

Have you taken the GRE yet? Your GPA is pretty good, since the minimum is 3.0 for most PhD programs, you GPA is well above the average. However you should do some practice test for the GRE and see how well you score. Also most PhD programs recommend you take your GRE that latest by October. Depending on your GRE score you should apply. Also do you have 3 LOR for programs?

Thank You so much! Hopefully I will get into a PhD program! Will a review paper have any impact or not really?

I have been working in a lab for the past two years and will be getting a strong Letter of Recommendation from my PI and two other faulty members. Unfortunately, the PhD student I am working under is having difficulty in publishing a peer-review research article, because the data is not panning out. But I was told I would be on any paper she publishes, but do not know if it will be published in the time of admissions or be sent for review. However, we are publishing a review paper, which I am the second author of in the Journal Cancer. Will the review paper have any impact or would I be disadvantage because I do not have a peer-reviewed paper after two years of working in a lab?

I will be applying to a PhD program, sorry forgot to say that

I have been working in a lab for the past two years and will be getting a strong Letter of Recommendation from my PI and two other faulty members. Unfortunately, the PhD student I am working under is having difficulty in publishing a peer-review research article, because the data is not panning out. But I was told I would be on any paper she publishes, but do not know if it will be published in the time of admissions or be sent for review. However, we are publishing a review paper, which I am the second author of in the Journal Cancer. Will the review paper have any impact or would I be disadvantage because I do not have a peer-reviewed paper after two years of working in a lab?

Hey everyone another question! So I did a undergraduate honors thesis in the field of cancer biology and how exosomes plays a role in cancer metastasis. This was a wet lab experience and in a PhD program I want to focus on cancer research for my thesis. I received Highest Honors for my Thesis and was wondering if doing this would be beneficial for my application or does everyone who applies have this?

Can anyone recommend me a good GRE test prep company? Is Kaplan good?I plan on taking it in October the GRE

Thank You Everyone for their comments they were very helpful! I have decided to not take the master and continue working in the same lab! Hopefully this time next year I will be going into a PhD program!

Will do. Hopefully they will provide me insight! Thanks for your advice!

It is actually 50K and 15K would be apartment costs and etc for that 1 year.

This is 1 year program! I am doing research in the exact field I want to research in, Cancer biology! In your opinion does doing a Undergraduate Honors Thesis help in application process? I recieved highest hononrs for my thesis and it was actual research done by me. Thank you!

If i do not take the Master at Columbia, I will be continuing doing research in the same lab I did my undergraduate research in! I am doping research in the field I want to do my PhD in, Cancer biology. I am not sure yet what aspect of cancer biology I want to focus on but I know i want to do Cancer biology. I just want to fundamentally increase my chances of getting into decent PhD program ( either the same caliber as my alma mater Rutgers or higher). I know my recommendation letters are solid, the only thing that was holding me back from applying to PhD programs was GRE. I am planning on studying for the GRE over the summer taking them in October and then applying for PhD programs if I do not take the Master program. I need to destroy the GRE, which I hope would offset my low GPA. I struggled the first year or two but my grades drastically increased. There is a massive upward trend in my transcript. If I work in the same lab i worked in undergrad I will be volunteering. I really like my PI she is excellent mentor and she said to let her know which PhD programs I am applying to before I apply, to see if she knows anyone

Hello I have just graduated Rutgers University the New Brunswick campus with a a major of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry and minor of Statistics. My GPA at the end of college was a 3.3 out of a 4.0 scale. I know this is a very low GPA. I want to do PhD, in the life sciences, and have done research for the past two years and completed an Honors Undergraduate Thesis. I was planning on taking a year of, so i could study for the GRE in the summer and take them in September or October so I could try to get a great GRE score so it could offset my low GPA.During this time I applied for a masters program, M,A in biotechnology at Columbia University which did not require a GRE. I got into the masters program, however I am now unsure if I should still take a year off or i should rather take this prestigious opportunity and then after the Master program apply for PhD which would then enable me to get into a stronger PhD program which i would be unable to after just undergrad. I have also been told I might be published end of this year. I have listed the Pros and Cons below. Please let me know if in your opinon i should still take a year off or I should take the Master program and then apply to PhD program. i really want to attend Columbia but wanted to get others opinion.Pros:-Attending Columbia's Master program will ;provide me the ability to get into a top PhD program due to the prestige of the faculty and status of the school-Help me expand my network of connections-Expand my Knowledge-ITS COLUMBIA LOL-Columbia might give me that distinction which might differentiate me from other candidates when applying for PhD.Cons:-I will be spending 65K for a a`1 year master program. (Very expensive)My C.VEducation: Rutgers University, School of Arts and Sciences, New Brunswick, NJMajor: Molecular Biology and BiochemistryMinor: StatisticsRelevant Courses: Molecular Pathways, Gene Regulation in Cancer and Development, Special Topics in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry: The Biology of Aging, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Introduction to Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Laboratory, Organic Chemistry, Computer and Graphical Applications Statistics, Regression Methods, Introduction to Experimental Design, Statistics for Quality Control, Basic Statistics for Research, Introduction to Computing Statistics, Basic Statistics and Probability, Calculus, Physics, Biology, ChemistryExperience1. Undergraduate Research Assistant at Rutgers University- September 2014- Current• Received Highest Honors after successfully defending my Honors Thesis titled, "The Role of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 1(GRM1) in Exosome Production and Melanoma Metastasis: Determining the Cellular Origin of Exosomes in Circulation".2. Research Assistant at Avatar Biotechnologies (Brooklyn) - June 2nd 2014- August 23rd 2014• Worked on an independent project to see if certain insertions in Influenza Virus’s Hemagglutin would provide an in-vitro headless HA molecule.• Provided assistance to an intern, on how to perform certain assays3. Undergraduate Teaching Assistant for Basic Statistics for Research (Rutgers University) January 2014-December 2014• Provided assistance to the professor in preparation of assignments.4. Worked for Barbra Buono for Governor Campaign (New Brunswick, New Jersey)- May 30th 2013- August 15th 2013• Voters were informed of Barbara Buono’s belief’s allowing me to develop strong communication skills.• Supervised volunteers and other interns.5. Internship at International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (Manhattan New York)- August 2011• Learned about the different components of a non-profit organization and learned how to apply money saving tactics in research.• Understood the process of quality control, writing grants, and the functionality of non-profit companies.Honors/Awards1. Highest Honors Awarded to my Senior Thesis (Rutgers University)• Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry awarded me highest honors after successfully defending my thesis and on the quality of my thesis.2. School of Arts and Sciences Paul Robeson Scholar (Rutgers University)• Distinction given by the School of Arts and Sciences Honors Program, to Undergraduates completing an Honors Thesis.3. Aresty Research Center Undergraduate Research Fellowship (Rutgers University)• Awarded funding allocated towards my Honors Thesis4. Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program (Earnest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University)- May-August 2015• One of the 24 students who were accepted into the program.• SURF fellow at Rutgers and also an American Society of Pharmacological and Experimental Therapeutics SURF Fellow.5. Dean’s List• Given to students who have obtained a 3.5 GPA at the end of the semester.6. Eagle Scout• Only 5% of boys entering Boy Scouts are awarded Eagle Scout rank. This status defines me as a strong leader, someone who can be trusted, and be given responsibilities. The two leadership roles I held were: senior patrol leader and troop guide.• Developed a project that would help beautify Edison High School, by planting plants around ten trees, using bricks to make a boundary around each of those ten trees and make a bench and place an Eagle Statue on pedestal.Projects1. Basic Statistics for Research- Fall 2013• Created projects which incorporated ANOVA, Regression Analysis, Pareto Analysis, and the Cause and effect Diagram/Ishikawa diagram was used to study various lecture topics.2. Computing and Graphics in Applied Statistics- Fall 2015• Worked in a group of three to develop a 30 minute presentation on the topic, Regression Model Building using Multiple Comparison Testing. In our presentation we built a regression model to analyze the relationship between the length of the cuckoo egg and the host bird species. We used ANOVA for our multiple comparison test for the four different variables, hedge sparrow, pied wagtail, meadow pipit and robin, to conclude which variable (bird) was significant to be included in the model. The conclusion the multiple comparison test lead to the rejection of the null hypothesis for Hedge Sparrow = Meadow Pipet. This allowed us to determine that the hedge sparrow and meadow pipit are significant in the regression model.Laboratory Skills• Total Exosome Isolation• Transform and Transfect Cells• Minipreps and Maxipreps• Genomic DNA Extraction• Protein Extraction• Polymerase Chain Reaction assays• Gel Electrophoresis• Immunoblotting• Elisa• Protein Assay• Spectrophotometer• Microscopy• Write research proposal• Knowledge of proper laboratory ethicsComputer Skills• Proficient in using ImageJ software• Proficient in the use of excel to do statistical analysis, using the tools data analysis and pivot.• Familiar with R- Programming and SAS-Programing• Proficient in using Microsoft Office, Google Documents.