How important is your undergrad research area?

[azr9971]

Hello, new on the forums here and I'm currently a sophomore hoping to enter an organic chemistry Ph. D. program in 2019. Currently, I'm performing research with a group focused on organic materials; specifically carbon nanotubes. In our lab we synthesize molecules that self-assemble around the carbon nanotubes, so it requires a decent amount of organic work. However, none of it is really organic research per se, we're just cooking and purifying from what I can tell. I think the older undergrad who is graduating this year is working on organic work, but she comes in at different times than me and I don't see her outside of group meetings to ask her. Granted, I'm only in the lab about 6 hours a week due to schedule conflicts so I can't really tell you if we do have to do more research into our methods, but the bottom line is we likely aren't going to be publishing anything about our methodology or syntheses. Should I be worried about how adcoms will see this research when I apply? Should I search for a more organic-based lab or stick it out with this one and stress to my PI that I would like to focus in organic work? 

[Eigen]

Your publications matter a lot less than (a) the letter from your advisor on what kind of researcher you are, and (b) the fact that you'll have had a lot of research experience. 

Generally, getting publications as an undergrad is a bonus, but not in any way required for getting into a good graduate program- much less needing to have publications in the area in which you're applying.

Although not your specific question, I would also caution you strongly against being this certain of the area you want to go into this early in your career. As a sophomore, you haven't really seen much chemistry OTHER than organic, so it's quite hard to know for sure that's what you want to do and be convincing of that. 

The number of students who want to go into organic chemistry early in undergrad is immense, because that's the first course you encounter thats really *chemistry*. Go into the other courses with open minds, don't be so focused on what you think you want to do (organic synthesis) that you miss other interesting options.

[azr9971]

That's a relief to hear! Thank you for the advice, I'll definitely keep an open mind headed into the upper level courses in the coming years and not let myself get pinholed into a field I decided upon too early.

[Jessiewicz]

I don't think it will matter too much. All of my undergraduate research experience is in organic synthesis but I applied to many PhD programs with the intent to do biochemistry research. If you think organic synthesis is what you want to do you could always ask to help with a project that involves more synthesis work in the future. The key is that you have experience and it will show that you have the ability to be trained and can work independently.