6 answers
Fiepre
Student
Douglasville, Georgia
3
Questions
Asked
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What can I do to research and travel?
I’m leaning towards going into the STEM field and researching DNA. Maybe even research with psychology, nothing is concrete right now but I’m really interested in researching. But I also want to travel around the world while researching so my question is how can incorporate the two? I specifically want to go to Brazil but anywhere could work.
#research #science #researcher #psychology #travel
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6 answers
James Green
Manager
1
Answer
Austin, Texas
Updated
James’s Answer
Hi Fiepre,
When I read your question it immediately made me think of field research. I work in Design / User Experience Research and some of the research we do involves traveling to places to observe people using technology so we can better design solutions that will work for them in their environments. We have a lot of psychology majors enter this space, sociology as well. One of my colleagues has been all over the world conducting ethnographic research along those lines. Other fields that could require travel to conduct research would be biology (studying animals in their habitats) or anthropology, studying groups of people and cultures... good luck with your explorations.
James
When I read your question it immediately made me think of field research. I work in Design / User Experience Research and some of the research we do involves traveling to places to observe people using technology so we can better design solutions that will work for them in their environments. We have a lot of psychology majors enter this space, sociology as well. One of my colleagues has been all over the world conducting ethnographic research along those lines. Other fields that could require travel to conduct research would be biology (studying animals in their habitats) or anthropology, studying groups of people and cultures... good luck with your explorations.
James
Gizem K.
postdoctoral researcher
37
Answers
United States
Updated
Gizem’s Answer
Hi Fiepre,
First of all, I think you have a much more solid idea about your future career than you give yourself credit for. You have identified a general topic for your future research and you have an idea about which country you would like to go. You can definitely incorporate the two. In today's world, research is very collaborative and most institutions are open to having international scholars.
For most countries, you can consider applying to a program and attending college/graduate school there. Alternatively, there are many exchange student programs which would allow you to go to a different country for a semester or year. For both options, it would be best to talk to your guidance counselor. For college, they might be able to suggest you the universities with exchange student programs. Also during college, several of my friends went to different countries to conduct undergraduate summer research.
Similarly, after college, most universities around the world accept international students to doctoral or master's programs. Your undergraduate research advisor or other faculty members in your program might be able to recommend a couple of international graduate programs that are in line with your interests. Moreover, in graduate school, depending on your research lab, you may have the opportunity to conduct research in a collaborator's lab for a couple of months especially if you apply for scholarships/fellowships and secure your own funding.
Following graduate school, if you prefer, you can apply and conduct postdoctoral research in a different country. Achieving that would depend on the connections you make during your PhD (your advisor(s), scientists you meet through collaborations or at conferences). You may also have the opportunity to attend international conferences throughout your career.
Overall, as a researcher in the STEM field you can come across many opportunities to travel around the world. As long as you have an idea about what you want and search for those opportunities, it is totally possible to combine the two.
Best of luck in all your future endeavors!
First of all, I think you have a much more solid idea about your future career than you give yourself credit for. You have identified a general topic for your future research and you have an idea about which country you would like to go. You can definitely incorporate the two. In today's world, research is very collaborative and most institutions are open to having international scholars.
For most countries, you can consider applying to a program and attending college/graduate school there. Alternatively, there are many exchange student programs which would allow you to go to a different country for a semester or year. For both options, it would be best to talk to your guidance counselor. For college, they might be able to suggest you the universities with exchange student programs. Also during college, several of my friends went to different countries to conduct undergraduate summer research.
Similarly, after college, most universities around the world accept international students to doctoral or master's programs. Your undergraduate research advisor or other faculty members in your program might be able to recommend a couple of international graduate programs that are in line with your interests. Moreover, in graduate school, depending on your research lab, you may have the opportunity to conduct research in a collaborator's lab for a couple of months especially if you apply for scholarships/fellowships and secure your own funding.
Following graduate school, if you prefer, you can apply and conduct postdoctoral research in a different country. Achieving that would depend on the connections you make during your PhD (your advisor(s), scientists you meet through collaborations or at conferences). You may also have the opportunity to attend international conferences throughout your career.
Overall, as a researcher in the STEM field you can come across many opportunities to travel around the world. As long as you have an idea about what you want and search for those opportunities, it is totally possible to combine the two.
Best of luck in all your future endeavors!
Hi Gizem! Thank you for the response! It was very helpful but the reason why I posted this was because I’m applying to this scholarship called CLS. It a summer program where I travel to Brazil and learn hopefully portuguese. One of the big essay asked why the program should invest in you and why will traveling to Brazil help you in your career goal. I really want this scholarship but I want to be as specific as possible so I stand out. But I don’t really have a plan, thank you for the response and I’ll definitely research more but I’m scared that it wouldn’t be so unique giving a broad answer about how I want to do grad school abroad and network with other professors.
But I’m really glad you replied to my post, I’ll definitely heed your words :).
Thanks,
Fifi
Fiepre
Thanks for the information. Your idea sounds good. As you mentioned, it will be better to elaborate it more. One option might be to search for graduate programs in Brazilian universities accepting international students (according to your interests). Maybe biology, molecular biology, biochemistry etc. and learn about those programs. Then you can base your answer on your interest in attending those programs. Another option would be to find a future research area that is directly relevant to Brazil. Then you can add specific details about how learning Portuguese will be beneficial as well as becoming more familiar with Brazil/ Brazilian culture. Either way, connecting the language program and STEM research requires a little bit more targeted search. Best of luck with your application!
Gizem K.
Thank you again! That’s a great idea I’m going to look into this right now.
Fiepre
Humza Ahmad
Communications Manager
2
Answers
Novi, Michigan
Updated
Humza’s Answer
Hi Fiepre,
I did some work with a Japanese government program that supported institutions that were doing basic science research on a number of fields. I was surprised by how international the researchers were! I found that the Principal Investigators (PIs) who were running their own labs were looking for postdocs (post-doctoral researchers, or researchers who had already completed their PhD) to help them with their research in their labs. The main way that they found postdocs was networking.
Networking for scientists seemed to follow two methods, direct and indirect. Direct networking was if a PI met a doctoral student who was nearing graduation or a postdoc who was looking for a fellowship or a lab to work at in person. This normally happened at international conferences, or when the PIs traveled to a different institution for meetings or research. Indirect networking was when the PI got recommendations of good postdocs from other senior scientists.
So my advice is for you would be to network, network, network! Meet and work with as many scientists, researchers, TAs, professors, etc. in your field who are around you at your university or universities/institutes nearby you. Working as a TA for a professor or working as an intern in a professor's lab is a great way to show that you are smart and hard working. Let them know that you are interested in continuing your career as a researcher in Brazil. They may have suggestions for you, or if they happen to meet someone in Brazil who is looking for good postdocs, your name might come up.
Also, attend as many international conferences in your field as you can. They don't have to be in Brazil; you will meet people in your field from all over the world and you will likely find that Brazil connection to find you a position there. Attending conferences abroad usually costs quite a bit, so find funding through grants, your own university, scholarships, or by doing research and being invited to present your own paper at an international conference.
Hope this helps!
Best,
Humza
I did some work with a Japanese government program that supported institutions that were doing basic science research on a number of fields. I was surprised by how international the researchers were! I found that the Principal Investigators (PIs) who were running their own labs were looking for postdocs (post-doctoral researchers, or researchers who had already completed their PhD) to help them with their research in their labs. The main way that they found postdocs was networking.
Networking for scientists seemed to follow two methods, direct and indirect. Direct networking was if a PI met a doctoral student who was nearing graduation or a postdoc who was looking for a fellowship or a lab to work at in person. This normally happened at international conferences, or when the PIs traveled to a different institution for meetings or research. Indirect networking was when the PI got recommendations of good postdocs from other senior scientists.
So my advice is for you would be to network, network, network! Meet and work with as many scientists, researchers, TAs, professors, etc. in your field who are around you at your university or universities/institutes nearby you. Working as a TA for a professor or working as an intern in a professor's lab is a great way to show that you are smart and hard working. Let them know that you are interested in continuing your career as a researcher in Brazil. They may have suggestions for you, or if they happen to meet someone in Brazil who is looking for good postdocs, your name might come up.
Also, attend as many international conferences in your field as you can. They don't have to be in Brazil; you will meet people in your field from all over the world and you will likely find that Brazil connection to find you a position there. Attending conferences abroad usually costs quite a bit, so find funding through grants, your own university, scholarships, or by doing research and being invited to present your own paper at an international conference.
Hope this helps!
Best,
Humza
That was a very helpful response but I sadly am a community college student. I’m a 19 years old undergrad at this small college. I asked this question because I’m applying to this scholarship program called Critical Language Scholarship. It’s about sending undergrad students to different countries and teaching them a language. I want to combine my love for language learning, learning different cultures, and my love for science into my career. But I think my response is to generic and it doesn’t stand out. I might be wrong but I’m scared that my lack of a plan and wanting to establish a plan wouldn’t be enough for the readers. But I do appreciate your response, I have other scholarships(REU) so I hope I can network when I talk to actually professors with great next works.
Thanks,
Fifi
Fiepre
Rahul Garg
professor
1
Answer
Chicago Ridge, Illinois
Updated
Rahul’s Answer
Hi Kiirsten!
That is an excellent career choice. I will suggest that you work in veterinarian medicine and conduct research on therapies for animals around the world. Another option is to practice pharmacy or medicine and serve as a volunteer for medical missions. Hope it helps!
Dr. Rahul Garg
That is an excellent career choice. I will suggest that you work in veterinarian medicine and conduct research on therapies for animals around the world. Another option is to practice pharmacy or medicine and serve as a volunteer for medical missions. Hope it helps!
Dr. Rahul Garg
Haley Catalano
Customer Enablement Specialist
5
Answers
Rochester, New York
Updated
Haley’s Answer
i dont specifically have experience in this... i just travel and do loads of various work BUT my friend does research (has her phd) and she actually grows grapes for wine.. does something with studying the grapes and how they grow but so she spends a lot of time traveling in different places like italy, australia, greece, etc. to plant grapes and test them in different places
Kiirsten Suomu
Sales Representative at Universal Orlando Resort
96
Answers
Orlando, Florida
Updated
Kiirsten’s Answer
Hello Fiepre!
You have asked a really cool question. The world is such a diverse place-- you have many climates, cultures, influences, religions, etc. I think that it's great that you have an idea forming of what you want to do! I did not study any STEM related topics but you can travel around the world and research about so much-- there's anthropology, meteorology, genetics, etc. That's also great that you have an idea of where you want to travel too-- my recommendation to you is to partner with your guidance counselor and maybe they can pair you with someone at a near by college or set you up with a virtual meeting of a professor who teaches STEM related classes to give you an idea of what work would be required.
Have fun!
You have asked a really cool question. The world is such a diverse place-- you have many climates, cultures, influences, religions, etc. I think that it's great that you have an idea forming of what you want to do! I did not study any STEM related topics but you can travel around the world and research about so much-- there's anthropology, meteorology, genetics, etc. That's also great that you have an idea of where you want to travel too-- my recommendation to you is to partner with your guidance counselor and maybe they can pair you with someone at a near by college or set you up with a virtual meeting of a professor who teaches STEM related classes to give you an idea of what work would be required.
Have fun!