How do I decide on a research topic?
Students become interested in research and contribute to specific projects with research investigators/groups in several ways:
- Word of mouth – fellow students with research experience who recommend a particular project/topic/area, or a particular supervisor/research group
- Specialty interest – think about what clinical specialties you are interested in (i.e. psychiatry, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, cardiology, dentistry etc.) and we can try and match you up with potential supervisors
- Scientific interest – think about what type of research you in interested in (i.e. wet lab – immunology, molecular biology etc; dry lab – epidemiology, bioinformatics, qualitative, behavioural etc.) and we can try and match you up with potential supervisors
- INSPIRE taster days – opportunity for medical/dental/vet students to choose a half-day placement to spend time with a research group at the University of Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter or Plymouth. Taster days run every Jan-Mar, and are advertised beforehand (Nov-Dec). Some students use this as an opportunity to make contact with a potential supervisor with a view to organising an INSPIRE Summer Studentship.
- Searching yourself – there is a wealth of information on research groups on the University of Bristol website. Look within the themes of each “school” at the Principal Investigators and their publications to try and ascertain what you might be interested in:
- INSPIRE Seminars
- INSPIRE Journal Club
Are there other ways to get involved?
We are also always looking for passionate people to join the Bristol INSPIRE Committee as Student Ambassadors. Our ambassadors help us deliver our programmes and signpost students towards all of the opportunities.