By Nikhil Reddy, SBHA Youth Advisory Council member
The following reflects Nikhil’s lived experiences, thoughts, and opinions.
In the summer leading up to my senior year, I had the opportunity to work at UT Southwestern Medical Center. In the Harold C. Simmons Cancer Center, I worked under a diverse group of medical professionals and clinical researchers, completed independent projects in healthcare management, and learned about cancer patient care methodologies. It was an incredible experience.
Research, especially in fields like public health, can be a rewarding and valuable endeavor. Unfortunately, there isn’t much information available to high school students about what research entails or how to get started. I certainly remember entering high school without knowing that ‘research’ existed! But after four years of hands-on experience, I hope to share my experiences and practical advice.
So, what is research? At the most basic level, research is about tackling a problem – what steps can be taken to improve efficiency in clinical operations? How can the kidney organ shortage be alleviated? These were some of the questions I tackled while working at UT Southwestern and HCA Healthcare. Anyone can do research. But more often than not, academic institutions and structured groups have the most resources available to answer these questions effectively. That’s why, as a student, the best way to dive deep into the world of research is to contribute as an intern at an established university/institution/lab.
Now, what exactly might your responsibilities look like? In my research positions, I performed substantial writing (initial manuscript drafts, edits, final versions) & analysis (in Microsoft Excel and sometimes with code). Some of my usual tasks involved performing literature reviews for the subject (establishing what research already exists on a topic), collecting and analyzing data, creating graphs/visualizations, and writing case reports and summaries. While these are everyday duties you might be assigned, there is much more to explore – all of this depends on the type and nature of research you choose to pursue.
And the most burning question of all… how can you get involved in research experiences? As a high schooler, I would first suggest demonstrating passion and building your skillset. Start by working in a more beginner-related position in your field of interest. For example, you could volunteer at your local hospital or shadow physicians in your community. If these avenues are inaccessible, try reading up on a specific topic of interest and learning as much as possible through publicly accessible information. Some valuable skills to strengthen that are directly transferrable to research experiences include strong reading & writing, programming, or statistical analysis.
Once you have gained some initial experience, I have two tried-and-true strategies for pursuing research opportunities: (1) cold emails & (2) summer programs. First, cold emails. A ‘cold’ email is an email sent to an individual who you haven’t had prior contact with. In this context, you could cold email professors or physicians directly to ask if they might have any research opportunities for students. While this strategy may not seem practical, it landed me my research position at UT Southwestern. With patience and diligence, cold emailing can help you secure a research opportunity as well – the secret lies in numbers (you’ll need to send a lot of emails before someone may respond) & personalization (don’t send the same email to every researcher; tailor your outreach strategy)—second, summer programs. Many institutions (such as Iowa’s SSP & MIT’s RSI) have dedicated student research programs for sophomores and juniors. While often competitive, these programs are a more structured way to gain in-depth research experience in a supportive academic environment. A simple Google search should help you find programs that match your interests.
And – to get some ideas going! One potential research topic could be examining school-based health centers (SBHCs). As part of the School-Based Health Alliance’s Youth Advisory Council, I’ve seen firsthand how vital SBHCs are to many students nationwide. Unfortunately, there could be significantly more research to evaluate and support the efficacy of school-based interventions for at-risk students. By working with SBHC professionals and research institutions, we can gather data on key outcomes and identify areas to strengthen these programs.
Research is an immensely fulfilling experience and one of the most significant activities I participated in in high school. My final and most important piece of advice is: don’t be afraid. As a high school student, reaching out to professionals and exploring complex subjects might seem daunting. Still, your enthusiasm, perspective on the world, and unbridled curiosity are your most vital assets. I wish you the best of luck in your research journey!