Author: Fatihah Abdussalam, Research Intern

You have an inquisitive mind and feel the need to find answers to questions that could help humanity or establish a fact. You love to carry out experiments and get results or you want to add to the pool of scientific knowledge. Or you really just want a career that challenges your everyday thinking and gives you the thrill to learn something new. Then you might consider a career in Research. Perhaps you are already considering it, but like many people indicated in the registration form of our Research Data: Understanding the Basics webinar, you would like to know where and how to start. Here, we have highlighted a few tips to help you kick start your research journey.

• Identify an area of interest or problem you want to solve:  What broad topics, problems or skills excites you? Do you worry about the effects of climate change on animals’ health? Are you particularly fascinated by a subject or course in school? Or do you have an analytic mind and love to see trends and patterns? These are questions you need to ask yourself to narrow your area of focus and sustain your interest. Answers to these questions can be informed by many things including your passion, happenings in your environment, or personal experience. Deciding early on on an area of interest will give you a space/niche to position yourself in.
• Find a mentor in that field: Finding someone who has gone miles in your field of interest will make things easy for you. This could be your lecturer, a supervisor or someone whose work or skills you admire. They  could guide you, make resources available to you, signpost you to opportunities and help you to avoid unnecessary mistakes. As a mentee, however, you should show that you are willing to learn; respect their time, and if possible offer some professional values to them as well. This way the mentor-mentee relationship will be healthy and productive for your research career journey.
• Take action: The journey of a thousand steps begins with a step, they say. So it is with starting your research journey. If you are still studying, you may want to begin by writing your own dissertation. Read and review articles relevant to your topic. Carry out experiments on your own or with expert guidance. Collaborate with colleagues or mentors on their own research to learn new methods and exchange ideas. Apply for opportunities including internships and volunteering roles to learn the ropes of your field. 

• Take training: Research methods are very dynamic and you will need to constantly update your knowledge to improve on your skills. Taking periodic training either online or offline can help you to keep your memory refreshed and hone your skills. Vetstar organises regular webinars on research skills and methods that you can look out for here. You can also attend relevant conferences and events to learn about the latest research, discoveries and remaining gaps in your field that you could explore in your own research.
• Track your progress: The journey into a research career can sometimes seem slow and arduous. You will often come across challenging situations or you may sometimes feel stuck on a task or in a role. It is important that you take stock of every little win, achievements or new knowledge gained along your journey. This will serve as a constant source of motivation and validation to keep you forging ahead in those trying times.

Now that you have these tips, we hope that you will give your curiosity the spark to shine through your research ideas and interest.