Guide for Advancing Your Lab-Based Research Beyond the Lab Setting
Hello Juniors,
As you embark on your senior thesis journey, I'm here to guide you through the process of getting involved with lab-based research at Princeton. Whether you're working on a DNA sequencing project or any other lab-based research, here are some tips to help you make the most of your time, even when lab access is limited.
Embrace Virtual Opportunities
When physical presence in the lab is not possible, focus on activities that can be done remotely. This includes writing and analyzing data, reviewing and synthesizing literature, planning experiments, and refining your research questions and methodology. Establish a disciplined writing routine to draft thesis chapters, especially the introduction, literature review, and methodology sections.
Engage with Scholarly Literature
Use this time to deepen your engagement with relevant scholarly literature. Conduct thorough literature reviews to strengthen your understanding and demonstrate academic context. Aim to make your work engage critically with wider research debates.
Analyze Existing Data
Analyze the data you already have. Run statistics or code qualitative results, or engage with methodological details based on your previous experiments. Planning future experiments in detail will also help you maximize lab time upon return.
Plan Ahead
Use this time for any required coursework, teaching responsibilities, or professional development that supports your thesis progress. Establish a consistent writing and work schedule tailored to your productivity patterns to maintain momentum away from the lab.
Seek Guidance
Don't hesitate to seek help when needed. Attend workshops like Residential College Thesis Fridays for help organizing and synthesizing your reading materials and suggestions on writing protocols. Reach out to McGraw Grad Peer Coaches for specific advice on approaching the senior thesis and navigating through personal challenges.
Keep Moving Forward
Being away from the lab does not have to set you back. Instead, it can be used to get ahead in other areas of the thesis. For instance, if you realize you haven't written the literature review portion of your thesis yet, now is the perfect time to start.
Remember, writing early and often, engaging analytically with literature, and preparing thoroughly for experimental execution phases are key to success. Good luck with your lab-based research at Princeton!
This article was written by Saira Reyes, Engineering Correspondent. You can find it in the blog Archives under "Senior Thesis Planning". To share this article with a friend, click on the email link provided.
[1] Pacheco-Vega, 2025 [2] Times Higher Education, 2025 [3] Plantae, 2025 [4] Nobel System (remote system for Linux analysis) [5] Residential College Thesis Fridays (workshops for help organizing and synthesizing reading materials) [6] McGraw Grad Peer Coaches (for specific advice on approaching the senior thesis and navigating through personal challenges)
- As a junior, you can start preparing for your senior thesis by reading relevant scholarly literature and understanding the academic context, paving the way for your personal growth and learning during the education-and-self-development journey.
- In the spirit of making the most of lab-based research, even when lab access is limited, consider using the time to work on the junior paper, refining your research questions, analyzing existing data, and conducting a thorough literature review, setting yourself up for success when you embark on your senior thesis.
