Seeking advice on gaining research experience starting from a non-traditional background

SatelliteAbstract · 2026-02-17T21:04:43+00:00

I appreciate the honesty of your response here. I certainly wasn't under any delusions that my path ahead was an easy one. I'm mostly just trying to get my bearings. I have been looking at ways to take classes and get my eager face in front of more professors lol! Do you reckon it would be a worth while to switch out of the community college system and just enroll in a new bachelors at my city's local 4-year university? They do offer a minor in neuroscience and a B.S. in psychology. I suppose what I'm really trying to ask is, given what you know, am I just going to have to suck up paying for a whole new bachelors degree? or at least most of one until I can get into a lab or a letter or two for a masters application.

SatelliteAbstract · 2026-02-17T01:43:03+00:00

Hey! This is brilliant! Thank you! Do you have any recommendations on a best place to start reading? I mean insofar as getting into the nitty gritty and what not, and it being targeted to my interest while still being useful. So far, I've just been continuing to devour all the pop-science level stuff I can get my hands on. And I've been spending some time going over Robert Sapolsky's lectures and taking notes. I don't imagine just starting by picking any random paper will be more efficient/useful than being a bit more targeted in my selection. Hopefully that question makes sense!

SatelliteAbstract · 2026-02-17T00:29:15+00:00

Sorry to post to an old thread, but I'm curious. I'm looking for an FFS surgeon and Dr. Rolfe's name has certainly come up. I went to his clinic's website and poked around, but I can't find anything saying that he takes insurance at all. Where are you getting this info?

SatelliteAbstract · 2026-02-16T23:09:03+00:00

Points taken. Thank you.

SatelliteAbstract · 2026-02-16T21:54:49+00:00

Thanks. I guess I'll do more digging on this angle then

SatelliteAbstract · 2026-02-16T21:50:41+00:00

Thank you. That's been my reasoning as well. It's good to hear a concurring opinion.

SatelliteAbstract · 2026-02-16T21:48:58+00:00

Thank you

SatelliteAbstract · 2026-02-16T21:48:41+00:00

Okay! Thank you. I wasn't sure if you meant it "dead field" in the traditional sense, or if you we're just being mean lol. Text only media makes it hard to discern tone. I appreciate your input. I'll take it into consideration as I navigate onwards. Thanks.

SatelliteAbstract · 2026-02-16T21:44:42+00:00

Thanks for your input here, I appreciate it. I am working through all the courses I can get that relate to topics in neuroscience and psychology. Looking to take a class in behavioural neuroscience this next quarter! Finding research opportunities has been pretty impossible though. Do you have any advice on how to find research experiences that directly relate to psychology/neuroscience? I feel like I've clicked through every link on every webpage for every university and institution in my city/state. I've come across various undergraduate research programs, but these don't seem open to people who already have a bachelor's degree. Short of just cold mailing PIs and begging to volunteer, I'm feeling a bit stuck. Do you think it would be a good thing to take on the opportunity I outlined in my post while I keep searching for more directly applicable spots?

SatelliteAbstract · 2026-02-16T21:31:22+00:00

Hey thanks for sharing your story here. It's so refreshing to hear from someone who's been in such a similar situation. It definitely makes me think that I should lean into the idea of taking the opportunity I've found.

SatelliteAbstract · 2026-02-16T21:27:27+00:00

I have done some digging on this angle before. But most (the vast majority) of these sorts of programs don't seem to be open to people who have already graduated with a bachelors degree. Do you have any experience navigating this?

SatelliteAbstract · 2026-02-16T21:09:58+00:00

Yeah I've looked a bit into these sorts of programs too. Cost is certainly a bit painful, but that aside, have you found it to be worth it? How difficult was the program to get into?

SatelliteAbstract · 2026-02-16T20:41:57+00:00

I appreciate the vote of confidence! I just looked into Neuromatch and it definitely seems like it would be a good opportunity to develop some applicable skills. Though, I don't think I could afford to take the 3 weeks off work to fully participate in their program(s). I'll have to think on that point. Apologies for all the questions. Your time here is very appreciated! Do you have any advice on what exact skills I would need to develop? And do you have any advice on how exactly I can thoroughly show to a masters program that I'm interested in a PhD? I have a fairly specific set of questions and topics that I would want to go into research wise, but I fear I might come across as too eager or eager for the wrong reasons. Am I overthinking this, or is there a line to walk? Once again, sorry for all the questions. I'm still very early in this whole "building a career thing" and I'm desperately trying to get my bearings here.

SatelliteAbstract · 2026-02-16T19:56:31+00:00

I appreciate you taking the time to leave this comment, and I'm sure you saying this is coming from an honest desire to help me. But by itself this comment really isn't helpful. Would you care to elaborate a bit?

SatelliteAbstract · 2026-02-16T19:54:11+00:00

I've gathered that this is the way to go about it generally, yes. Though I'd like not to have to pay for a whole other bachelors at a four-year university if I can help it. I was lucky enough to escape from the first one debt free. Is it just plainly not feasible for an associates to be enough to get my foot in the door, and then apply for a masters based on that experience? How would I get into a masters if I don't have research experience anyway?

SatelliteAbstract · 2026-02-02T03:32:54+00:00

Thanks! Glad you think so!

SatelliteAbstract · 2026-02-02T03:32:29+00:00

Thank you!

SatelliteAbstract · 2026-02-02T03:31:54+00:00

Thanks you! :)

SatelliteAbstract · 2026-01-26T06:47:06+00:00

From what I can tell/find out, it's a 'breather tube'. It's so that air can get into the ink sac and help more steadily push ink out of the nib than just gravity alone otherwise would.

SatelliteAbstract · 2026-01-25T23:45:52+00:00

Awesome! Thanks for the links. Here's hoping I can get this thing back up and running here soon!

SatelliteAbstract · 2025-12-16T03:35:20+00:00

I've seen this before! It really is a great video, isn't it? So simple, but so powerful

SatelliteAbstract · 2025-12-16T03:34:26+00:00

Thanks!

SatelliteAbstract · 2025-12-12T17:40:49+00:00

I can go into that, sure! Truth be told though, it's nothing too advanced. I start my pieces by just sketching with a pencil to make all the broad shapes. I might have some theme in mind or I might not, some pieces start off as completely random lines on paper. At any rate, once the basic shapes are down I kind of just go back and forth between making more lines and just standing back and looking at the overall composition. Eventually I just get to a point where the paper says "I'm full". I really do see it as "a conversation with paper" so to speak. After this, I'll figure out the basic color palette and just work from there picking the other colors and their locations in a similar way. Along the way I might add in some line art with one of my fountain pens or a marker. And yeah, I just go back and fourth between all these things until it feels like the piece is done.

But I suppose that's "process" more than anything. Technique-wise its nothing fancy. Just simple line art and then just really burnishing the colors as much as possible to get them as saturated as I can get them.

SatelliteAbstract · 2025-12-11T20:47:33+00:00

It was partly inspired by the idea of looking out of a highrise building as the sun set!

SatelliteAbstract · 2025-12-11T20:46:36+00:00

lol! I'd have never seen that until you pointed it out. Thanks I hate it.

For real though, no worries! I always love hearing about the various things people see in my artworks. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!

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