Hey guys quick question I was looking at the MSAR and I see that they group research and lab experience together. My question is, is there a difference to adcoms in research that doesnt result in a pub vs. basic wet lab experience? I have an internship in a lab but its not research or anything and I was wondering if that is at a disadvantage versus actual research.
AMCAS research vs lab experience
- Thread starter Eagleye2
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that’s what my question is. I currently have an internship in a lab where i’m doing quality control HPLC SDS antibody purification etc. After looking at the MSAR i’m curious if that is viewed any different than research since the MSAR reports it as research/lab experience.
obviously research that results in a publication is viewed in a better light, but in this case is research and my lab experience equal? i’m genuinely curious.
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like in industry and not academic setting?
correct sorry, this internship is in industry. it’s not affiliated with my school. it’s a manufacturing lab.
can anyone give brief insight on this
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In terms of industry is this like a biomed/biotech/pharma company or some other company but you're on the medical end? I mean lab work is still lab work, and even if its not research, the category is "research/lab experience" so it should count for something.
Okay, so it sounds like you're working at a pharma/biotech company in either the analytical or QC division (if they have one). This is all part of the R&D division of the company and is research/lab experience. Big pharma used to be very hush-hush about their R&D stuff and wouldn't publish in academic journals. Nowadays, that climate is shifted and you actually see a whole lot of R&D divisions publishing their work in academic journals. The lines between academic and industrial research are becoming more and more blurred by the day.
thank you for your reply. Yes, specifically I am in the purification and QC sections of the company so im guessing since im hands on it would count as “wet” lab experience
I guess that would technically be correct. But would that count as research/lab experience as it states in the MSAR in your opinion?
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Research/lab experience is more guided to having an appreciation for the scientific method that goes into designing projects/experiments/gaining a critical understanding of literature etc.
If all you’re doing is just aff purifying abs I’d probably say it’s more so just non clinical employment in a lab. Which is only technically lab experience
understood thanks for your reply. The reason I ask is because in the MSAR it states what % of the schoolds applicants were involved in “research/lab experience.” They use that slash there so I was just curious if my experience at this internship would fall under that category
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I think you could count it as research/lab if you have nothing checking that box and clearly and honestly explain your role, but you haven't actually used research methods so schools that really want research probably wouldn't care.
