Basic research job opportunities????

[Ciardeme]

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Hey, I have 4 years of clinical oncology research experience. I officially have my fill of paperwork and the unethical treatment of patients dying of cancer. Can anyone give me suggestions on how i can make the transition to basic research. I don't have any experience in that arena and am finding it difficult to make the transition. Thanks!

 

[Sonya]

What level are you at (just graduated, undergrad, MS, etc). Are you in school, and this is with classes, or a full time job for couple years.

You can probably easily find research work with a professor at a local university. Read about their work, find some profs that you'd be interested in and contact them.

Work in academia, however, will usually be much less pay than with a company. But, it will be much more technical and oriented to basic science (as opposed to designing products, etc) than a company.

 

[Ciardeme]

Thanks Sonya. I currently work in academia, so i know how low the pay is! I graduated in 1997, and am 6 credits short of a Masters degree. I am looking for a full time position. I have an inside line on a lab position where i currently work, but if you have ever worked in an academic setting you will know how long that could take.....6 months at the least! I need something quick. I absolutely dread my current position. You know how you get a new supervisor who doesn't have a day experience in your field, and thinks she knows it all...blah, blah, blah about team work. She doesn't have a clue as to what she is up against! But thanks for the info!

 

[Sonya]

You could look on monster.com or other job search engines. I remember finding some head-hunter company that places you immediately. just search under biotech or biomedical or such. I don't remeber the company name... but most jobs are likely to be lab tech positions... not real research of your own, but yes, usually in a research environment.

 

[cm7b5]

Three letters: NIH

 

[Sonya]

How does NIH jobs differ from at a univ? I'm thinking about where I want to work after I graduate, for two years, before medschool. Is it very tough to get into NIH?

 

[CoffeeCat]

Knock on people's doors an introduce yourself, I swear I've heard about people getting good jobs that way and sometimes it's the only way as schools (and some companies) post jobs that have already filled because they either have to have open recruitment when hiring full time or they want to have the appearance of a profitable business.

 

[Ciardeme]

Anacapa, you MUST work in academia! You wouldn't believe the %s of jobs that are posted, but have been filled by someone's brother-in-law. It is so frustrating. One of my PIs is going through the red tape of creating a position in his lab for me, but it could take 6 months. By all accounts, i could be preparing for med school at that point (well, at least I hope so!) 😉

 

[alice]

It's very funny. I was thinking as I read the original post "Three letters: NIH" and then there was that post....weird.

Anyway, NIH differs from work in most academic labs because they are not so much trying to get productive research out of you (while they like that, too) as to train you. The pay is bullocks, but life in DC isn't that expensive. It's also great because there's a program intended for people on their way to medical/grad school. If you are careful about chosing a mentor with whom you think you could work well, this is a VERY rewarding experience. Plus, as a million interviewers have told me, it's 'very prestigious' whatever that means. (All these places like someone else to screen the applicants for them.)

check out: <a href="http://training.nih.gov" target="_blank">http://training.nih.gov</a> (maybe www, not sure) and follow links for post-baccalaureate training. Good luck!!!

 

[alice]

oh. one more thing. NIH is a good segway from oncology into basic science research. i know there is lots of basic science going on at NCI. you can select which kinds of research you are most interested in on the application.