Not that I want to at this point, but I am wondering if anyone has pulled it off before. Say, you did a PhD in molecular genetics, but after the whole thing you wanted to venture into say... structural biology for your post-doc years. Will people actually hire you like that? I am just wondering how flexible the whole thing is. Thanks.
Changing fields?
- Thread starter richardlo
- Start date
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2007
- Messages
- 105
- Reaction score
- 0
i dont know about microbio-> structural bio specifically, but i know if there is a relation between fields its generally possible. I know a fair number of people who go from physics -> biomed engineering or nuc eng -> biomed eng.
If you can talk intelegently in a subject and are at a postdoc level in a field, then you can probably find an advisor to take you in.
If you can talk intelegently in a subject and are at a postdoc level in a field, then you can probably find an advisor to take you in.
QofQuimica
Seriously, dude, I think you're overreacting....
Moderator Emeritus
Lifetime Donor
15+ Year Member
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2004
- Messages
- 18,899
- Reaction score
- 4,295
I think it depends on the PI and the project. If they are a structural bio group that needs someone with a molecular genetics background for an interdisciplinary project, you could be their dream come true. Interdisciplinary research is pretty common these days. I don't think you'd have trouble jumping fields, within reason.
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2007
- Messages
- 2,201
- Reaction score
- 1
Well, at one of my recent interviews the head of the program made a statement about this and how it is a definite 'pro' of the obtaining an MD/PhD. In traditional graduate training, you defend your thesis and then immediately start your post-doc. When you are applying for positions, most of your takers will be in the same field you did your graduate work, because they won't really want to spend much time training you in a completely different field. In MD/PhD training, you finish your thesis, complete your clinical rotations, go to your residency, and then you will usually go back to research during your fellowship. You are now several years removed from your thesis work, and have more freedom in the area that you choose to do your research in. Maybe it's a completely different field than you worked in before - but maybe it's also more related to your clinical interests and experiences.
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2006
- Messages
- 4,110
- Reaction score
- 31
I'll reiterate what Q said. To an extent, we're all smart people who can learn what we need to in order to complete a project. Can you switch fields? Sure. Will you be able to do one field for your PhD and another for your fellowship? Sure. Are you locked into one field for forever? Of course not.
But at one time or another, it will become advantageous to build up an amount of exepertise and knowledge about one field, especially when you start applying for money. And keeping your lab funded is how you get to determine what you do, and how you do it.
Though, I'll tell you, as a guy who has done clinical and basic science research in cancer detection methods, sports medicine, biomaterials, and biomechanics, it's gets a little old when you're beginning a new project and the PI gives you a pile of papers and says "Read these over the weekend to get caught up with the lab."
But at one time or another, it will become advantageous to build up an amount of exepertise and knowledge about one field, especially when you start applying for money. And keeping your lab funded is how you get to determine what you do, and how you do it.
Though, I'll tell you, as a guy who has done clinical and basic science research in cancer detection methods, sports medicine, biomaterials, and biomechanics, it's gets a little old when you're beginning a new project and the PI gives you a pile of papers and says "Read these over the weekend to get caught up with the lab."
