Clinical Research Coordinator and other such Jobs

[Archimedes]

I dont know if I'm just really frustrated or my period is around the corner. 😡

But I've been looking for clinical research coordinator type jobs for a while, and no matter WHERE I go (univ or private company), I am told that they need people with 2 years experience. And I have like 3 solid years of a research background, and I'm still not hearing anything from these people!

You see, after working so long in research, and after graduating just recently, I'm looking for something to do with some time off from schooling. Whatever I do, I want it to bring in some income, and I want it to bring in some patient contact.

I have already looked into EMT training programs, and the only one left for the summer is in a nearby college and it goes from like july to september or so, which is great - but I think I might need to give the MCAT yet again in August, so I dont want to start any kind of job until after MCAT's.

Plus, since my father had a heart attack this past year, I really dont wish to relocate from South Florida. I'm willing to even drive an hour or take the metro to work - and driving is horrible down here.

I'm thinking that if things don't work out, I should just go look for any random job, and then just do a great deal of volunteering and social work on the side.

*very frustrated SDNer*

Help?

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[nicholonious]

Looking for such a position is hard. Not only are they looking for people with a few years experience, they have many people to select from (50-100 applicants sometimes) and have their pick of the litter. Also, some of the applicants you compete against have 10+ years experience specific to clinical research.

The EMT course will be of little use to you unless you can use it (ER tech, ambulance AMR).

Keep trying and look at everything thats available out there (academic clinical research, pharm companies, private hospitals, etc.)

 

[diosa428]

You might have better luck trying to get a position as a lab tech somewhere. Also, don't be shy about contacting professors at your university and asking if they know of anyone who's looking for help in areas you're interested in, or if they have any contacts.

 

[tigress]

I've been looking for a clinical research position for months. I posted a thread about it a few days ago. It's really hard to find something unless you have connections. I've applied for a lot of jobs but I haven't heard anything yet. If I don't hear anything in the next week I'm either going to a temp agency or a headhunter-type person.

Anyway I don't have any great advice, but it's not you, it's the nature of the search. good luck

 

[diosa428]

I've been looking for a clinical research position for months. I posted a thread about it a few days ago. It's really hard to find something unless you have connections. I've applied for a lot of jobs but I haven't heard anything yet. If I don't hear anything in the next week I'm either going to a temp agency or a headhunter-type person.

Anyway I don't have any great advice, but it's not you, it's the nature of the search. good luck

Tigress, have you checked out:
http://philadelphia.jobs.topusajobs.com/
http://www.employmentspot.com/state/employment/Philadelphia-PA.htm
http://www.phillyjobs.com/

not sure how helpful these will be, but it can't hurt to check them out. goodluck!

 

[Flopotomist]

I have worked as a CRC for the last three years before deciding to apply to med school. I would say that instead of aiming for a CRC position consider applying for a research assistant position. Often, the assistant will work under the supervision of a CRC, and will not require as much experience. Getting a job as a CRC if you have never done it before can be a bit overwhelming. It is not the science part that gets you, it is all the regulatory documentation required by the FDA and local IRBs that you need to be able to keep on top of, and only experience tells you when and where to file what.

Good Luck!

 

[PublicEnemy]

I agree with Floptomist. I've been a clinical research coordinator in radiation oncology for 2 years. I actually got pretty lucky and got the position right out of college with minimal research experience, but I was predominantly looking for research associate positions. Its a pretty challenging job, you are often responsible for everything clinical study related, and often research is an integrated part of the clinic, so you can have a large patient load for which you are responsible for on a daily basis. Add to that the never ending work involved with IRB's, pharmaceutical companies and sponsors, FDA , and random other stuff. in addition to my daily responsibilities, i get to attend tumor conferences and sometimes even present cases or identify multidisciplinary cases that i can enroll on studies.

but its definitely worth it, you get a tremendous amount of exposure, you get to see whatever you want and you're part of the care team. you get a lot of patient interaction. physicians, nurses often count on you for protocols, and you carry great responsibility in monitoring and following your study subjects. and depending on what your investigators are like, you can be in a great position to get published.

 

[RAD11]

I agree with Floptomist. I've been a clinical research coordinator in radiation oncology for 2 years. I actually got pretty lucky and got the position right out of college with minimal research experience, but I was predominantly looking for research associate positions.

I've also been looking for clinical research positions, but most require experience. Do you know of any companies/organizations that hire people with minimal experience that are willing to provide training?

 

[nicholonious]

I've also been looking for clinical research positions, but most require experience. Do you know of any companies/organizations that hire people with minimal experience that are willing to provide training?

Someone had good insight earlier in this post. It is very very very difficult to take on a research coordinator position without the feel for the position, which comes with due time. Most start off as clinical research assistants, or associates, although associates are positions for some with generally 3-5 years experience.

Some private companies hosting clinical trials might make exceptions. A company almost hired me as a CRA, but I did lack in experience, which made me a last pick.

 

[Flopotomist]

I would say definately NOT to take a CRA (associate) position without experience. Although I doubt any company would make the mistake of hiring somebody for such a job without experience. The CRA basically monitors (code word for audits) research sites to make sure that case report forms are completed accurately and have verifiable proof in a chart somewhere. A pretty dull task of chart review and pushing paper around. If you are looking for a research assistant position, one good place to start is to look in journals in a specialty that interests you. Find articles that have been published from a nearby institution, and then write to the authors. Often, the authors might be able to help you find something. If you are in a city supported by Craigslist, you can look there too. Good Luck. (If things go my way, there will be an opening where I am if I get into medical school starting in 06)

 

[Sundarban1]

I have advice for those looking to get into a position in clinical research, in addition to the comments above. I've worked for 3 years at Yale as both a research assistant and coordinator. Private and academic fields have different responsibilities for both, so it is possible to find one, but they are competative. For someone coming out of college with little or no experience first I would suggest networking fast. If you can ask around friends, family, etc someone knows somebody in a research position, you just have to look around. Second, take a seminar in clinical research. ACRP offers such seminars that are not expensive, and for someone looking to get something on their resume, it is very helpful, especially if you have little or no clinical research experience. It definitely helped me. As for applying, many smaller research facilities have a strong internal applicant pool which makes getting a competative position very hard. Basically you have to check websites every day and apply quickly as the longer you wait, the higher the likelihood a more qualified interal applicant will be hired. If anyone has any questions or wants a resume critique PM me. I've been complemented highly on my resume, even when I had little experience. Believe it or not sometimes presentation is just as important in opening doors as experience.

Good luck!