Clinical vs. Bench Research

[bucknasty]

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Looking for thoughts on the research component of my app. I work part-time as a clinical research coordinator while finishing my postbacc. My impression is that bench research is preferred, but I've also heard that clinical is basically just as good. Anyone actually know how schools view the two types? Do I need to switch to bench research during my app year or can I stay on the clinical side? I would actually prefer the lab, but my job will pay fairly well if I continue it full-time next year.

 

[Law2Doc]

Looking for thoughts on the research component of my app. I work part-time as a clinical research coordinator while finishing my postbacc. My impression is that bench research is preferred, but I've also heard that clinical is basically just as good. Anyone actually know how schools view the two types? Do I need to switch to bench research during my app year or can I stay on the clinical side? I would actually prefer the lab, but my job will pay fairly well if I continue it full-time next year.

I believe they are both probably fine, unless you are doing MD/PhD.

 

[QofQuimica]

Looking for thoughts on the research component of my app. I work part-time as a clinical research coordinator while finishing my postbacc. My impression is that bench research is preferred, but I've also heard that clinical is basically just as good. Anyone actually know how schools view the two types? Do I need to switch to bench research during my app year or can I stay on the clinical side? I would actually prefer the lab, but my job will pay fairly well if I continue it full-time next year.

I think you're fine with clinical research. I have both clinical and basic science research experience, and I get asked much more often about my clinical research at interviews than I do about my basic science dissertation work.

 

[relentless11]

I think in terms of MD programs in general, either one will work. More importantly which one do you enjoy more? Thats the most important thing about research, if you don't like it, then its not gonna be very rewarding to you as a person. Life is too short and med school is too long to lose time doing research that makes you mad..haha 😛

In terms of MSTPs, it may just depend on the background of who is looking at your application. The personnel that handle the MSTP here consist of MD/PhDs, and PhDs. Some of the PhDs do a lot of bench research so might "frown" upon clinical research. While MDs and MD/PhDs might not. I'm currently a PhD student working on clinical research for my thesis. I've been advised to pick members of my committee who have clinical backgrounds since the bench research people might "fail" me because they don't think its adequate for a PhD degree. Therefore you might run into someone like that if you are applying to an MSTP.

Personally I think that is kinda biased, but that is life. 🙄 Do what makes you happy. The good news is not a lot of people out there enjoy research, and research tends to make $$ for med schools. So regardless of what kind of research you do, you are doing something good. Of course thats just one variable out of many that determines who gets into med school...haha. 😉

 

[gardengirl]

I agree with the last poster. Most likely, you'll get asked about your research in interviews, and if you don't like or are not excited by what you are doing, it will probably show. Plus, if you don't mind either clinical or bench, I would consider which lab is more productive in terms of publications. Getting yourself on a publication certainly won't hurt your application!

 

[relentless11]

I agree with the last poster. Most likely, you'll get asked about your research in interviews, and if you don't like or are not excited by what you are doing, it will probably show. Plus, if you don't mind either clinical or bench, I would consider which lab is more productive in terms of publications. Getting yourself on a publication certainly won't hurt your application!

Yes, thats another thing. Publications are very good. If combined with a letter of rec from the person you are doing research with...that is even better.

Although doing every EC on the earth is great, without any proof, adcoms can take your EC's like a grain of salt. But if you get secondaries, the letter of rec can provide some proof to the adcoms. While if invited for an interview, your actual publications can provide an additional advantage. My PI always reminds me to keep my publications in order, so if I ever get an interview, I can always whip that thing out of the bag to provide proof.

I personally don't think that is showing off. But I believe that any number of people can just put out some reference with their name on it, or mention they got a publication or two. But without the hard evidence, it isn't that much of a deal to someone. 😉

 

[dr.z]

I think in terms of MD programs in general, either one will work. More importantly which one do you enjoy more? Thats the most important thing about research, if you don't like it, then its not gonna be very rewarding to you as a person. Life is too short and med school is too long to lose time doing research that makes you mad..haha 😛

In terms of MSTPs, it may just depend on the background of who is looking at your application. The personnel that handle the MSTP here consist of MD/PhDs, and PhDs. Some of the PhDs do a lot of bench research so might "frown" upon clinical research. While MDs and MD/PhDs might not. I'm currently a PhD student working on clinical research for my thesis. I've been advised to pick members of my committee who have clinical backgrounds since the bench research people might "fail" me because they don't think its adequate for a PhD degree. Therefore you might run into someone like that if you are applying to an MSTP.

Personally I think that is kinda biased, but that is life. 🙄 Do what makes you happy. The good news is not a lot of people out there enjoy research, and research tends to make $$ for med schools. So regardless of what kind of research you do, you are doing something good. Of course thats just one variable out of many that determines who gets into med school...haha. 😉

Very good advice.

 

[.edu-MD]

I personally don't think that is showing off. But I believe that any number of people can just put out some reference with their name on it, or mention they got a publication or two. But without the hard evidence, it isn't that much of a deal to someone. 😉

Yeah but how difficult is it to just type their name in and do a Medline author search? If they were really suspicious, I'm sure they do. It's too bad WE can't track how many times our names were searched... 🙂 I'd expect them to check up on mine 😀

 

[njbmd]

Looking for thoughts on the research component of my app. I work part-time as a clinical research coordinator while finishing my postbacc. My impression is that bench research is preferred, but I've also heard that clinical is basically just as good. Anyone actually know how schools view the two types? Do I need to switch to bench research during my app year or can I stay on the clinical side? I would actually prefer the lab, but my job will pay fairly well if I continue it full-time next year.

Hi there,
All things being equal, clinical or bench research does not matter. Just be able to discuss whatever you did in depth with a Ph.D. I have canned many an applicant who listed working on research projects and could not discuss what they actually did or the implications of their research.

njbmd 🙂

 

[relentless11]

Yeah but how difficult is it to just type their name in and do a Medline author search? If they were really suspicious, I'm sure they do. It's too bad WE can't track how many times our names were searched... 🙂 I'd expect them to check up on mine 😀

Some might not be on Medline though. I encourage my undergrads to do presentations, and such, where they also have abstracts/posters from research conferences. Individual book chapters, and newly created journals (not yet registered) don't show up either.

The neat thing about...one of the search engines is you can see how many times your paper was referenced by someone else. Now thats fun to look at sometimes 🙂 . I think I have like 1..lol. My lab partner is up to 4 now though. He's 2 years ahead me so here's keeping my fingers crossed. 😀

 

[.edu-MD]

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