Do you get time for research during your residency? Generally speaking.

[Old Style Nanny]

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Provided you are in an university program with an average workload, do you get time to do research and publish papers before the end of your four years? I'm referring to clinical research in general, but is bench research possible as well?

I know this is a broad question, but if I can get some idea about the reality of a psych residency it would be great.

Thanks.

 

[notdeadyet]

Provided you are in an university program with an average workload, do you get time to do research and publish papers before the end of your four years? I'm referring to clinical research in general, but is bench research possible as well?

I know this is a broad question, but if I can get some idea about the reality of a psych residency it would be great.

Thanks.

It probably varies a lot by program, but none of the ones I looked at closely (or matched at) have protected research time until 3rd year (and only a handful had a few token hours) or most until 4th year elective. The exception to this is if you were on the research track.

You can still do research and publish on your own dime, but it's a challenge to find the time. My goal has been to focus more on presentations and ad hoc research for the first two years before trying to carve out something meatier in PGY-4.

 

[twright]

It probably varies a lot by program, but none of the ones I looked at closely (or matched at) have protected research time until 3rd year (and only a handful had a few token hours) or most until 4th year elective. The exception to this is if you were on the research track.

You can still do research and publish on your own dime, but it's a challenge to find the time. My goal has been to focus more on presentations and ad hoc research for the first two years before trying to carve out something meatier in PGY-4.

Agree. I also looked primarily at residencies that offered either (a) protected time for research or (b) lots of flexible elective time. A few programs offer electives during PGY2 that can be used for research. UW comes to mind-- I don't recall if they specifically offer elective time during PGY2 or if Deb Cowley is just flexible with shifting around months between PGY2 & PGY3. UCSF has a "research track" that offers some minimal protected time during PGY2 (I believe it is 1/2 day per week) that becomes much more substantive during PGY3 & 4 (30-90%).

If you matriculate to a program that has absolutely no protected time for research, I anticipate it would be difficult to get much done. The most productive type of situation might be one in which you have already collected data and spend your evenings and weekends doing the statistical analysis and writing the manuscript. You could also try to work on a case report or a review paper, but if your goal is to have a product for fellowship applications you should know that those are not regarded as original research investigations.

In general, I would not recommend this during PGY1 & 2. I am more of the mind that you should spend your intern year staying afloat, and if you have time you should read up on your patients. PGY2 inpatient psych and consults are their own beasts and at some programs can easily be 70 hours a week -- and, again, I think your spare time would be better spent on reading about your patients rather than trying to get research done. PGY3 brings its own anxieties about trying to learn therapy but you probably will have a little more discretionary time.

 

[MDchouette]

Everyone:
1/2 day per week during PGY2-PGY4 for scholarly work
Elective month during PGY2

Research track:
Additional time during the other years - i.e. current PGY3s on research track get 1 month of time that can be taken half-time over two months or as an extra half-day per week over 6 months

All Harvard programs can apply for 1/2 time research funding during PGY4.

 

[ypsl]

I think it's pretty program dependent. To name a few. WPIC has a pretty impressive research machine that has pumped out something like 20-30 K awards over the past 5-10 years. Most of those residents also did research fellowships. Columbia has other inducements (Levy Scholars money). Cornell will allow to work with anyone in the city. MGH/McLean gives you a month PGY 1, 2 months PGY 2, 2 days a week x 8 months PGY 3, and almost all PGY4. Hopkins, on the other hand, gives 6 months during PGY4 and nothing else.

 

[m1345]

Everyone:
1/2 day per week during PGY2-PGY4 for scholarly work
Elective month during PGY2

Research track:
Additional time during the other years - i.e. current PGY3s on research track get 1 month of time that can be taken half-time over two months or as an extra half-day per week over 6 months

All Harvard programs can apply for 1/2 time research funding during PGY4.

^Longwood, right?

Cambridge apparently gives 6wks (which may be going to 8wks!) elective time intern year which you can use to get a project started

 

[SmallBird]

It certainly varies by program, but also the extent to which you are willing to work after hours. Yale gives 3 months in PGY-2, 20% in PGY-3 and almost all of PGY-4 on the regular track, with even more time in PGY-3 on the research track.

Personally, I am PGY-1 and have found the time to get working on two projects after hours already. Also finalised 2 pubs but I did most of that field work before residency. But I really do enjoy research.

 

[MDchouette]

^Longwood, right?

Cambridge apparently gives 6wks (which may be going to 8wks!) elective time intern year which you can use to get a project started

Yes, Longwood.