Does work as an R&D engineer count as “research?”

[Instant_Karma]

Non traditional MD/PhD applicant coming from a BS/MS program in bioengineering.

I did 2 years of undergrad/grad research I’m the same lab resulting in some abstracts and posters. Then I got a job as an R&D engineer at a ****ty medical device start up (part of my motivation for applying to MD/PhD). I worked there for 1 year and 9 months before quitting to travel and soul search etc.

The job didn’t result in publications because you don’t publish at start ups. It was mostly process development research and implementation but I was almost entirely independent.

Does this “count” as research experience for my app?

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[tortuga87]

yes, just explain what you did

 

[evasive fish]

The job didn’t result in publications because you don’t publish at start ups.

You don't *need* publications for applying MD-PhD.

It was mostly process development research and implementation but I was almost entirely independent.

Most applicants seem to have academic research experience (which you also have!). For the R&D job, if it was hypothesis-based, independent research, then it is worth including in your app as long as you explain well its nature, importance, etc.