Full time research jobs in Boston area- difficult to get?

[Kentobari]

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I have been doing some searches and it seems like these positions get posted and offered rather frequently, in different hospitals and departments.

I just wonder, without any real solid research experience (apart from writing an undergrad thesis in medical anthropology and maybe 450 hours of lab sections in bio and chem courses), if they'd be hard for me to get. I'm applying to some, hoping my cover letter sounds good, but I don't know what my chances are.

I'm also tempted to think it's one of these situations where the research team already has someone they're going to hire, but are legally obliged to post the position anyways.

Also, I will be registering for HES classes in the fall but have not technically been accepted into the program yet, so I can't really mention my place in the program, teeechnically...

All the more difficult, I will be overseas until June, and will only be able to interview via phone or skype.

Thoughts?


p.s. vitals: anthro major, bio minor, 27 years old, Peace Corps volunteer, low GPA

 

[johnnyscans]

I have been doing some searches and it seems like these positions get posted and offered rather frequently, in different hospitals and departments.

I just wonder, without any real solid research experience (apart from writing an undergrad thesis in medical anthropology and maybe 450 hours of lab sections in bio and chem courses), if they'd be hard for me to get. I'm applying to some, hoping my cover letter sounds good, but I don't know what my chances are.

I'm also tempted to think it's one of these situations where the research team already has someone they're going to hire, but are legally obliged to post the position anyways.

Also, I will be registering for HES classes in the fall but have not technically been accepted into the program yet, so I can't really mention my place in the program, teeechnically...

All the more difficult, I will be overseas until June, and will only be able to interview via phone or skype.

Thoughts?


p.s. vitals: anthro major, bio minor, 27 years old, Peace Corps volunteer, low GPA

Paid full time research gigs are tough to come by - you're competing against mit/harvard students.

My advice - look up PIs in labs you may wish to work in and contact them directly. Offer to work for free and go from there. Transitioning to a paid position once you're trained is your beat bet. Also, commitment. Labs are much more willing to take you on when you can commit to 1.5 - 2 yrs of work.