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Help me choose a lab
- Thread starter bman992
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Are you sure everyone would hire you? I have found it is quite hard to get into any lab and you end up having to settle for something you didn't want simply because the other labs have no openings. If you are given a chance, pick something you enjoy. You will be happier and the gap year will go faster. Besides, Adcoms aren't going to be impressed by what kind of research you're doing but rather your contribution. Also the money isn't that much regardless. You are not going to become rich during a gap year
Yeah, I was fortunate to get an offer from each one. I think my previous research experience helped a lot with that.
I would enjoy both lab #1 and lab #3. I think I would be happier at #1 but I don't want to give up the NIH position if it holds a lot of weight in med admissions.
I would enjoy both lab #1 and lab #3. I think I would be happier at #1 but I don't want to give up the NIH position if it holds a lot of weight in med admissions.
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Don't worry about perceived "prestige" between labs. Go where you will be happiest and enjoy the topic of research the most (By your post I'm guessing this is lab #1).
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The NIH postbac position is just for the summer right? The postbac IRTA stipend for 1 year is about $28k, or $32K for CRTA, so something isn't right about that salary you posted. Or do you mean it is $5k less than the other jobs?
Assuming you get paid for all of them, I say join either 1 or 2. If you say that 1 is interesting, lax (non-stressful?) and likely productive, that's a perfect combo right there.
Assuming you get paid for all of them, I say join either 1 or 2. If you say that 1 is interesting, lax (non-stressful?) and likely productive, that's a perfect combo right there.
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I agree. I wouldn't say the NIH is necessarily the best one for med school. The best advice I've been given is to pick what you are most passionate about. You will likely get interview questions about it so you want to be able to speak about your experience with excitement.
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No reason! It sounded like the first two labs would be more productive since you mentioned the likelihood of being a coauthor pubs, and I say you should choose the place that is comfortable and productive (like 1).
If you think you may become an author on publications in the NIH lab, then it is also an excellent choice. I was a CRTA for 1 year and I found it to be a very collegiate experience (lots of postbacs). I was given my own project and had a lot of independence. However your experience will depend on the quality of your PI.
Be sure to also use your best judgment in terms of if you will realistically be published, and in what timeline and with what kind of authorship. Every PI will like to tell you they can get you published since that's what they know you want, but many are very optimistic about how close they are to publishing and whether your project will be.
