How can I get research exp. and published outside of a program?

[livetosail]

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I finished my undergraduate degree in 2004. Since then I have been in the Navy working for the Marine Corps doing everything except what I am interested in. I have entertained the idea of continuing my education through the military, particularly the Navy, but have been tremendously disappointed at the lack of programs and options offered.

USUHS, the military's medical/graduate school, has two slots a year for Navy folks, and is the only real option. I have applied twice and haven't made it yet. Each time I have been advised to get more research experience if I want to be more competitive. My question is: HOW?!?!

I have emailed former professors, private institutions and thinktanks. The few responses I get are typically the "we're already set for research assistants, thanks anyway" kind of thing. Here's my most recent rejection letter:

"I’m glad to hear that you are interested in our doctoral program... It sounds like you are gaining some great professional experience by working with psychologists in the military, although you may not have much research experience.

I am currently working on research with the students that are enrolled in our program. Therefore, at this time, I would not be able to collaborate on any research projects with you. I would encourage you to continue to gain multiple professional experiences.

I wish you the best with all of your future endeavors."

The really ironic thing is that I'm not really all that interested in research-heavy clinical psych anyway. I am much more interested in the Psy.D model, and I think I would be much happier in a Counseling Psych program. But this is the only program available to me if I want to make the military a career (which, with almost six years of service already, and five more in school counting towards retirement, 20 years at half-pay and medical benefits for the rest of my life is attractive to me and my family).

Yes, the Army has a scholarship program, but I'm saving that as a last resort.

For the time being, I have an otherwise good application that meets or exceeds all of their bullet points- except research and conference presentations/peer-reviewed publications.

If anyone knows how I could accomplish that feat with a BS in Psych and not currently in an academic program, I would be grateful to hear all about it.

Thanks.

ESV

 

[KillerDiller]

I wasn't sure from your post whether, when you contacted these professors, you were seeking paid positions. Unfortunately, sometimes we have to start at the very bottom rung in order to gain research experience, and that means volunteering our time in a lab. I haven't encountered too many researchers who would turn down free help.

 

[cara susanna]

If you have no research experience, it may be hard to get a paid position--you may want to volunteer first.

As for getting paid research jobs, look for job postings vs. sending cold emails. You can usually find these on the university website or listservs; for instance, ABCT usually has postings. Another good resource is Butler Hospital, which has a lot of research going on, and is considered a great place to RA.

 

[Ollie123]

Was it the professor or you who first used the phrase "Collaborate on research projects"?

If your email asks about collaborating, professors may think you are asking to run your own study, or to take a leading role in developing research. Professors are generally not going to respond well to that from someone with no prior experience. You are an unknown factor and for all they know, you don't possess any of the necessary qualities to succeed in research. Its just jumping ahead a bit - its like walking into a workplace with no prior experience and asking to be made a manager. You need to start off by offering to do gruntwork on THEIR study for free to get your foot in the door. If you do an awesome job, most profs are happy to get people more involved.

If that isn't the case and it was the prof who first brought up collaboration, all I can say is keep trying. If you still have contacts at your old universities, they might be worth talking. They might be more willing to create opportunities if they know you pretty well, or they might be able to talk their friend into getting you involved.

I don't know what your living situation is, what kind of research is going on in your area, etc. I know a bunch of people (including myself) who volunteered in labs after graduation though, and no one seemed to have any difficulty in finding opportunities to do so. We have had other people post with the same problem though, so there might be different rules at certain universities.

 

[glasscandie]

The very first clinical/research position I got came from cold e-mailing psych. rehabilitation centers in my area. I just said that I was looking for a volunteer research/clinical position to get more experience for grad. school, and out of the 10 that I e-mailed, 2 or 3 got back to me, and I chose the one I did b/c they were very flexible and encouraged being involved in whatever I wanted to be. I did start off unpaid, but my position went from volunteer to paid hourly within 4 months, b/c I started to do more important things there for them (coordinating their evidence-based practice programs, leading classes like art and employment, etc.).

The second position (RA position) I found through my school's Web site, they listed on-site and off-site RA positions. It was also volunteer initially, but after being with one supervisor for awhile I was asked by another to work in his lab as well and that was paid, so I ended up getting paid for both the new lab and the lab I was originally working in. These labs are not at my school, either.

Maybe you could start e-mailing some places that aren't typical for research, for example, a psychiatric rehab. center (most, in my experience, do at least a little research). If you can get at least a little experience, you might have more luck with an unpaid or paid RA position at a university.

 

[futureapppsy2]

Something one of the posters here mentioned last year--and that I thought was a really good idea--was to search major funding databases (NIH, NIMH, NIDDR, etc) and email the PI's of any projects that may be in the range of what you want to do and within any geographic limitations. In my (limited) experience, not all grant money is named, and there's often some left "unclaimed" for paying RAs as needed.

Like others have said, if you're willing and able to volunteer that may be where you have to start.

Good luck! 🙂

 

[cyclechic]

It takes a great deal of extra, unpaid hard work to get research experience outside of academia, however my assumption based on your chosen career in the military is that hard work is no stranger to you.

Cara Suzanna's suggestion to volunteer somewhere is my advice for you as well. It can be very difficult to find paid research work without prior experience.

Publication outside of academia is very difficult without an academic connection (for IRB approval of a study and a coach through the process). If you have the time to develop and implement a study, you may consider sending a proposal to a former professor and see if there are any takers.

If a Psy.D. is more in keeping with your career interests, you may want to focus on gaining depth and breadth in clinical experience (various populations, diagnoses, individual/family/couple therapy). I do not have expertise with the Psy.D. process, so please accept this last suggestion as my best guess.

 

[livetosail]

I have never asked for a paid position. I am active duty military, so I'm not trying to make money. I'm simply trying to gain experience that can beef up my vita. It is the only thing lacking, but I am finding it incredibly difficult to get.

My process is to find a professor, institution, or study, email them and ask if they could use volunteer help on any current research projects. You would think I would be welcomed with open arms, but of the 20 or so I have sent, and maybe about 10 in-person or phone call discussions, I have gotten nothing but the cold shoulder.

In my mind, I figure that there would be work I could do off-site (considering I am currently in Iraq) that could be useful to them. Is that a foolish thought?

Thanks for your replies. I appreciate the help.

ESV

 

[KillerDiller]

In my mind, I figure that there would be work I could do off-site (considering I am currently in Iraq) that could be useful to them. Is that a foolish thought?


ESV

Ahhh, that's probably what it is. I think some or many researchers would find it difficult to work with someone long distance simply because it's much easier to explain studies, data collection, etc. in person. Also, most data entry and collection would need to be done on site, so that would limit your role to statistical analysis (any experience with this by any chance?) or to finding articles for the lit reveiw.

Still, I bet there are some researchers who would be willing to work with you overseas. So I guess my best advice is to keep trying. Good luck.

 

[Ollie123]

Ahhh. That might be the critical point.

95% of the tasks that research assistants do (at least in the 7-8 labs I've worked in) are things that have to be done in the lab. Running participants through protocols, data management, answering phones, help set up new studies, etc. Things that vary from virtually impossible, to actually impossible to do form a distance.

I don't know what your timeline is, or when you expect to return from Iraq but I suspect you'll have much better luck if able to volunteer in person.

 

[livetosail]

That is a good point, though I'm not convinced that being deployed is hurting me all that much. After all, I have been trying to volunteer for almost three years now, and I've only been in Iraq for 9 months.

Does anyone have any advice as to how I could volunteer for off-site research experience?