How did you obtain your research position?

[HopefulRN2MD]

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I'm starting to search for research positions in my area (Massachusetts), and would really like to focus on pediatric oncology/hematology, and would rather it be voluntary with flexible hours vs. paid with a rigid structure. How did you get your position? How many hours per week do your work? What is your research on?

 

[sml5t]

I'm starting to search for research positions in my area (Massachusetts), and would really like to focus on pediatric oncology/hematology, and would rather it be voluntary with flexible hours vs. paid with a rigid structure. How did you get your position? How many hours per week do your work? What is your research on?

Look on your school's website and find professors with similar interests as you and just email them.

 

[Electronegative]

Usually you can find research position if you go to your schools ______ department, click on research area and there should be names of professors who lead the research, just email them and ask if they have an opening in their team.


EN

 

[cfx]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like OP is no longer in college.

If you're a nurse like your name says, surely you have some connections in whatever hospital/clinic you work in? I would make full use of them, if so. Talk to whoever you know in your department of interest (or maybe someone with a connection to that dept.), feel around and see if anyone is willing to take a volunteer.

Otherwise, just do what the above two posts recommend--find some labs that interest you and email them. That's what I did (twice), and it worked out.

 

[Charles_Carmichael]

I emailed a professor working on stuff that interested me. It really is as simple as emailing a professor and expressing interest in their work.

During the semester, I'm probably in the lab from anywhere between 12-20+ hours per week depending on what I'm doing. For example, I was easily doing 20+ per week when I was a hitting a deadline to finish my project and present it to the department. During the summer, it's usually about 20 hrs per week because I've usually done other things during the summer as well (ie. taking classes one summer and studying for the MCAT the next).

Good luck with the search!

Edit: If you're not in college and are looking to find a lab to do research in, I still recommend you email PIs who do work you're interested in. That's what I did and I got a research position for my year off. It seems a bit late in the year to start looking for positions though. Most people I know sent out emails in the Spring and start working in labs in the fall.

 

[justdoit31]

I shadowed a Pediatric Hematologist (and several of the oncologist in the department) but the hospital (a top 10 Children's hospital) wouldn't let me research in that department til I was in medical school. Well now that I am in med school the doctor worked with me to write a grant and I got the position for a summer clinical research project with clinical experiences built in. Basically they gave me the clinic/conference schedules and let me pick when I go to those and then I research on my schedule so it is flexible for me (the last 2 days I researched 8am-2pm and missed rush hour traffic) I can access everything I need from my house which is fantastic.

Just keep pushing- usually if you get in touch with a physician your chances go up compared to strictly a PhD researcher.

 

[dr zaius]

We had a departmental honors program that required research. I also did a summer research internship.

 

[familyaerospace]

First position : one of my profs told us about a 6 month unpaid internship at the zoo and I applied.

Second position : I was asked by a prof if I would please work for him. Pay was decent. That was a 1 year paid position which later turned into position 3.

Third position : I was trained enough as a researcher that I became an information broker. Although the name of my company has changed, I've been doing this for 8 years as paid employment

Fourth position : Graduate school. Unpaid, but was 3 years there. (This partially overlapped with position 3 chronologically speaking.)

Fifth position : I was told by a colleague about a company he worked for that was looking to bring in more researchers. I applied for one of the open positions and got it.

 

[mechanictodr]

I wouldn't stick myself into such a narrow field for a research job. The research I have done has been all over the place in science and it's been nice to have a change of pace like that. It all looks good as long as you excell in each group and get good letters from it (publications are rad too.)

Just pick something you enjoy or a group of people you enjoy being around. No interviewer is going to care what protein you purified or whatever you did as long as you can say you did well and enjoyed it that's all that matters.

 

[45408]

First position was in response to an e-mail. The PI contacted the pre-med advisor to send out a mass e-mail looking for research assistants. I responded and joined the lab. I submitted the position to the honors college as a potential honors research project, which they accepted, so I got credit for it (for one semester - I stayed for several).

The second position was for a biology capstone research project. I e-mailed one professor and got shot down. I e-mailed another professor (whose class I was in at the time), and he agreed.

When you contact people, the e-mail should probably be your cover letter, and attach a resume so they don't have to ask you for it.

 

[GTstormin]

A friend of mine actually helped my current boss move a cabinet and gave her my resume. Utilize your resources! My boss told me that nearly everyone she has hired has been from personal references.