Is being a research assistant considered having research experience?

[HCW212]

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^^^?

 

[Law2Doc]

^^^?

It can be. Depends on what you do. The goal of research is to actually be intimately involved in a project, such that you can talk about it in interviews, get a good LOR, and maybe get on a publication. If your job does this, you are golden.

 

[dr.z]

I think so.

 

[OctoDoc]

Yes, if you did research. No, if you were only a dishwasher, errand boy, or just did clerical work.

 

[MDdream]

what if you happened to just get an acknowledgement in a paper? is it even worth noting an acknowledgement on the AMCAS?

i joined a research project in its later stages, and contributed in the summertime.

 

[relentless11]

what if you happened to just get an acknowledgement in a paper? is it even worth noting an acknowledgement on the AMCAS?

i joined a research project in its later stages, and contributed in the summertime.

If thats all you have then put it on. They're not going to blackball you if you put in something like that😉. My undergrads at least get an acknowledgement. Sometimes thats all they have since they don't have time to do more and be a co-author.

The whole authorship thing, at times can be really gray so just put in what you can, and leave it at that. If you make it to interviews, then you can clarify what you did. Gives them something to ask about, and something for your to be proud of.

 

[JonnyG]

research is a vague term. Working in any lab is considered research experience becaus eyou learn how to use equipment and conduct results etc. Having a name on a paper is golden though.

 

[babybichon]

This is one of the most important pieces of advice I received from one of my best Biology professors: DON'T SELL YOURSELF SHORT. I had worked in a research lab as an animal technician working with rats, and when my professor was going through my application because she was going to write a recommendation letter for me, I mentioned that I wasn't sure if my Animal Tech experience in a Developmental Neurobiology lab was considered "real" research experience, she told me it was, even though I had never published anything (not even close 🙄 ).

 

[Prospero]

As was said before, as long as you're not just washing dishes, then you can count it. I was specifically asked during one of my interviews what I did, which gave me a chance to elaborate on what exactly my job title meant (because it differs at each institution). Getting a paper is not a "must" to consider your work real research... especially if you start with a new lab like I did, because chances are no one in the lab will get published for at least the first couple of years if it's genetics based.