is this research assistant position competitive?

[badbrain103]

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hello everyone,
I am a new member and have a question about working as a research assistant. I graduated college in May and decided to take 1-2 years off to get more research experience for MD-PhD programs. The research assistant position I accepted and am now working as is at a well-known research institution and involves maintaining a patient sample bank for samples that are to be used in research studies. Since banking patient samples is what we do for most of the day, there is not much time to do independent research, though I have talked with my PI about starting a project in the near future. I have read the sticky, which states that the more independent the research, the better. So my question is thus: if I'm not truly doing research but am only maintaining a patient sample bank for the next 2 years, will that be competitive for MD-PhD programs? Should I try to get this independent project underway as soon as possible? Or would it be better to try to find positions that are more research-oriented? Any advice would help.

 

[Fencer]

MD/PhD programs are looking for sustained research experience. Been a lab tech is like been an spectator for research. Programs value taking a project to fruition. You should try to get your independent project underway as soon as possible, and if not possible, you should then look for other positions that are more research oriented.

 

[badbrain103]

OK that confirms my suspicions. But do programs look at this type of position as a plus? Or would it not differentiate me very much at all in terms of getting accepted to these types of programs?

 

[ilikeargyle]

I'm only an applicant, but I suggest finding a position where you are able to have your own research project, or at the very least, contribute to a research project both physically (doing the experiments) and where you can grow intellectually (being able to understand why, what you'd do next, etc even if you don't have the ultimate say). What sounds better: "I maintained a bank of patient samples for 2 years." versus "I investigated the mechanism of [blank] by utilizing [varying techniques] and optimizing [protocol and methods] to determine that [protein A] is significantly down-regulated due to a decreased interaction with [protein B] which causes [malfunction and symptom of said disease]... if you can't find this, then take the more technical job, but the promise for an independent project can be broken or unfulfilled.

Taking time off after undergraduate will be helpful for you, if not for admissions. I can't imagine directly entering 7-8 years of 10x more demanding school/work without a bit of a break from school. Working full-time in research for more than just a summer will also be helpful in determining whether or not you really enjoy doing research. Enjoy your time after graduation.

 

[BioBeaver]

I apologize for this noob-ish question:

All these people in the Pre-Allo forum say they have publications and authorships in undergrad; is this them really doing their own research, or are they lab techs who get in the paper? Is it even possible to be published as a lab tech?

 

[uniqenam]

I apologize for this noob-ish question:

All these people in the Pre-Allo forum say they have publications and authorships in undergrad; is this them really doing their own research, or are they lab techs who get in the paper? Is it even possible to be published as a lab tech?

For first author papers: Yes, it is possible from doing your own research. It's mostly luck, benevolence on the part of the PI, cosmic karma etc, but it can certainly happen that a project lies fallow for a while, and an undergrad happens to come along at the right time to expand/finish the work for a paper (this happened to me, where I have one published first-author pub and another in the works from my undergrad lab). You can also just be a total all-star I guess, but it's hard to jump into a lab, learn the process of research, learn techniques, and then be productive enough to lead your own project all within the space of undergrad, but it does happen.

For any other authorship: This is actually much easier, you just have to do "enough" work on a paper that a PI can be persuaded to include you. As such, second/third/fourth/fifty-fourth authorship isn't as highly valued as first-author. I have just finished a rotation with a PI that puts techs on papers all the time as well. Some PIs consider it enough to have run the histology for one figure, while others require substantive effort, but in all it's definitely possible for people to claim authorship on a paper as an undergrad.

 

[staygoldponyboy]

Yes, it looks better to have done independent research, but it's not always reasonable to expect to begin working in a lab as a technician right out of college and immediately start working independently. It takes time to build trust and skill. What's more, it does not look good if you're bouncing around labs (or jobs in general, for that matter). If you PI said that an independent project would be in the future, then take him or her at their word, bank samples at the best of your ability for a couple months, and then check in. If you want to get on publications, it's easier to do so by working with other people at this point than just by doing your own project. Also, are there other technicians in your lab? Are they working somewhat independently?

Kick ass at what your boss has given you now, and he or she will want to give you more responsibility.

 

[badbrain103]

thanks everyone, these comments are very helpful

Yes, it looks better to have done independent research, but it's not always reasonable to expect to begin working in a lab as a technician right out of college and immediately start working independently. It takes time to build trust and skill. What's more, it does not look good if you're bouncing around labs (or jobs in general, for that matter). If you PI said that an independent project would be in the future, then take him or her at their word, bank samples at the best of your ability for a couple months, and then check in. If you want to get on publications, it's easier to do so by working with other people at this point than just by doing your own project. Also, are there other technicians in your lab? Are they working somewhat independently?

Kick ass at what your boss has given you now, and he or she will want to give you more responsibility.

to answer your question, yes there are other technicians in the lab, a few have been working for 2+ years but i don't think they have much of an interest in the research. They stick strictly to banking samples and don't try to become involved in researching