lab tech

[reine1jb]

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has anyone thought about or maybe done a lab tech type position before applying MD/PhD? I know there are a handful of places that typical MD/PhD students come from but I was just curious if anyone did something like this to maybe beef up their research experience.

I was thinking about maybe doing it for a year or two just to make sure that research is something i really want to do. If anyone has done this how do you go about finding a lab tech job?

 

[RxnMan]

...I was thinking about maybe doing it for a year or two just to make sure that research is something i really want to do. If anyone has done this how do you go about finding a lab tech job?

The bolded part is really smart - try out the field a little before you go all in, and find out a little about yourself.

If you want to beef up the resume, then you'd want to try to go for something more than a tech position, as techs more often do what they're told, instead of playing an active part in the research process. This may not be possible with your qualifications (you haven't posted what degree/s you have), but at least make it known to your potential employer that you want to more than just run gels during the interview.

I've gone on hospital websites and found technical positions there. Often medical labs will post positions around campus. You can also cold-call departments to see if anyone is hiring. Write up a good resume. Look at the AAMC website for an example CV.

 

[Stixman28]

Im a "research specialist" right now during my post-bac, and will be applying md/phd in a year. I emailed around a neuroscience department and got a job very similar to a topic I had interned in during my summers during undergrad. That was enough experience that I am not a "lab tech" but am involved in making active research goal oriented designs and decisions. Great experience for me w/ an md/phd boss who takes me to clinic. I get research and clinical experience and he is very supportive of helping me to think like a physician scientist.

hope this helps.

 

[move2west]

Check out the NIH IRTA program: http://www.training.nih.gov/student/Pre-IRTA/previewpostbac.asp

It is a great program, and lots of people apply and get into MD/PhD programs after it. PM me if you want details (or check all of the other threads on SDN).

 

[reine1jb]

thank you everyone for all of your helpful comments...i will look into all the options presented on this forum

 

[reine1jb]

The bolded part is really smart - try out the field a little before you go all in, and find out a little about yourself.

If you want to beef up the resume, then you'd want to try to go for something more than a tech position, as techs more often do what they're told, instead of playing an active part in the research process. This may not be possible with your qualifications (you haven't posted what degree/s you have), but at least make it known to your potential employer that you want to more than just run gels during the interview.

I've gone on hospital websites and found technical positions there. Often medical labs will post positions around campus. You can also cold-call departments to see if anyone is hiring. Write up a good resume. Look at the AAMC website for an example CV.

You're probably right using the words "beef up" was not correct. I guess I looked at using the lab tech job (or something like that) as a way of being able to see what a "high-octane" research lab at a medical school would be like and also learn as many techniques as possible.