Narrow field of research (Re: Md PhD programs)

[DopamineNYC]

---

Members do not see this ad.

My research background is in a relatively narrow area of research (although in the past decade or so, it has really taken off and has tremendous transnational potential). It's heavily dependent on cell culture and it is resource intensive and not all research institutions or even universities have labs working on this.

If, in my PS and MD PhD essay, I discuss my intent on working in this field, but the school does not have a dept specializing in this, would that hurt my chances of admission? Larger private universities seem to devote more money (and are also very successful in this field) than smaller institutions.
Idk...should I make my research interest slightly more open ended...?

 

[eteshoe]

I'm just curious at what your research field is.

 

[bearintraining]

My research background is in a relatively narrow area of research (although in the past decade or so, it has really taken off and has tremendous transnational potential). It's heavily dependent on cell culture and it is resource intensive and not all research institutions or even universities have labs working on this.

If, in my PS and MD PhD essay, I discuss my intent on working in this field, but the school does not have a dept specializing in this, would that hurt my chances of admission? Larger private universities seem to devote more money (and are also very successful in this field) than smaller institutions.
Idk...should I make my research interest slightly more open ended...?

How specific can this really be? maybe it's a wording issue?

 

[7331poas]

It would have to be extremely specific...

 

[LizzyM]

My research background is in a relatively narrow area of research (although in the past decade or so, it has really taken off and has tremendous transnational potential). It's heavily dependent on cell culture and it is resource intensive and not all research institutions or even universities have labs working on this.

If, in my PS and MD PhD essay, I discuss my intent on working in this field, but the school does not have a dept specializing in this, would that hurt my chances of admission? Larger private universities seem to devote more money (and are also very successful in this field) than smaller institutions.
Idk...should I make my research interest slightly more open ended...?

If a school does not have a lab where it feels you would be a good fit (PI needs your skills and interest, you would be happy in that field of study), then it may pass on you and pursue applicants who are a better fit.

If you are willing to use your technical skills and build on those skills in whatever area of study presents itself, you may be more flexible in fitting into existing labs at a given school. If your skills are useful in only a very narrow area, you'd be best off finding the schools who are operating labs that use those techniques and presenting yourself as an excellent fit for those schools. If it is a field in which there are few skilled applicants, then you may have good chances at those carefully targeted schools.