On getting a research post...

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Knight_MD

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How does a Canadian IMG get a paid research position in Canada? (preferably in Surgery-Stem Cell)

Thanks.

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Work for free in a famous lab (say, at U of T), and work at Tim Hortons at night. They MAY put you as the middle author of an abstract to an obscure meeting.

After a few years, the lab will pay you real salary, but it will be less than your Tim Horton job at night. :meanie:
 
Sadly the above is true, a researcher is not very well paid in Canada. Also there are very few researchers who maintain a clinical practice even though they may be qualified to do so. The demands of each job are simply too high to stand out in both areas and advancement in either field is independant of one's performace in the other.

Practically, if you have a background in research most Canadian institutes and universities post job openings online. Contact the various departments for information on how to access these listings.

Secondly, licensing in Canada is very complicated and varies from province to province. You should contact each College of Physicians and Surgeons in which you are interested in practicing for details (though be prepared that they may not have all the answers and you may recieve mixed messages - thus is life).
 
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How depressing. I'm afraid I'll end up taking the Tim Horton one as a full time job. Damn you Canada and your limited residency positions...
It's weird because I thought that since Canadian grads don't need to assist at research to apply for residencies, such research positions would be readily available.
 
How depressing. I'm afraid I'll end up taking the Tim Horton one as a full time job. Damn you Canada and your limited residency positions...
It's weird because I thought that since Canadian grads don't need to assist at research to apply for residencies, such research positions would be readily available.

Don't curse Canada cause you did not do your search properly.

Are you Canadian? Where did you do medical school? Did you have Canadian citizenship before you went away to study medicine?

If you applied for Canadian residency after completing medical school, I am sure you knew about the slim chance of getting to work in Canada as a doctor. Slim meaning NO chance. If you are Canadian and decided to go abroad to do medicine, than you have chosen your own path. You knew very well that you can not come back to Canada to work as a doctor. You can go to the states, with USMLEs done and do residency there.. then you may have the chance to come back and work in Ontario.

.........

Regarding the research post... if you have previous research experience and are willing to work at it... then you can get a position. Don't expect to get payed anything decent and don't think you will be sitting there and studying for your medical exams while you should be working..

Research in Canada, in my opinion, is already full of people who don't want to be there, but instead are there to pass time or while they await something else. I can tell you they will take you to do research if 1) you have your own funding (fellowship from CIHR, HSF, etc...) or 2) you have a skill they need (medicine being NOT one they need).

Also research especially in stem cell and surgery... something I am know a thing or two about... is not easy. So get ready to take crap all day and evening and night. Ohhh and at the end of the day that won't help you get a residency position in Canada. Research and Residency are two different worlds at most Canadian universities. Again... I know.. I was there and have met many people like you... IMG... immigrated to Canada and hoping to get residency. Only one person was successful, but he went to the US to do residency and not in Canada. The others wasted their lives.

But if you still want to ... you should google the different locations and see which researchers are there. Contact them and see who replies. Out of 30 emails you send out.. you should get 5-10 replies... assuming you did it right and included your CV and have a decent dossier.

Good luck
 
Hi Knight_MD,

I am an IMG and I am employed at paid research position in Toronto.
Most researchers, organizations, hospitals willl be reluctant to hire an IMG for research - they would naturally prefer a Canadian educated fellow/assistant. That does not mean that it is impossible. You gotta be very persistant. The best way is to send your credentials(including strong cover letter) to as many ppl as possible. You can identify researches through university and hospital sites.
Look at newspapers- occasionally positions are posted there.
Look at employment postings in hospital sites - they post all the time.
Use other employment engines - workopolis etc

Good luck!
 
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