Paid Research Assistant

[clinicalpsych13]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi, I was wondering if it is possible to find a paid research assitant position. I need more research experience after I graduate, but I also need to earn money at the same time. I asked my school about it, but usually they don't offer a paid position. Is there a way to find it? (California area would be perfect. If not, it's okay)
Or is there a place where I can get a RA job other than universities?

If anyone knows, please let me know! Thanks!

 

[WisNeuro]

Is it possible, definitely. Is it easy, not really. Depends on supply and demand. Some areas are better then others. Also, it's about who you know. Most of the positions that I've been aware of (and previously worked in) were either because the person was a volunteer first, or someone had vouched for them for the position. Also, some RA jobs require masters level people. Good luck in the search.

 

[CheetahGirl]

Hi, I was wondering if it is possible to find a paid research assistant position. I need more research experience after I graduate, but I also need to earn money at the same time. I asked my school about it, but usually they don't offer a paid position. Is there a way to find it? (California area would be perfect. If not, it's okay)
Or is there a place where I can get a RA job other than universities?

If anyone knows, please let me know! Thanks!

I agree with volunteering in a lab first, kicking butt as an assistant, and moving to a paid position. Look at University-based urban medical centers or find out which websites that medical centers (or doctors' offices) post positions...like online classifieds for the best local newspaper (that is where I advertised on behalf of my PI for paid RA and volunteer positions...NY Times). Or find a temp agency that specializes in medical placements (sometimes RA positions are there too).

Also, don't put doctor's offices out of the running. I once interviewed for a doc who ran subjects for a Big Pharm study, the coordinator would be in charge of organizing participant data and communication with the Big Pharm Co. That's all really great face-to-face research experience...especially if you make sure to attend every big collaborative meeting and ask to present some preliminary data. The latter is a stretch (i.e., presenting data, unless your Doc is an academic) ...but it could happen.

 

[chman]

It is possible, but it isn't easy.. If you don't have some volunteer experience, as others have suggested, it will be tough going. I graduated in June and just now landed a full time position. I had volunteered in undergrad, and my mentor there gave me a tip on a temp position with a study, and I believe, that was just enough to make my resume competitive.

You have to be very persistent. The idea of e-mailing professors directly is a good one. I got an interview at a very prestigious lab by doing that and the PI said I was one of five people interviewed out of hundreds of candidates. I'm not saying this to toot my own horn, but rather to say that these positions are almost always competitive and any kind of inside track you can get it incredibly helpful, if not almost essential. A lot of these jobs already have a candidate in mind, as others mentioned, but some will still consider you if you make yourself distinguishable.

Another thing I did that ultimately got me the interview for my new position is to e-mail PI's after applying directly to the job. You have to do a bit of investigative work and sometimes take a wild shot on who the PI is based off of the job description and the research being done, but I believe it pays off and shows you are capable of digging deeper and solving problems.

So, it is quite possible, but you have to be prepared to deal with A LOT of rejection (at least from my experience), and not take it too personally and keep chugging along.

Good Luck!