Research Assistant Options

[cg2114]

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Hi all,

I'm graduating from college this May with the intent of applying to clinical psychology PhD programs in a few years. At this point, I am looking to find a research assistant job for next year. I have a few options and I don't know which would better assist me in getting into programs:

1) apply to jobs involving research that is similar to what I already have experience in (I am very interested on aparticular topic and I have experience researching it as an undergrad)

2) apply to jobs involving research very different to what I'm used to (to open up my mind to new interests)

3) ask faculty of clinical psych programs I am interested in whether they are looking to hire a research assistant, as to establish myself with a program I potentially might want to apply to.

If anyone has taken time off before applying, I would love to hear about your experiences, and please don't hesitate with advice!!

Thank you! 🙂

 

[joetro]

Can you combine 3 with 1 ... i.e. is the topic you are interested in being researched by people you'd want to work with in graduate school? That would seem to be ideal IMO.

 

[ResearchGirlie]

Hi CG -

I'm still in the midst of the application process (waiting..hoping for interviews) so please take my advice with that in mind. For the past 4 years I've been working at a major research hospital doing research in an area that I wasn't exposed to as an undergrad (neuro). When I was looking for jobs I noticed that there were many more research jobs available at hospitals than at universities and I had a lot more luck getting actual paid job offers from hospitals. What my job has allowed me to do is learn an immense amount in an area that I didn't have much exposure to and has opened me up to new research interests. But, throughout this time I've also taken the time to do some volunteer, part time work, with researchers in areas that were of interest to me as an undergrad.

If you have a specific interest I suggest trying to find a position in that area, but don't worry if you don't find the exact project you want to work on, learning from different perspectives can be a good thing. If you can see your current interests melding with other areas, that could be helpful. Exposing yourself to other, somewhat connected, areas of interest can open up new ideas for you or make you more confident about your current research interests.

 

[elleeza]

I applied and didn't get in to clin programs my senior year and went on to get a job as a research assistant at a neurodevelopmental disorders research center at a major medical school. My best advice is to pick places you are willing to relocate that have medical schools with strong research funding in psychiatry. From there just find job postings for research assistants (or whatever they call it at that particular institution) in the med school's psychiatry department. An added bonus is if the medical school is at a university where you want to do your doctoral work b/c you can probably take courses in the department while you work. Good luck!