Research Assistant or No?

[dmene1]

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Hi guys! I’m a graduating senior hoping to become a physician in the future. I’ve had a tough go of it during undergrad (I'm pre-med with a minor in chemistry and political science btw) so I plan to take a year or two off to retake classes, maybe apply for graduate school and hopefully work as a research technician/assistant before applying to medical school. I’ve been hearing older alumni say that working as a research assistant or technician doesn’t count as research experience. Is there any truth to this? If so, what would count as research experience? Should I still go for it anyway?

Please Help!

 

[PurpleAmoeba]

Research assistant definitely counts as research. I’ve never heard anyone contesting that. Research technician I’m not familiar with, but if you’re working or volunteering in a lab that produces peer-reviewed publications and are conducting activities related to those publications, you’re fine. If you’re doing just scheduling or whatever I wouldn’t call it research.

 

[dmene1]

The technician positions I've applied for involve me doing lab work like western blots, DNA extractions, southern blots, and things of the like.

 

[PurpleAmoeba]

The technician positions I've applied for involve me doing lab work like western blots, DNA extractions, southern blots, and things of the like.

That’s fine.