research job after graduating?

[waterlily]

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For those of you who are taking time off and doing research in the meantime, I just need some advice. I think I'm going to graduate a quarter early so I'll have 3 months to spare, before summer and then starting med school. Currently, I'm working at a research lab, but I've been here forever, so I thought it'd be nice to start at a new lab to get different experience. However, I would like to get a paid research position, but I'm not sure how hard it is to find a paid research position just as an undergrad graduate. Right now, I'm getting paid hourly, but I've been here for a few years and I started off as a volunteer and then they offered me a paid position afterwards. I know a lot of labs start people off as volunteers and only if their have good enough capabilities, then the lab offers them a paid position.

Few questions:
How do you go about finding a lab position? And a paid position at that? I know that if some labs offer paid positions, they usually want a yr long commitment. But I only have a few months. So any advice or help is appreciated!

 

[laboholic]

I would recommend that you stay with your lab that you are in now. 3 months is barely enough time to get used to a new lab and it will be very difficult to make any positive progress in that amount of time.

The only situation in which I would say to change labs is if you are attending that same medical school in which the new lab is associated AND you are planning to keep on doing research during your medschool summers.

I hope this helps

good luck

ps - there should be a job search site on your university website

 

[Bluntman]

I agree with the comment that 3 months is barely enough time to get acquainted with a new lab. That being said, however, if you're bored with your current lab position, I could hardly recommend that you stay. Since it sounds like you are simply looking for a fun change of scenery (where you'll get paid some $ in the process) in your last few months before med school, I'd suggest taking advantage of a science temp agency. These companies are very common in most areas, and keep a bank of scientists that they contract out to other companies who need temps. Pay will still be hourly with no benefits, but it will definitely be better than what you are making now as a student. Also, the "research" will typically be of the technician variety (gels, pcr, analytical stuff like hplc/gcms, cultures, sample prep...i.e. the usual stuff that most people call research as an undergrad 😉 ), but this is the best that can be expected without having the time to dive into a project of your own. Anyway, just another option to consider. 🙂

 

[jebus]

I agree with laboholic, you should just stay where you are now.
If you really want to change labs, scour professors' CVs at your school (or where you want to work) and look for research that will interest you. Email up professors and ask to meet with them and tell them your story, why you think their research is cool, and what question (hypothesis) you want to answer. If you show a genuine interest in the research and have a halfway decent idea you can get a paid tech position in a well-funded lab. Or maybe a post-doc will have some grant money to pay for a tech.

 

[ahumdinger]

If you've already been accepted to a medical school, I suggest contacting the dean and asking for some guidance. The school may have some funds available for people who want to do research during the summer before medical schools and they can recommend mentors. So maybe you can get a jump start and the lab will have money to pay you before the dean's fund kicks in.

good luck.

 

[Monitor]

I would stay in a lab if I had to do it all again and publish another paper or try to get out your first publication. An extra publication only helps no matter what residency to pick, it ALWAYS LOOKS GOOD.

If you're set on getting $$$$ for the meanwhile, then LIE THROUGH YOUR TEETH. I'm looking for a perm position. I love lab rat work and I see myself doing it forever. One wiff of another med bound lab tech and they'll hire a high school grad with no experience who will be around for years.

I went through monster, took a job over the summer at a BIG place making $23 an hour with overtime if you wanted and left at the end of the summer. They threw me a party...
After I was GONE 😀

Never ask the Dean this sort of question. You should be answering your own questions by now. They may take your admission back if they think you're some snot nosed candy ass...

 

[jrae]

Either stay where you are or look into moving where you are going to school and starting a research project there that you can work on while in school if you choose to do research during the summers.

Do not lie about your plans to get a new position. Not only is it unfair to the lab (I am a current lab tech in charge of training) you will gain nothing and contribute nothing to the lab in 3 months, espically if you have to be trained on new techniques or if the lab uses animals. In my research, it can take up to a month to complete even one trial of an experiment. Lastly most competent PIs will check the references of the new hires. Your med school plans/acceptance will come out then and prevent you from getting the job anyway. No one wants to waste the time and effort to train a new person who cannot be there for at least a year.

 

[Bluntman]

Do not lie about your plans to get a new position.

Why not?! This is BUSINESS...when it comes down to it, you're out for one person...yourself! The slight passing feeling of selfrighteousness you'll get by being up front about med school is hardly worth the thousands of dollars you're throwing away.

 

[laboholic]

Why not?! This is BUSINESS...when it comes down to it, you're out for one person...yourself! The slight passing feeling of selfrighteousness you'll get by being up front about med school is hardly worth the thousands of dollars you're throwing away.

Ok, dont listen to this guy/gal for 3 reasons

1) Physicians are not supposed to be out for only themselves, you should make the practice of not screwing people over part of your daily life
2) Dont burn your bridges.. you never know when it will come back to bite you in the ass
3) You are already familiar with your current lab. Sure the pay might not be so good, but you should look at it as a learning experience. If you really dont like the work you are doing, maybe you can propose a different project that relates to both your interests and the lab's interests. I guarantee you that you will learn next to nothing 3 months in a new lab... except how do do some of their lab procedures. On top of this... maybe your PI will be willing to pay you as a temporary research assistant after you get your degree.. You should ask and maybe you can make more money than you are now.

 

[jrae]

1) Physicians are not supposed to be out for only themselves, you should make the practice of not screwing people over part of your daily life
2) Dont burn your bridges.. you never know when it will come back to bite you in the ass
3) You are already familiar with your current lab. Sure the pay might not be so good, but you should look at it as a learning experience. If you really dont like the work you are doing, maybe you can propose a different project that relates to both your interests and the lab's interests. I guarantee you that you will learn next to nothing 3 months in a new lab... except how do do some of their lab procedures. On top of this... maybe your PI will be willing to pay you as a temporary research assistant after you get your degree.. You should ask and maybe you can make more money than you are now.

Well said.

If you ever wanted a letter of rec from that PI and you left after three months, chances are it will come to bite you in the ass.

Research assistants who are just starting generally do not make that much money unless they get lucky. I know that the average salary where I work is around $25,000/yr. Those who are lucky enough to get a job through a hospital lab and not the university can make around $30,000/yr. The hours are generally longer than 8-5 and you don't get paid overtime. If you want to make money fast, an academic research lab is not the place to do it.

 

[kaykay73]

i am currently working in a lab...i took a year off after graduation. although the experience has been great...it would have suited my personality better to work with people in a clinical setting. i dont know how much you like doing research but maybe you should try something completely different for 3 months. maybe something a little less stressful and tedious. you are gonna be working your butt off in med school and it could be a good time for a breather so you will be fresh when you start. after all, you are already accepted and dont have to worry about impressing the admissions committees anymore. Travel, Bartend, Work in a hospital. Chances are you could save up a lot more money by bartending than by being a research tech (i know this firsthand) just some ideas....that is what i would like to do but you could obviously be completely different 🙂