Research opportunities after DPT

[monkeykat]

How easy is it to get research experience after you are done with a program? Specifically, what if you don't get much exposure to research during your DPT program, but then you want to get involved?

I'm not just talking about literature review or evidence-based practice, I'm talking about research. There are opportunities for more clinical practice, such as residencies, but it seems that to get more experience in research post-grad, you would have to commit to a ScD (of which there are few) or PhD.

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[Graduate study]

You have a few options:

1) Rehab research career development program: http://rehabsciences.utmb.edu/k12/

2) You can work as a post doc in a clinical lab/ lab who does clinical/ related research. You should probably be able to find something on a listserv called biomch-l. Now this depends highly on the professor, some may only want someone with a Phd but its worth a try. I have seen some postings where they specifically want DPTs.

3) I know that some big research hospitals have 50-50 clinical and research positions for some of their PTs. RIC is one of them.

 

[monkeykat]

Thanks for the reply!

I decided to go to a school that has research integrated into the program, so my original concern isn't as immediate. I want research to be part of my career at some point, and I didn't want to miss out on getting experience early on. The RRCD program is really interesting, and I've saved the link for the future! Thanks again.

 

[Graduate study]

You are welcome!

I am not sure for how long they will have the RRCD program. Let's hope that they are still training new researchers when you graduate. However, if you really want to do research later on, important things to consider now would be connections connections and connections. Make connections with the research faculty in your department/ college/ school. Assist someone in their research, which sounds like you are/will be doing. Another important aspect: conferences. Try to write an abstract and find funding to attend a conference if possible. Get your study published/ work as a coauthor to facilitate publications. If you are really serious about it, and if your program/ advisor supports it try to write a small grant or fellowship application. That would give you an idea of the life of a PI who has to get funded! Sorry I gave way too many suggestions even when you didnt ask for any. Good luck!

 

[NarukJa]

Thanks for the reply!

I decided to go to a school that has research integrated into the program, so my original concern isn't as immediate. I want research to be part of my career at some point, and I didn't want to miss out on getting experience early on. The RRCD program is really interesting, and I've saved the link for the future! Thanks again.

I'm really glad I found this post because I'm interested in the same. I'm a non-trad pre-DPT. I have my MPH & concentrated in epidemiology. I've been working on a few studies so I like research, but I just don't want it to be 100% of my job function. I'm looking for schools that share a similar view of clinical and research studies. Can you share what you've found?