Research Opportunities during MSTP application year

[Member011]

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I submitted my AMCAS application and have been looking for research opportunities in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area for the application year.

So does anyone have any ideas of what I should do? Am I overlooking someplace? What else can I do? I've been out of undergrad for 2 years so I am ineligible for most "post-bac" programs. Would love to nail down something (even if unpaid) before I send out my secondaries.

Thanks!!

 

[volcomx]

I graduated from a small, but well-regarded, liberal arts undergrad May 2011. After graduation I split my time between work at a doctor's office and volunteering in a lab at National Cancer Institute. I then spent 2012 abroad on a prestigious research grant and have since returned, studied and took the MCAT.

I submitted my AMCAS application and have been looking for research opportunities for the application year.

I live in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area but I'm flexible about relocating/traveling if I can't find any positions close by. My former lab at NCI has no openings until next summer, University of Maryland is laying off employees, and Johns Hopkins is on a hiring freeze (and are not allowed to take volunteers for liability reasons). Georgetown and GWU are also not hiring research techs/assistants right now. ARghhh sequestration! 👎

So does anyone have any ideas of what I should do? Am I overlooking someplace? What else can I do? I've been out of undergrad for 2 years as of May, so I am ineligible for most "post-bac" programs. Would love to nail down something (even if unpaid) before I send out my secondaries.

Thanks!!

Hopkins, Georgetown, and GWU are not on hiring freezes.

 

[TxsMed14]

Only real option is to volunteer in a lab for a few months then if you do well, ask to be paid. I worked out that with a lab in texas and working part time on the side.

Hiring a technician for less than a year is a tough sell, because of the training investment for the lab. I had a PI tell me the first thing he asked was whether an applicant was currently applying to graduate schools.

 

[Juggs Gotcha]

if you're into neuro or imaging/optics research maybe check for tech jobs here:
http://www.janelia.org/

 

[Member011]

Hopkins, Georgetown, and GWU are not on hiring freezes.

After a tentative offer at JHU they informed me they were on a hiring freeze

GW hasn't had any positions posted in research lately. All the labs I contacted at Georgetown are not taking anyone new.

 

[Fencer]

Good luck! The position this year is not as important... It is more important what you have accomplished up to this point.