research tech for gap year

[Bodysurfer]

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Hi all

I am going to take 2 years off between undergrad and med school. I have a lot of research experience in my undergrad and was hoping to get a job as a lab/research tech during that gap year. I've heard that its best to cold email PIs. Is this true?

Also for those of you who were lab techs, how did you like it?

Thanks!

 

[aishtr1295]

I would recommend using your gap time to buff up your application. If you already have a lot of research experience, why don't you use this time to explore other areas?

 

[nemo123]

Yes, I know of some people who got their gap year jobs by emailing PIs. That being said, be sure to take a job offer from a PI who is supportive of you going to interviews. My PI hates it whenever I needed to leave work for interviews, and my PI was pretty much in a bad mood all the time for the first two months that I was traveling...

If you have a lot of research experience, I'm sure you've work a full summer in a lab. It's the same as that.

 

[ponyo]

Yes, I know of some people who got their gap year jobs by emailing PIs. That being said, be sure to take a job offer from a PI who is supportive of you going to interviews. My PIs hates it whenever I needed to leave work for interviews, and my PI was pretty much in a bad mood all the time for the firs two months that I was traveling...

If you have a lot of research experience, I'm sure you've work a full summer in a lab. It's the same as that.

I agree with this. I think it's good to make your intentions clear, particularly if you're expecting a LoR from that PI.

Also, I've never personally been a lab tech but have worked with several. It's not an easy job and it can get very, very tedious, partially because you may not feel like you have full ownership of the work. Would one of your old PIs be able to call upon their connections to get you a job where you might have your own project?

Another idea is veering a bit from academia and into industry. Being an industry lab tech is just as tedious, but at least you get paid more. If you're one at a small biotech you might be asked to take on more responsibility and it might be more fun too.

 

[histidine]

If you're taking two years off and want to be a tech, definitely strive for industry. You'll get paid more and it'll be a good a slightly more unique experience. It may be a bit tougher to take time off for interviews though, but I'd imagine it'd be manageable. You can use sick leave and save your time off during the first year.

Consider something like the NIH IRTA Fellowship if you want more a in-depth research experience. It's competitive to get into, and you'd have to start applying/emailing PIs now.

 

[phunky]

I disagree with people saying to go for Industry. Look for an RA job at a teaching hospital.

There are usually tons of openings (although they are quite competitive). If you have good research experience, then you should be able to find something with enough effort. These positions are great, because they are oriented towards people who are taking some time off between undergrad and grad school (primarily medical school). PIs will go out of their way to get you experiences that will make you a strong applicant, because they are medical professors themselves. They want to advance the next generation.

Also, RAs typically have a lot more intellectual freedom in their work than Lab Techs. You're a member of the research team. You help design studies and figure out ways to approach new problems, whereas a lab tech will be told exactly what they need to do.

 

[engineer16]

I disagree with people saying to go for Industry. Look for an RA job at a teaching hospital.

There are usually tons of openings (although they are quite competitive). If you have good research experience, then you should be able to find something with enough effort. These positions are great, because they are oriented towards people who are taking some time off between undergrad and grad school (primarily medical school). PIs will go out of their way to get you experiences that will make you a strong applicant, because they are medical professors themselves. They want to advance the next generation.

Also, RAs typically have a lot more intellectual freedom in their work than Lab Techs. You're a member of the research team. You help design studies and figure out ways to approach new problems, whereas a lab tech will be told exactly what they need to do.

I agree with phunky. I have spent the last 2 years as a research assistant and you'll get exposure to a wide variety of research work. If you have the time, dedication, and the right PI you can even design your own study once you've proven yourself.

 

[Bodysurfer]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

I disagree with people saying to go for Industry. Look for an RA job at a teaching hospital.

There are usually tons of openings (although they are quite competitive). If you have good research experience, then you should be able to find something with enough effort. These positions are great, because they are oriented towards people who are taking some time off between undergrad and grad school (primarily medical school). PIs will go out of their way to get you experiences that will make you a strong applicant, because they are medical professors themselves. They want to advance the next generation.

Also, RAs typically have a lot more intellectual freedom in their work than Lab Techs. You're a member of the research team. You help design studies and figure out ways to approach new problems, whereas a lab tech will be told exactly what they need to do.

This was actually my plan: get a job at a teaching hospital in a major city doing something related to cell or cancer biology (my previous research experience is in leukemia and DNA repair, wouldn't mind something similar to the latter, although induced pluripotent stem cells really interest me too)