Should I stay in my lab or apply for a clinical research coordinator job?

[deleted1038508]

I'm a senior applying the coming cycle, so I'm looking for things to do during my gap year. I've worked for the past 2 years in a wet lab at my undergrad, where I've accumulated a couple thousand hours of solid experience, a couple co-publications, strong LOR, etc.

The easiest thing to do would be to stay in my current lab and project this as a 3 year experience on my apps. Or, I could apply for a clinical research coordinator job at my school's hospital, which interestingly is in the exact same research area (vision impairments) as my lab. Here's the job description:



I have about 450 hours of volunteer service, 275 of which are clinical and 175 of which are nonclinical. Other than these (and about 70 hours of shadowing experience), I don't have any other clinical exposure. Do you think this clinical research coordinator job would be smart to apply to? Or should I stay in my lab and continue doing service activities on the side?

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[star-lily]

CRC jobs overwhelmingly want people who will stay for 2 years. It might be possible that they'd allow for 1 year since your current work is so similar, but I wouldn't bet on it.

 

[LizzyM]

Should I stay in my lab or apply for a clinical research coordinator job?

How much do you love paperwork? Clinical research has a ton of regulatory paperwork, particularly if the research is under the purview of the FDA.

 

[deleted1038508]

How much do you love paperwork? Clinical research has a ton of regulatory paperwork, particularly if the research is under the purview of the FDA.

Since being a physician oftentimes involves heavy amounts of paperwork, I think this would be a great way to gain experience, practice, and familiarity with the landscape! I also hope to be involved in clinical trials one day, so I figured I should get used to the jargon and paperwork.

 

[deleted1038508]

CRC jobs overwhelmingly want people who will stay for 2 years. It might be possible that they'd allow for 1 year since your current work is so similar, but I wouldn't bet on it.

Damn, I will reach out to them and see what the job timespan looks like. Thanks!

 

[Reanimated Reapplicant]

I was in a very similar position that you were in but applied with only my copious amount of wet lab experience and got 0 interviews. After a year and a half of CRC work, I got 6. If you have any holes in your app related to clinical experience, it's a good way of filling them.

 

[deleted1038508]

I was in a very similar position that you were in but applied with only my copious amount of wet lab experience and got 0 interviews. After a year and a half of CRC work, I got 6. If you have any holes in your app related to clinical experience, it's a good way of filling them.

I do have 275 hours of clinical volunteering, so I'd hope this isn't a "hole" in my app? I do agree that a CRC would be the best exposure, though.