To those of you doing lab research...

[rambo]

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Do you get paid hourly, by a stipend, or are you just doing it as an EC for experience?

Also, I'm relocating and trying to get into clinical research and was wondering how to approach that. I've get some bench research under my belt, and I would really like to get into it. There's no med school attached to the undergrad I'll be transferring to, although there are a lot of hospitals around. Any ideas?

 

[dr.z]

Do you get paid hourly, by a stipend, or are you just doing it as an EC for experience?

Also, I'm relocating and trying to get into clinical research and was wondering how to approach that. I've get some bench research under my belt, and I would really like to get into it. There's no med school attached to the undergrad I'll be transferring to, although there are a lot of hospitals around. Any ideas?

When I was an undergrad, I was involved in clinical research. I didn't get paid for it. Currently I am a grad student, and I get paid by a stipend.

My undergrad was a liberal arts school so there was no connection with medical school. I was reffered to one of my friends about the research program. Try looking into web site for the hospitals near you (if they have one), and if they have research, contact the investigators by e-mail.

 

[twicetenturns]

I'm a salaried research tech (fish pimp). The hospital I work for also paid a stipend for continuing education, so my post-bac got paid for. Not a bad deal.

 

[Fermata]

Get credit hours for it during semester.

In the summertime you get paid(minumum wage).

 

[BOBODR]

There are a number of ways to do research. I have done it during the smester for credit (a year in a medical school neuro department), you can receieve a fellowship to do it as I recieved one summer for undergrad research, or you can get a job as I have done for the past year in Rheumatology within a medical school. They all have benefits but be careful about the credit sometimes they require you to write a long paper on it.. mine wound up being 23 pages just for 2 credits!

 

[Fermata]

There are a number of ways to do research. I have done it during the smester for credit (a year in a medical school neuro department), you can receieve a fellowship to do it as I recieved one summer for undergrad research, or you can get a job as I have done for the past year in Rheumatology within a medical school. They all have benefits but be careful about the credit sometimes they require you to write a long paper on it.. mine wound up being 23 pages just for 2 credits!

Of course when you write up something and it gets submitted = $$$$$. 😀

 

[BGGA]

My first semester of bench top research I was a volunteer lab aid. For the subsequent 4 semesters I took it for college credit (3-4). For two summers I was a summer research fellow at another school and was paid with a decent stipend. Currently I am a research technician and am paid... if you can call it that 😳

As far as your clinical research interest I would suggest finding out of any positions from the hospital websites or the HR department. Depending on the reception you get, you could consider starting off as a volunteer and work your way up from there.

Good Luck.

 

[girlscallmepogi]

What do you guys do in the research lab?

I read the mdapplicants' profiles and a lot of them publish. Do they mean the scientists they assisted published?

Thanks.

 

[KiKat37]

I had a fellowship when I was an undergrad. Now that I'm a grad. student, I get paid monthly (salary).

 

[nicholonious]

Do you get paid hourly, by a stipend, or are you just doing it as an EC for experience?

Also, I'm relocating and trying to get into clinical research and was wondering how to approach that. I've get some bench research under my belt, and I would really like to get into it. There's no med school attached to the undergrad I'll be transferring to, although there are a lot of hospitals around. Any ideas?

Hey Rambo,

When I was an undergrad, I spent three quarters working/learning at a genetics lab. For my PI, the first two quarters were volunteer/training. Afterward, we got paid student minimum wage, which in California is about 7.50/hr. Not bad for some good ol' gels and rna extracts.

At your Pre-med/bio sci center, is there a catalog book listing all of the openings for clinical/lab internships and jobs? Usually schools have a binder like this that shows all of the positions available and in what department and with whatever experience is necessary along with what experience you might gain.

Try doing the hospital thing, just stay clear of any job listing with the heading "ER volunteer - candy striper needed immediately!"

 

[Thundrstorm]

My research has been just for the experience for a year and a half, and now I'm getting credit for it (8 credits total this year), but that includes a weekly seminar and a 50 page thesis, plus presenting at a regional conference. At my school, the only paid research is in the physics department.

 

[stoic]

I've been doing research for about 2.5 years. At first, I volunteered my time. This turned into a tech position that pays an hourly wage. However, a couple of semesters I've forgone the wage to take research credit hours.

 

[UCLAstudent]

All of my research has been "volunteer." No credits or $$$$ for me! (Although I could use both at this point ... 😉 )

 

[Caesars0331]

I am involved in my college's "work-study" progam, a branch of the financial aid office. Basically, you are give X amount of dollars a semester, I you can find a full time faculty member who decides to take you in, so to speak. Its a good deal to both yourself and the PI, as the PI doesnt have to dig into his funds to pay you, and this money is renewable every semester.

 

[stoic]

I am involved in my college's "work-study" progam, a branch of the financial aid office. Basically, you are give X amount of dollars a semester, I you can find a full time faculty member who decides to take you in, so to speak. Its a good deal to both yourself and the PI, as the PI doesnt have to dig into his funds to pay you, and this money is renewable every semester.

Wow. That is a great deal for both of you. It's so good I'm gonna tell my PI about it.

 

[StartingLine3]

I work in a molecular biology research laboratory at my university. I have an awesome professor: I get paid a nice stipend each semester for a fellowship with him, he pays me hourly as a research assistant, and he gives me two hours of senior level credit each semester without having to produce a paper. It is really nice being paid double and gaining credit at the ame time. The only bad thing is that the research that I am working on will not be ready to be published until after I have applied to medical school.

 

[jeffsleepy]

12 bucks an hour. However, it's more programming based than lab work. My PI asked me if I wanted units and when I said no he offered me money instead. Good deal.

 

[acidhouse303]

i work at mt sinai neurosci its part of my grad schl thing so they pay me big bucks and im writing my thesis with them, so its a salary type of deal which rocks bc i get paid even when im not there and im late all the time yay! 😀

 

[faith100]

I do neuroscience research - first two years paid by stipend. This year getting credit toward my degree = no pay.

I agree with what has been said, email investigators at nearby hospital. If you send a resume, make sure it clearly has the relevant info and I think it's best to keep it to one page...time is precious

 

[faradayampere]

I volunteer to do research in ochem lab .... can use for credits though, but I don't want to

 

[sidewalkman]

Wow. That is a great deal for both of you. It's so good I'm gonna tell my PI about it.

Damn straight. When I was on work study, I learned that the PI only pays 10-25% of the salary of a work study student, so as far as the PI is concerned, they're essentially getting slave labor. The student is still getting full wages, though. This is why many PIs I run into ONLY hire either work-study students or volunteers. This is why every student should beg and plead with their finaid office to get work-study.

 

[rambo]

Damn straight. When I was on work study, I learned that the PI only pays 10-25% of the salary of a work study student, so as far as the PI is concerned, they're essentially getting slave labor. The student is still getting full wages, though. This is why many PIs I run into ONLY hire either work-study students or volunteers. This is why every student should beg and plead with their finaid office to get work-study.

Those are sweet deals, it sounds like. It's a shame there's no way to get the finaid office to foot the bill for outside research as well.