To those with PhD

[Petypet]

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I had a question to those that have previous professional experiences, probably most relevant for the PhD's. What did you do your first summer? I have a PhD in biochemistry and am having a heck of a time trying to find a job that isn't just manual labor. Most research internships don't want my experience, and a lot of the clinical stuff doesn't pay. I only need about $2000 for rent/food for 3 months, but what are my options? Right now its looking like volunteer for 10-20 hours/week and manual labor at a golf course for another 20.

 

[TriagePreMed]

Have you tried teaching a course at a community college? Many times they have summer adjunct appointments.

 

[Petypet]

Ya, I've briefly looked, but my med school schedule doesn't line up with many of the colleges around the area. Good thought though, maybe I can probe this a little more. thanks

 

[WhittyPsyche]

I don't have similar experiences by any means but I did have a professor last semester who said prior to in person teaching he worked day time in biomedical engineering and taught classes through an accredited online school as an adjunct professor. Just thought maybe looking into good non-traditional schools in your area would be a good option as it may minimally disrupt your schedule. Plus, many of these schools have condensed semesters so you wouldn't necessarily be busy all through your semester!

Good Luck!

 

[QofQuimica]

I had a question to those that have previous professional experiences, probably most relevant for the PhD's. What did you do your first summer? I have a PhD in biochemistry and am having a heck of a time trying to find a job that isn't just manual labor. Most research internships don't want my experience, and a lot of the clinical stuff doesn't pay. I only need about $2000 for rent/food for 3 months, but what are my options? Right now its looking like volunteer for 10-20 hours/week and manual labor at a golf course for another 20.

I did clinical research. It's probably too late to apply for them now that it's March, but there are tons of summer research fellowships for med students that people can apply for as first year med students. Probably every specialty society offers these fellowships. Those of you who are rising first years should seriously consider applying for research fellowships this fall.

In my case, it was well worth it. I got paid $4000 for the summer; I was able to put the research award on my CV and attend a national conference for free; and I just found out this week that the research I helped with has been accepted to a prestigious journal in that specialty. As a bonus, I can also use this paper as my scholarly project for residency, even though it's not in the specialty I ultimately went into. Win-win all around.

 

[Prettypuff1]

I am in your position.. I walked away from the PhD and have a masters.. I am going for straight easy clinical research at a hospital that will kill two birds with one stone. It will allow me to get some experience with clinical research and will allow me to interact with physicians and talk with them.

 

[QofQuimica]

I am in your position.. I walked away from the PhD and have a masters.. I am going for straight easy clinical research at a hospital that will kill two birds with one stone. It will allow me to get some experience with clinical research and will allow me to interact with physicians and talk with them.

Just to be clear: I do have a PhD. Part of what pety is asking is what do you do when you're overqualified to be someone's lab tech because you have a PhD. And my answer to first year med students like him/her is that you work as a clinical research tech, or in some other relevant research that is not in your PhD field. If you start planning for this early enough, then you should apply for a specialty fellowship, in any specialty. That will guarantee that you do get paid for working in clinical research.

 

[Petypet]

Ya exactly, Q. I am over qualified for any basic research, and I am now finding that out as my research applications trickle in. I have had 3 in the last 2 weeks say, we love your resume but this scholarship opportunity exists for those focused on getting introduced to research (IE phd/MD are exempt). This was probably lack of diligence on my part, but none of the scholarships had "restrictions" when I was applying so I was banking on getting one just due to my PhD.

That said, I applied for several clinical research experiences but none are paid. Columbus Ohio has so many medical students from all around the state that are willing to volunteer, no position offers anything more than $1000 for the summer.

 

[JoAyi]

Just to be clear: I do have a PhD. Part of what pety is asking is what do you do when you're overqualified to be someone's lab tech because you have a PhD. And my answer to first year med students like him/her is that you work as a clinical research tech, or in some other relevant research that is not in your PhD field. If you start planning for this early enough, then you should apply for a specialty fellowship, in any specialty. That will guarantee that you do get paid for working in clinical research.

Hi QofQuimica

How early would you recommend? In the beginning of MS1 or even prior to matriculation? There are several teaching/research hospitals in my area that I am interested in getting involved to gain experience in clinical research during summer break, but I am not sure when I should contact these labs....I am now MS-0.
Thanks.

 

[QofQuimica]

Hi QofQuimica

How early would you recommend? In the beginning of MS1 or even prior to matriculation? There are several teaching/research hospitals in my area that I am interested in getting involved to gain experience in clinical research during summer break, but I am not sure when I should contact these labs....I am now MS-0.
Thanks.

I seem to recall the deadlines being around Christmas time. So you should be ok if you start thinking about summer programs in the fall. I definitely wouldn't start looking prior to matriculation; your student affairs office will be able to help you find appropriate fellowship programs much more efficiently than what you'd be able to do on your own. You can also ask upperclassmen what fellowships they did.

 

[ChemMed]

My first year summer break I went back to the lab where I was a Post-Doc and set up a few protocols for some graduate students. If you have connections ask about side jobs that you are qualified for that they may need your help with. As for the rest Q is pretty on the spot. Best of luck. Cheers.

 

[Petypet]

Thanks for the suggestions. I plan on volunteering either at my post doc lab or in clinical research, just a shame that it won't be paid.

Retrospectively, for those that are interested, I wish I would've been more proactive around November/December, since a lot of the deadlines are Jan-March. Most things required transcripts and LoRs and those take time. I was too focused and confident in getting a bench research position, and I never even considered clinical research until now.