vaccine research?

[mike_01_01_01]

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2 unusual questions -
1) how does one get into vaccine/medical research (eg researching HIV or malaria)? molecular bio grad school? virology? microbiology? (MD only if necessary. but probably just PhD)
2) how can I get into said grad school with a very limited bio/chem background? -- take classes how? a 2nd BA? non-degree classes at extension school (eg Harvard?)? post-bac program?

Here's the unusual background story - I'm 24 and getting a Masters in physics from a good program. I've got very good undergrad/grad GPA's, but sadly my undergrad degree was in economics. I've finally figured out that I'd like to do vaccine research or maybe chemistry research. (by vaccines, I mean research on real diseases like malaria and AIDS, and NOT the so-called epidemics according to big pharmo like 'female sexual dysfunction disorder.') I've got no research experience to speak of and just one year of chemistry classes.

Thanks for reading this and for your time. Very much appreciated.

Mike

 

[nuclearrabbit77]

well, ph.d. programs for those fields will probably have pre-requisite coursework that they will expect you to take in order to be eligible. so first off, you'll have to fulfill those requirements, which i assume would entail taking some biology, g. chem, o.chem, biochem, etc. i would take a look at some websites for various programs to see what exactly it would take to get in. you will have probably have to take a GRE subject test as well, so again, it sounds like you are going to need to take more classes.

Infectious Diseases is a subspecialty that this field would fall into if you were to pursue this in an M.D. program. again, on this route, you'd have to take the prerequisite coursework established by AMCAS, and take the MCAT.

good luck.
what you might be able to do with your physics background is apply to some multidisciplinary programs that take people of variety of backgrounds....especially in fields like computational chemistry/biology, bioinformatics, biophysics, etc. these programs often take people with math, cs, physics, engineering backgrounds who can bring some computational/math rigor to biology. these are definetly cool fields.
if you are interested in biomedical research, i'd take this avenue if i were you since you would be able to apply things that you have learned already.
i bet you'd be able to get away with just taking a small amount of additional coursework. you might be able to take the courses that you lack during your first year as a ph.d, and not take classes that you are already strong in (math, CS, physics, etc.)

 

[Dodohead]

Hey Mike...

To add to nuclearrabbit's post, I would also suggest looking into some bioengineering programs (thats what I am in right now). I majored in Chemical Engineering undergrad, with very little bio background (1 year intro bio and a semester of biochem). I went into bioengineering b/c I wanted to do medical engineering. Anyway, the program I am in is incredibly flexible (we have no core classes) and so I was able to make up for all of my bio coursework in the first 2 years here. Given, it isn't easy... taking grad level Cell Bio with all of the Pharmacology and Moeclular Biologies PhD students was a challenge, given that I had to memorize a lot of stuff that other people already knew by heart... but, it is definitely do-able.

The other thing that makes a bioengineering degree great is its versatility as far as where the students are drawn from. We've got 2 chemistry undergrad majors, a business undergrad major, a bio undergrad major and 2 chemical engineering undergrad majors working in my lab right now, all on their bioengineering masters or PhDs. A lot of labs like to keep a diverse group of individuals with different backgrounds so that all aspects of a system can be considered.

I would also second nuclearrabbit's comment that you should play to your strengths. Most admissions committee folks that you meet with with stress that anyway. If you totally switch directions, you will likely get asked, "How do you plan on incorporating your physics degree?" anyway.

Finally, a note on the GRE comment. Depending on what type of program you apply to, you may not even need extra courses for the GRE. There are two types of GRE tests - the general GRE (which all grad programs require) and the subject GREs (which not all grad programs require). None of the schools I applied to for bioengineering required any of the subject GREs. Most engineering programs do not. However, the bio PhD programs most likely will... in which case you will need to get those classes taken to do well on the GRE. But if you apply to a school that doesn't require any subject GREs, I wouldn't sweat taking the general test. Its basically like the SAT, except with an analytical section (logic games) thrown in. The math (may) be (a little, maybe) harder. But not too much. Get yourself a prep book, take some practice tests, and you will be fine.

Anyway, for the record, I did vaccine research for a pharm company as an undergrad with my chemical engineering degree, so there are many ways to skin a cat 😎

Good luck with whatever you decide. Let me know if I can help you out any more. Sorry if I sound like I'm trying to sell you on my field 🙂

 

[mike_01_01_01]

Thanks guys for your advice. Comments -

nuclearrabbit -- I think your biophysics idea is a very good one. But can one move into vaccine research from there? that seems to vary from school to school - at Harvard, definitely; at Berkeley no, not really (I just picked a couple arbitrary schools)

Dodohead -- bioengineering looks like they want lots of bio experience or engineering experience, of which i sadly have neither. As an example, this is from the Berkeley bioengineering admissions site: "Appropriate academic preparation includes a two-year college mathematics sequence, including calculus and differential equations, and a one-year sequence in physics and chemistry, plus extensive upper-division work in either engineering or biology" -- (BTW - I have taken the general GRE (and done well) and would love to avoid any subject test, as you propose!) I'm glad to hear that it's possible to catch up in biology as you are, I was worried about that.

I was really hoping to get out of physics by september, but that doesn't look possible. It's getting late already in the admissions process. and I need bio/chem coursework and research experience. I guess the best option is to stick it out here for another year 🙁 , take orgo and bio and get research experience, then apply next year to biophysics programs with an MA in physics from here.

You know, I could be at Cornell right now doing biophysics there in the physics PhD program, but I idiotically turned them down two years ago 😱 ..I've been beating myself up about that for a year. oh well, just have to keep moving. i was actually going to apply to one biophysics program but it's hard to ask people here for letters of recommendation, because I suspect they'll say "why do you want to leave our program? we have (lousy) biophysics options here!". but I guess it's better to ask them now than later. i really should just go ask them. thanks for your advice guys, if you have any more tips i'd definitely appreciate them!

 

[exigente chica]

Originally posted by Dodohead
Hey Mike...

Its basically like the SAT, except with an analytical section (logic games) thrown in. The math (may) be (a little, maybe) harder. But not too much. Get yourself a prep book, take some practice tests, and you will be fine.

That's sounds about right except that now there is NO longer the analtical section, it has been replaced with the writting section..2 essays..one 45 min and one 30 min...

Good luck