What exactly do I do if I can't find a research tech job for my app year?

[Beaverfan]

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Hi all,

I am applying MD-PhD this cycle, and am currently looking for lab tech position. I have extensive research experience and have gotten verbal commitments from many labs, but cannot seem to clear HR at any due to budget cuts / hiring freezes - I have had 3 jobs fall through in the last several months. My question, then, is whether or not this will be viewed poorly by ADCOMS? I have typically heard that not doing research during a gap year can be fatal, and have been trying my best to find a position, but the current situation is absolutely brutal. Most of the institutions that have several labs I am interested in are not accepting new hires at the moment.

 

[SurfingDoctor]

Hard to imagine being faulted when the current administration is trying to burn science to the ground.

 

[Big Time Hoosier]

Hard to imagine being faulted when the current administration is trying to burn science to the ground.

Maybe if “the science” had been a better steward of tax payer money it wouldn’t be in this predicament.

Also, if “the science” wouldn’t create another novel virus that causes millions of deaths and trillions of dollars in economic damage, that would be great…

Big Hoss

(Seriously though, the scientific and medical communities fully own the broad erosion of confidence from the public. It’s going to take a long time to rebuild that trust.)

 

[SurfingDoctor]

Maybe if “the science” had been a better steward of tax payer money it wouldn’t be in this predicament.

Also, if “the science” wouldn’t create another novel virus that causes millions of deaths and trillions of dollars in economic damage, that would be great…

Big Hoss

(Seriously though, the scientific and medical communities fully own the broad erosion of confidence from the public. It’s going to take a long time to rebuild that trust.)

Ha... riiiiight.

"I'm just asking questions" and "I did my own research" are my favorite phrases in the Google medical advice phase of humanity.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

In a little more serious light, there's not much one can do in this current environment. Look for opportunities in Canada, Australia/New Zealand, Europe, or Asia. Many US medical schools have some branded programs outside the US.

Summer Undergraduate Research Program

ims.utoronto.ca

Undergraduate Opportunities

Explore the funding opportunities that DAAD offers – from a three-week summer course to internships. DAAD offers a variety of scholarships for undergraduates to study and research in Germany.

www.daad.org

Research opportunities in France and the United States

In April 2025, three events will be held for students and researchers to learn about transatlantic research support programs.

sanfrancisco.consulfrance.org

Research at Karolinska Institutet

Karolinska Institutet accounts for the single largest share of all academic medical research conducted in Sweden. The research spans the entire biomedical field – from basic experimental research to clinical studies in collaboration with the health care system. Pioneering research is conducted...

ki.se

Science Summer Research Program

This program provides students with an opportunity to engage in a formal supervised 6-week research project over the summer break period.

www.sydney.edu.au

https://www.duke-nus.edu.sg/research

(talk about research to avert the next pandemic)

Research Training Programs | Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar

qatar-weill.cornell.edu

Otherwise fall on plan B/C/D on other aspects of building your credibility for medical school. Find a clinical mentor who runs a research lab on the side with some independent/biotech/pharma/foundation funding. You might not get into a lab, but keep your feet in the clinical space.