What, in your opinion, is a very appropriate and logical way for a non-science major who graduated several years ago to learn about, and get started in research? Clinical trial based research is the student's first choice to learn about. Other than personal interest, goal is to have something to show MD admissions along the lines of research. Student lives in Boston where there are A LOT of hospitals where research is done and A LOT of universities.
What is the most appropriate way to get started in research? (non-science major, non-student)
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If the student is not enrolled in classes, it makes it a bit more difficult to access researchers/professors. I would suggest having the student research the various labs and PIs to identify the ones that interest him/her, learn about the topic, and then try to make contact and see if there is any way to volunteer. Many labs will appreciate the help if it can come with a time commitment of a year or more. Each lab is different, in some, volunteers can help conduct research, in others, volunteers clean up messes and organize things. The key will be for the student to not get discouraged if the answer is no (or if there isn't a reply). While Boston has a lot of universities/hospitals, it also has a significant number of students at the university level to fill volunteer roles.
T
trev5150
Perhaps, depending on established skill sets (math, management, etc.) trying for things that have a big analysis component might be a good idea. Just like anything, it's all about how you market yourself. Play to strengths. Data crunchers are always needed.
If you're an art history major I don't know what to tell you.
If you're an art history major I don't know what to tell you.
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Get a job in a lab adjunct facility, like animal colony, or glass washing/autoclaving, and then hit up the PIs for a volunteering spot in their labs. it will help to have lab skills, like making solutions or pipetting.
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Start with volunteering at a hospital (or lab but I don't know how feasible that is). If you meet any doctors or other staff, they might be able to give better advice. If student had the time and flexibility to change jobs, apply for a job in the hospital. Hopefully any connections made through volunteering can help with the transition. Even if the first job is not a perfect match, it is a great base to start from.
If they are trying to *actually* learn more about research and have limited science background or aren't current in the latest techniques and assays, enrolling in a molecular biology class of some sort would be an important way to demonstrate legitimate interest to a PI. If they just want "Research Experience" to pad their AMCAS, please skip it. Or better yet, just spend a few days shadowing in the hospital's clinical, surg/path, or correlative labs! Medical Lab Scientists have a lot of insight which could inform the care he or she provides for patients as a future physician.
Student has experience in medical laboratories, just not in research. All med school prereqs have been taken with excellent grades, as well as, some specific courses in medical laboratory science (ex. how to pipette, how to centrifuge, how to do blood smears and blood cell counts, aspetic technique, etc.).
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Tell this student to go to the Partners Careers website (www.partners.org/careers) and apply every single day. Have a good resume/cover letter put together that shows interest in clinical research and apply for every new job that pops up (there are new research jobs posted frequently).
The pay won't be good, at all. However, it beats doing volunteer research for random professors who, for the most part, could care less about you.
