Would it be smart to do a post bac just for extra research experience?

[reese07]

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I want to get more research experience and for right now I'm hoping I get a position at the NIH as an IRTA. But if all that fails, would it be practical to do a year long post bac mainly to get better research experience?

 

[Cytotoxic]

No. If the IRTA falls through, get a tech position in which you'll have an independent project.

 

[jerrywheat]

No. If the IRTA falls through, get a tech position in which you'll have an independent project.

Is there a better chance of becoming a lab tech than being an IRTA?

 

[bd4727]

Is there a better chance of becoming a lab tech than being an IRTA?

No, this distinction is not purely academic at NIH. If you are an IRTA, then you are a trainee and therefore are paid out of a different pile of money. If you are a lab tech, you are hired by the federal government (or more often you contract with the gov't through a 3rd party company) and therefore get paid more, get benefits, and are allocated money from a different pot. They are not interchangeable.