Would you accept this research position?

[DoctorWannaBe]

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I have graduated from college and am looking for work now (hopefully something in a hospital that will use my EMT certification). I also found out about a clinical research position, but they are only willing to take me as a volunteer. As a volunteer it sounds like I would only be allowed to do paperwork stuff (scanning documents, putting together surveys), but if I was a student they would train me to participate in the research sessions if I would make a large time committment. I am applying to medical school this year with no research experience and have no acceptances yet, so I wanted to do this research in case I have to reapply. However, since I would only be doing paperwork, would medical schools even care about this and would they consider it research? Is it worth the risk of not being able to get a paying job just so I can volunteer to do paperwork?

 

[duncanfj]

No, I don't think med schools would look as this as research experience. You may be able to spin how you describe it, but I would hold out for a paying job.

 

[Energon]

There are 2 things you can do:
1. Start volunteering and then "win em over" with your work ethic so that you take on more responsibilities for pay or more importantly name on publication

2. Look for a research associate position which pays.

Look into university programs as well as hospital residency programs.

best of luck

 

[quideam]

DoctorWannaBe,

I was in a similar situation as you a few years ago. I got a volunteer position doing trauma surgery research the summer after my freshman year. The research essentially envolved endless hours of looking over patient charts and inputing various data into a database for the project. Even though my job wasn't overly 'important' or 'impressive', whenever I was asked about it at an interview, I described it as being a research assistant for a diaphragm injury study in trauma surgery - which is true, and sounds good.

Plus, I got invited back for a paid position the following summer.

Don't discount the experience - you'll get some clinical experience (even if it's just observing), you'll be doing clinical research (you can make it sound really good if you spin it correctly), and if you do a good job, you can get a great letter of recommendation out of it, possibly from a high-ranking doc, which will go a long way.

Good luck!

- Quid