<p>I am currently a biology/pre-med major. I am a sophmore at a community college, and soon I will be transferring.</p>
<p>I am having a little bit of a dilemma. I have always loved research and science, and my ultimate goal is to do research. I am specifically interested in biomedical research. I always assumed that you would need an M.D. to do this. But, now I have heard other things. For someone interested mainly in research and perhaps teaching in the college setting, which would be better - M.D. or Phd in biology? Are there certain advantages and/or disadvantages for either path?</p>
<p>I would greatly appreciate any comments because I really need to make a decision soon. Thank you in advance!</p>
<p>I am primarily interested in research. Could I do research with just an MD? Or, would I need to pursue a Phd afterwards? </p>
<p>@MiamiDAP: Yes, I have also heard of MD/Phd programs. But, to my understanding, they are extremely difficult to get into (even more than MD programs!). So, I am not counting on that option.</p>
<p>My biology professor has told me that getting a job in a lab can be really difficult, and that most have been hard hit for funding in the past few years. Also, I am interested in teaching at the collegiate level. He has told me that getting a position as a professor can be very difficult, and that many people spend their entire lives working to get into such a position. He has personally recommended that I pursue the M.D., and that I might be able to do research (if I want), but if that opportunity doesn’t exist then I should still be able to work as a physician. Any thoughts on this? Is it possible to do research as an M.D.?</p>
<p>It is definitely possible to do research as an MD. I have heard of MDs going into postdocs after medical school but they would be making much, much less than an MD who has gone through a residency. There are plenty of MDs (who have gone though residency) who do research in addition to clinical work, in academia.</p>