<p>I am graduating this year with a microbiology degree. I want to work in either virology or biochemistry and eventually to go to graduate school.</p>
<p>What is the best way to find a lab tech position with professors at a university?</p>
<p>Use the professors you have contacts with in your university. Ask them if they know anyone who might be looking for a tech, at your university or elsewhere; if you were even a decent student I have found they will bend over backwards to help you. Other than that, just put out a lot of resumes. My lab is beginning to look for techs now because “the best candidates get their resumes out now so they already have a job by May or June when they graduate” according to my boss.</p>
<p>Don’t worry so much if the place you end up going is not in the field you want to go to grad school for. I work in a Cancer biology lab and got into some of the very top immuno programs nonetheless. The schools I met with stressed to me that they felt having fulltime work experience in a lab setting was more valuable to them than where I did it.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>but where do I post my resume? Is there some kind of website or database?</p>
<p>Unfortunately, most research positions aren’t posted at places like Monster.com or Craigslist.org or Careerbuilder, so your search will require some effort. When I was looking for research jobs last summer this is what I did…</p>
<ol>
<li>Make a list of the cities that you wouldn’t mind living in.</li>
<li>Find all the universities and hospitals located within that city.</li>
<li>Go to the websites of said universities/hospitals and located the “Employment” or “Careers” page.</li>
<li>Most universities/hospitals have a database that list their open positions and allows you to apply to the positions through their database. So you’ll create a profile, which pretty much includes most of the information from your CV. They will also allow you to upload your CV and cover letter(s).</li>
<li>Once you find a position or more that you’re interested in, you can apply now that you have created a profile. Most positions will ask for supplementary documents such as a CV, cover letter, and sometimes letters of recommendation. The downside to this system is that there is usually only a very limited amount of information given about the position. You might not know the PI’s name or anything other than that the position is in a “Biochemistry Lab”. They’re pretty vague.</li>
<li>Some universities/hospitals are a little “old school”, and rely on you directly emailing your CV and cover letter to the PIs. These places would have a similar database of their open positions that would then list the necessary contact information and the require documents for application. To be honest, these types of listings are VERY beneficial for you because you are submitting your application to a real person as opposed to an HR database. So you are able to follow up with your application if necessary. </li>
</ol>
<p>Remember to follow up with applications if you haven’t heard back after a week or two. Show that you’re interested. Many positions will require 3 references, though they may not state that initially, so confirm that your references will be ok with speaking on your behalf before you start applying. Also keep in mind that with each position you apply to, there may be 100’s of other applicants, so do everything possible to make your CV and cover letter “pop”; be able to really sell your self if given an interview. Don’t be discouraged if it takes more than 3 months to get a position, because that’s normal. </p>
<p>If you have some cities in mind where you are looking for work, post them here and I’m sure we can all give you a few places to start looking. Like the previous poster said, it’s also a good idea to start with your professors. They will most likely have collaborators that have openings in their labs. </p>
<p>If you have anymore questions, let me know! Good luck with your search.</p>