<p>I'm a third year right now and planning to apply to mstp programs. </p>
<p>What should I work on for my resume right now to find a lab tech job after undergrad? I can imagine it'll involve things such as laboratory skills.</p>
<p>I'm working in a lab right now, what kind of skills should I try to learn in preparation for this? What would make me a competitive applicant for such a job? I may get a publication in a few months.</p>
<p>Actually, in my lab, we don't necessarily care if techs know the techniques we do -- we figure we have to train people in the way we do things anyway, so it's not necessarily helpful if they know how to do them already.</p>
<p>We interview applicants with research experience (even if it's not directly in our field), a strong GPA, strong references, and the ability to articulate why they're interested in our lab in particular (which goes along with a thoughtful understanding of science itself). During the interview, each member of the lab talks with the candidate to see if he/she is smart and hardworking. We take him/her out to lunch to see if he/she fits socially with the lab.</p>
<p>Basically, we want smart people who want to work hard and learn about science. We're willing to teach any skills they don't already have.</p>
<p>As somebody who actually has been a tech, I think I can comment. This is like any other job, preference will be given to individuals who have the best, most relevant experience. That means, if you are applying for a position that utilizes mouse models, some sort of animal research experience is important. Since you have another year or so of work in college before you will be applying, you might wanna learn as many new techniques as possible. While you could learn them on the job, not having these specific skills will make getting hired much more difficult.</p>
<p>And of course, have a good reason for the lab that you pick. Be friendly and respectful. Don't stress out too much about other stuff. I have not been asked for my GPA (outside of admissions forms for graduate school) by anybody and I have had three different professional positions in science since college. Two of my three jobs were offered before the PI spoke to my references, so I suppose you shouldn't have bad references, but a good reference may not make a difference.</p>
<p>I guess that goes to show that different labs have totally different search algorithms. :)</p>
<p>I just wish we could find more PhD- and MSTP-bound techs. All we get are MD-bound techs, and I am tired of hearing about medical school applications ad nauseam.</p>
<p>To be fair, MSTP applications typically are just medical school applications with some additional sections (typically involving an additional essay or two to write).</p>
<p>I'm still deciding between mstp and phd-only</p>
<p>question: are there lab tech positions that are offered for only one year? I've been talking to people and they generally know of 2-year contracts.</p>
<p>I'm thinking about applying right after my 4th year, but then I'll have one year of nothing to do.</p>
<p>I think it will depend on the lab.</p>
<p>Be aware that MSTP admissions committees and Ph.D. admissions committees evaluate applicants using quite different methodologies. Also, competition for MSTP slots tends to be a lot fiercer than competition for Ph.D. admission.</p>
<p>There are also many Ph.D. programs which offer some amount of medical exposure/training, so you might want to consider this option as well. HST is one avenue through which Ph.D. students may take medical courses and obtain medical experience.</p>
<p>Definitely look into the NIH Post-bac IRTA program (NIH</a> Postbaccalaureate IRTA Program). It's a one year commitment with an option to extend to a second year if you want to and your PI approves. That's what I've done the last year and a half and it's been an invaluable experience.</p>
<p>Typical lab tech jobs don't come with a specified time limit. Some universities run their budgeting on a twelve month calendar and so certain classes of employees have their appointment renewed each 12 months. If you are talking about fellowship programs you may run into a problem, but a job is a job and you quit when you need to.</p>
<p>Are there lab tech jobs for engineering students too? I might have to wait to apply to grad programs a year after finishing my B.S., and I would like get more research experience in the meantime. Or is it better to just look for industry positions seeing as I will have an EE degree?</p>
<p>Also, I am not sure if I will stay with EE or switch to physics for grad school so I don't know what kind of work I should be leaning towards.</p>