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Getting back into the field

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(@kevinpkirschgmail-com)
New Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 2
Topic starter  

Have a microbiology BS but havent been working in a lab for a few years. What's the best way to get back?


   
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Dick Woodward
(@dick-woodward)
Member Registered
Joined: 5 years ago
Posts: 104
 

What have you been doing and what do you want to do?

 


   
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(@kevinpkirschgmail-com)
New Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 2
Topic starter  

I have been doing programming and website management. I want to get back into bench work, either as research scientist in academia or at a pharmaceutical company.


   
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DX
 DX
(@dx)
Estimable Member
Joined: 5 years ago
Posts: 223
 

Seems like you're just at the beginning stages of your inquiry based on scattered environs to make your transition and I'll take assumption at this moment you have unclarity of your career ambitions with the move.

Very little description of current state does not help.  For success in any career be descriptive in stating a problem, in this case your current ambition, and what a solution can look like, in your case, "I want in next 2 years to ...and 5 year horizon to see me..."

Nonetheless, as you've been out of the field, we don't know your level of lab experience prior to you current job in programming/website development, I would see your only chance to access the lab bench again (for what ever motive you've left unclear) would be to explore academia first.   No company will take you without direct prior hands-on lab experience if private sector is your ambition, I'd probably same for govt. 

Academia can be more tolerant as hands are always needed.  One can find a PI who may be open to your desire provided you look at the right job and bring some value. 

A bench position in academia you can look at is a lab manager, usually lab technician level, you'll work in some PIs lab where your first responsibility would be lab management, i.e. ordering equipment an supplies, maintaining lab equipment and spaces, monitoring the budget, ensuring the lab is organized (i.e. freezer, strorage) and usually you may get a very small project supporting a someones' research project.   You can sell your organizational skills from your current role as the first and primary part of your responsibility for managing a lab.  It may not be easy to find such PI but you can find them, it may just take time and some pounding of pavement.  Be clear on your objectives. Start making calls.    

DX

This post was modified 4 years ago by DX

   
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 PG
(@per-grufmancepheid-se)
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Joined: 5 years ago
Posts: 86
 

If you can find something at which your in between activity can add value that would be an advantage especially if you have been out of the lab for a longer time ie if you can find someone who wants a bench scientist but that see that you can fulfill an additional need in prgoramming or updating a website.

If you have only been our of the lab for a shorter period of time maybe 2-3 years (depending on what you mean with a few) and can say that you tried something else but that you miss doing lab work that can be a good argument. If you on the other hand have been out for something like 5 years its going to be a hard sell. 


   
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