Does anyone here know how to get involved in clinical research?

Factual Questions
1

I’m a recent graduate with a BA in biochemistry and psychology. I have work experience of about a year working as a medical assistant in my student health center (checking vital signs, getting patients ready on time, doing a diverse set of errands for healthcare providers, etc.) about three months doing an E. coli expression systems and protein purification in a basic science lab, and three years as a resident advisor in the dorms at my undergrad school.

During the second semester of my senior year I did a course on clinical research at a local hospital. It included classroom sessions on ethics, methodology, biostatistics, and scientific writing, and most importantly a “lab” section in a local ER where we did patient enrollment and data collection for clinical trials.

I had a great time, and while I’m waiting for NASA to get back to be about becoming an astronaut or seeing if the president wants me to run a secret program of chimpanzees trained in the martial arts to act as extra-legal anti-terrorist ninjas, I’m confident that clinical research is something which I would like to do professionally. It’s a chance to interact with patients and healthcare providers, which I enjoy, but what also really intrigues me about clinical research is the way in which these trials can improve the care for patients everywhere in the world, not just the patients that I have direct contact with.

I’m decently smart, graduated with a 3.7, etc., and I think my work experience has taught me people-skills, communication-skills, and generally not being a screw-up skills. Unfortunately, most or all of the “clinical research associate” positions that I encounter require two years experience in clinical trial “monitoring,” which I presume means ensuring that clinical research sites are performing study procedures correctly, reporting data correctly, etc. So, given the background that I have of about 75 hours in actual clinical research plus about 2,000 hours in various primary and emergency healthcare settings, how do I get an entry-level position in clinical research?

Should I look for a spot at an academic center first, hoping that the lower pay equals a better chance of getting a position?

Should I talk to a scientific staffing company like Kforce or whoever and try to find a position through them?

Or should I send out resumes and cover letters (a technique that has generally met with failure in my personal experience)?

If anyone on The Dope works in clinical research or can offer any insights into how to find a position in clinical research, I’d appreciate it.

2

It sounds like you’d be well suited to that kind of work. Talking to a scientific staffing company absolutely can’t hurt. But if the jobs really require more experience you have, it might not actually result in a placement. Still, I’d say it’s worth the 1/2 day you’d probably invest in it.

Also, get to know the companies that do clinical trials in your area and check their websites regularly.

One thing you didn’t mention is your university’s career services. I definitely recommend getting help from them. They may have a library of company info, contact names, etc. for local companies. And companies are often more flexible in hiring recent college graduates with relevant degrees than they are in their general job advertisements. The career office can help you work that angle.

Also, I agree you may need to get your first two years’ experience in an academic setting. The pay may be lower, but you also may find some benefits to that setting, such as additional free classes.

If you are able to relocate, look into the Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, area where lots of clinical trials are done. I have occasionally seen ads here where they were willing to provide free training in clinical trials work for people who were interested (and had some basic level of qualifications, like you) when they needed to staff up.

Good luck!

3

You may also find that you’d have more options and a better potential for advancement with a master’s degree (particularly in an academic setting). You might look into nearby part-time programs to see if there’s anything that works well for you.

4

I have been trying half-heartedly for the past couple of years to get into Clinical Research myself.

My background is molecular biology research, and I obtained a Certificate in Clinical Trial Design and Project Management from a local university. My current job though pays extremely well and has great benefits, so it has been difficult for me to find something comparable or better in the CR field. Also I have a wife, a kid, a mortgage etc. so my career decisions don’t just impact me. At least though I now have a second set of skills in case I need something to fall back on.

You might want to look at the website of the Society of Clinical Research Associates, www.socra.org. They have a classified ads section which seems to be open to everyone, it looks like several of the places advertising will take people with a background like yours but no experience in Clinical Trials. I believe your best bet will probably be trying to get experience in this field at a large hospital or medical center, then after you get the experience you will have more potential employers available (pharmaceutical companies and Contract Research Organizations).

You might find opoortunities where you currently live but if you are willing to relocate it would probably help. Also a willingness to travel for the job is pretty important.

Good luck to you if you decide to pursue this, I think it is a great area for a younger person to get into right now. My understanding is job growth is projected to be strong for the forseeable future, and this is one of those fields that is more resistant to outsourcing than many others.