Since I can't sell my time, help me give it away for free!

August 4, 2009 1:07 PM

I've been applying for entry-level paid laboratory positions here in San Francisco with little success. How can I go about finding a lab position as a volunteer instead?

(See last paragraph for the TL, DR version)

I graduated last year with a degree in Biology, therefore lacking the experience that many of these positions seem to require (classic catch-22). I meet all of the other requirements for these positions, but in this economy (particularly in CA) the competition for jobs is fierce. My undergrad institution is across the country, so no real way to network that. Lucky for me my problem isn't so much needing income right now as it is getting research experience.

I am considering contacting primary investigators in the area directly to see if they in need of any help, even without pay. Are PI's receptive to such inquiries? Is this sort of thing even kosher? If so, how do I go about it? Should I find projects that interest me and contact the labs directly, or look more broadly at an institution level? I'm looking at applying to medical school in the next few years, if that's possibly relevant.

Any and all suggestions welcome!

posted by eiramazile to Work & Money (12 answers total)

I could've written this question! I'm in the exact same boat as you and haven't had any luck so far in getting many responses. However, if you're not opposed to traveling to the east bay, you can send in a cover letter and resume to the Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute (CHORI) and see if they need any lab volunteers. I tried it a month or two ago and will probably send my info to them a second time. Good luck to you.
posted by extramundane at 1:16 PM on August 4, 2009

I think some of the advice here probably applies:
posted by Good Brain at 1:25 PM on August 4, 2009

They won't be accepting applications until January, but if you have any interest in radical, client-centered health care models, you should strongly consider joining the lab section at the Berkeley Free Clinic. It's an incredible organization (the oldest free clinic in the US, and the only one run almost entirely by lay-trained medics and staff), and though it's not a research lab by any stretch of the imagination, it apparently looks very good as part of a med school application.
posted by soviet sleepover at 1:25 PM on August 4, 2009

I didn't do research in biology, but when I was in grad school, competent dedicated free people were my professor's dream employees. Contacting people you're interested in directly should work, be specific about why you want to work with that person. But if you have a professor that you worked with at your undergrad who could call or email a friend in SF to recommend you that would probably be better. The research community is very small (especially within more specific subsets of your discipline) and your professors back east will almost certainly know tons of people in SF -- and you don't need to be physically near someone to network. Anyway, what's the downside in trying?
posted by brainmouse at 1:56 PM on August 4, 2009

Not biology either, but in my field of research - yes, it is possible that they could be receptive to such inquiries. It's worth asking, anyway. Be clear that you're willing to take a part-time and/or volunteer position, explain that you're in it for the experience, and don't be so sure your undergrad connections have no value. If you've done related research, explain briefly what you've done or who you worked with. Mention that if they don't currently have room, but have colleagues in the area doing similar work, you're okay with them passing your resume along.
posted by Stacey at 2:57 PM on August 4, 2009

Asking nicely has gotten me pretty far in research. Pitching yourself in the best light possible and begging mercilessly might not be your forte, but you would be surprised how many people will be accepting of free help, especially when many places are laying off because of the economy.

I know your institution is not available, but have you tried networking within another local institution? The one you're considering medical school at would be a major plus for you. I've done research with a few different places under the same volunteer terms, and have actually ended up getting paid by one for a few months when they got a large amount of pre-grant funding.
posted by semp at 3:43 PM on August 4, 2009

I'm not in bio, but sending emails to professors at the closest university expressing interest is how I got my volunteer lab gig. I know several folks who have just sent emails to the PIs in labs they found interesting and secured volunteer positions, many of which were eventually converted into paying jobs.
posted by solipsophistocracy at 3:45 PM on August 4, 2009

I wanted to chime in to agree with Brainmouse and Stacey, you moved across the country, so it, likely some of your colleagues back east know others who've done likewise.
posted by Jahaza at 3:47 PM on August 4, 2009

I used to work in a lab, did my dissertation work in a lab, and hired a student to help me (not work in the lab, but help with cadavers/teaching in a college setting). I also ran across lots of volunteers.

If you wanted to get into a lab, I would 1) go to the webpage of the universitiy or med school, 2) read the "about me and my lab and research pages", 3) pick the areas that interest you the most 4) read 1 or 2 papers by the faculty member, and then 5) send an email - "Dr. PI, I would like to volunteer (or work) in your lab. I am very interested in research topic X -- I have a degree in biology, lab skills A to D. I also recently read your papers XYZZY and ------. Can we set up an appointment to talk further?" If you read the papers, trust me, that puts you far beyond what most students do.

Also, if the campus does not frown on it, walk around the biology department. Ask people in the biology office if anyone is hiring research assistants and stop by labs to make queries. Look at the bulletin boards, too. To be honest, I hired a student who stopped by my office and asked if I was going to hire any students that semester - it made my life much easier (rather than post fliers, interview, etc.).

Good luck.
posted by Wolfster at 4:06 PM on August 4, 2009

I would e-mail random people whose research interests you, but I would make it clear that I was volunteering as a stepping stone to finding a paid position. I've noticed with volunteering in general, once you start working for free, depending on your boss, there's little motivation to find you a paying job. Hopefully making it clear at the outset can help. They might share your name with coworkers that are looking for techs but don't want to deal with the hassle of posting them. Also include your resume.
posted by fermezporte at 5:23 AM on August 5, 2009

You underestimate your university alumni services (probably). Check out the database, and see which of your alums are now professors and researchers and doctors in the Bay Area. I guarantee you will be surprised. Then combine that search with the letter that Wolfster put together for you.

Also, call up your undergrad advisor, shoot the shit for a bit, and then ask who he/she knows. This is the way things work.
posted by whatzit at 5:38 AM on August 5, 2009

You should know that the profs that run these labs typically get many emails per week requesting to work in their lab from all around the world. If I were attempting to persuade a prof to allow me to volunteer in their lab I would write a bespoke email that outlines what you find interesting about their research and how your own interests mesh with theirs. Take the time to understand the lab and what it does and reflect that in your initial approach. There is nothing more likely to make someone reach for the delete button than a impersonal spam.

Volunteer work in labs can be hard work - you get to do the repetitive grunt work often. without being to overbearing you need to let the prof know how committed you are to working for them for more than a few months. The training that goes into establishing a useful volunteer in a lab is not trivial and therefore you need to be a reliable "risk".

Do not expect all lab heads to respond to your email straight away; good profs running successful labs receive substantial daily email volume. Allow a little while to go by and resend an email that politely reiterates your interest in working with them.
posted by SueDenim at 6:19 PM on September 14, 2009