Medical research

belevitt
Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:03:13 +0000

There are a number of paths that can take you into medical research. MD programs do not contain much if any research training (Duke and others do have a third year program where medical students get some research experience). Phd programs are pretty exclusively research based; you only take courses the first year and a half, and nobody takes the classes very seriously. MD/Phd programs are great because they provide a background in research (not equivalent to a Phd) as well as comprehensive medical training. They are especially competitive in part because they provide the same salary, free tuition and benefits that Phd students get. Typically if an MD wants research training, they do a research fellowship. After your Phd, you do a postdoc (which is essentially the same as a fellowship for an MD). In some cases, Phds and MDs apply for the same fellowship programs.

You will find out more about this as you go through college. The most important thing you can do, no matter what route you take, is to get a lab job early in undergrad and take on your own project. The rest will fall into place as you make contacts in the research world, meet people in your and other labs, familiarize yourself with how research is done etc.