Applying for research jobs

I'm interested in working in [a/this] lab!

Every week I get several letters in my e-mailbox from people who say that they want to work in this laboratory. Some of the writers live in the United States, and others live elsewhere. Some are undergrads, some have finished college, and some have doctorates.

The uncomfortable truth

As I said, I get a lot of these letters. I, and most of the colleagues I've talked to, in many cases do not even send replies. What's going on here? The simple answer is that far too many people looking for jobs in science (and more generally) are simply sending out a LOT of applications, rather than targeted applications. By using this spray-and-pray approach, they are proably wasting their time, and the the time of the people to whom they are writing.

Research money is tight, and at any given time, most labs don't need a lot of new people. That's certainly the case in our group. At this writing (January, 2006) we have a postdoc, two grad students, a research scientist, three undergrads, and me. It's a very good group of people. We are serious about our work, we have fun in the lab, and we get along with one another. When someone new comes along I am forced to ask: does this person bring something to the lab that we don't already have - a skill set, a research perspective, or simply a level of enthusiasm for our projects - that will allow the group as a whole to do better work?

Amazingly, the vast majority of applications provide no information that would allow me to make such a judgement.

How to proceed with your search:

At a minimum you really should send:

• A cover letter that says, specifically, what you bring to the table, and what your goals are. Do you want to learn yeast cell biology, or in vitro biochemistry? Are you interested in biological applications of materials science? Are you a microscopy whiz? Are you trying to get research experience for a medical school application (not always a positive)? Did you read some of our papers and think that they would have been a lot better if only you'd been around (quite possibly a big positive)?

• A CV that shows your work experience, education, and publications or a writing sample. The writing sample could be the cover letter.

• A list of three or more references with full contact information.

The best applications make it clear that the applicant knows something about the lab they're applying to. They've read and thought about the lab's publications, and they are confident and enthusiastic about the possibility of pushing the work forward. People like this are always in demand.

Research requires excellent communication skills and close attention to detail. CVs and cover letters can be long or short. What matters is that they are thoughtful, and provide the right information. Proofread everything you send out for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and style. An amazing proportion of applications seem not to have been proofread, but you get only one chance to make a first impression.

A note for undergraduates

Undergrads can work in our group in either or both of two capacities: as paid assistants (often workstudy), or as unpaid students. In either case, you should understand that working in a research lab is a major time committment, equivalent to participation in collegiate athletics. Productivity does not scale linearly with effort, and below a certain threshold you simply won't get much done and will end up wasting both your time and ours. Under such circumstances no one wins. So, before you contact me (or anyone else) about research experience, you should honestly ask yourself whether you wouldn't rather be doing something else with all that time.


Merz Lab Home *Reading:* *A Ph.D. Is Not Enough! A Guide to Survival in Science.* Peter J. Feibelman, 1994, Perseus Books, ISBN 0-201-62663-2. [Amazon] Making the Right Moves: A Practical Guide to Scientific Management for Postdocs and New Faculty. Burroughs Wellcome Fund and HHMI. [Free download at HHMI] (See especially Chapters 1 [pdf] and 4 [pdf]. This will help you to understand what PI's are thinking when they are reading your application. Worthwhile reading well before you become a postdoc, perhaps even before you become a grad student!) Surviving Graduate School, at the NIH. Includes advice on whether to go, where to go, how to get in, what to do once you get there...			I'm interested in working in [a/this] lab! Every week I get several letters in my e-mailbox from people who say that they want to work in this laboratory. Some of the writers live in the United States, and others live elsewhere. Some are undergrads, some have finished college, and some have doctorates. *The uncomfortable truth* As I said, I get a lot of these letters. I, and most of the colleagues I've talked to, in many cases do not even send replies. What's going on here? The simple answer is that far too many people looking for jobs in science (and more generally) are simply sending out a LOT of applications, rather than targeted applications. By using this spray-and-pray approach, they are proably wasting their time, and the the time of the people to whom they are writing. Research money is tight, and at any given time, most labs don't need a lot of new people. That's certainly the case in our group. At this writing (January, 2006) we have a postdoc, two grad students, a research scientist, three undergrads, and me. It's a very good group of people. We are serious about our work, we have fun in the lab, and we get along with one another. When someone new comes along I am forced to ask: does this person bring something to the lab that we don't already have - a skill set, a research perspective, or simply a level of enthusiasm for our projects - that will allow the group as a whole to do better work? Amazingly, the vast majority of applications provide no information that would allow me to make such a judgement. *How to proceed with your search:* At a minimum you really should send: • A cover letter that says, specifically, what you bring to the table, and what your goals are. Do you want to learn yeast cell biology, or in vitro biochemistry? Are you interested in biological applications of materials science? Are you a microscopy whiz? Are you trying to get research experience for a medical school application (not always a positive)? Did you read some of our papers and think that they would have been a lot better if only you'd been around (quite possibly a big positive)? • A CV that shows your work experience, education, and publications or a writing sample. The writing sample could be the cover letter. • A list of three or more references with full contact information. The best applications make it clear that the applicant knows something about the lab they're applying to. They've read and thought about the lab's publications, and they are confident and enthusiastic about the possibility of pushing the work forward. People like this are always in demand. Research requires excellent communication skills and close attention to detail. CVs and cover letters can be long or short. What matters is that they are thoughtful, and provide the right information. Proofread everything you send out for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and style. An amazing proportion of applications seem not to have been proofread, but you get only one chance to make a first impression. *A note for undergraduates* Undergrads can work in our group in either or both of two capacities: as paid assistants (often workstudy), or as unpaid students. In either case, you should understand that working in a research lab is a major time committment, equivalent to participation in collegiate athletics. Productivity does not scale linearly with effort, and below a certain threshold you simply won't get much done and will end up wasting both your time and ours. Under such circumstances no one wins. So, before you contact me (or anyone else) about research experience, you should honestly ask yourself whether you wouldn't rather be doing something else with all that time.