Dante311
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Posts posted by Dante311
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Any good outlines to develop a CV?
and how many pages based on degrees? 1 page for a BS... 2 pages for an MS?
thanks in advance!
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From my experience, grades are "nice", and I use that term loosely, but advisers like to see effort, experience, results, organization, flexibility, discipline, etc... and good GRE scores wouldn't hurt
LORs are vital to pursue a Ph.D in your respective field. And definitely don't give up. I had mediocre grades, but I have 3 years of research experience. It's helped, a lot. My program was full-time research, part time classes. heh. And it was a well-known univ too
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It's only as lonely as you let it be...
I lost a girl I was falling for b/c I immersed myself in my studies too deeply. She didn't understand, and neither did I.
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Software I used for my MS, and soon to be my Ph.d
...and I'm on a PC, mind you. I never got into the whole Macworld thing.
In no particular order of importance, nor have I categorically divided software into its respective use/s...
1. Microsoft Word, hands down. Best word processor. Microsoft Office 2012 Ed.
2. Microsoft Excel
3. " Access
4. " Powerpoint
5. R Statistical Software, THIS, if you know the R language, is a G-dsend for running stat models, regression analysis...
6. SPSS... don't we all need this BS program?
7. Google Chrome (I run Pubmed on it better)
8. Primo PDF
9. Refworks
10. Ableton Live 8 & Serato Scratch Live... DJing helps me keep my sanity. heh
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Hey OP,
Personally I wouldn't address your issue in this manner. I could understand if you were transferring from Bunker Hill Comm. College to a more notable University you could perceive it as an "upgrade". Forgive me if I'm understanding you wrong, but I would believe you should see it as transferring from one prestigious graduate program to another. It shouldn't matter where you receive your education (unless it's IVY); it should be the quality there of and your ability to immerse yourself into it and emerge "victorious" by earning the Masters Regalia or Doctoral Hood... the degrees... the education...
I entered into my Undergraduate Honors thesis with Mindset A/Scope of Interest A (M/SI)... upon completion of my UGrad, I found my M/SI A shifted a bit towards the molecular mechanisms of Insulin Resistance... to M/SI B. My Advisor was intrigued by my interest and believed I had the capability ... welcomed me into his lab for a graduate program. I was excited. It was truly amazing how M/SI B became the product of my devotion, but my ideas were not producible given our facilities. Mind you, our graduate program is #3 in the US according to a number of well-known rankings. My M/SI B, as I continued research and helping in the lab, began to shift again. M/SI C came along... giving me my MS Thesis, 5 publications (3 abstracts/posters sessions/presentations) in well known journals/conferences. Now, I'm going from an MS in a respected field and graduate program... to hopefully a PhD in an adjacent field, but very similar in respects to my masters thesis.
Do not dissuade yourself from entering your graduate program. There was already an intent to pursue something, no? Go with that notion. Some of the best ideas come from failure. One of my favorite movie quotes is from Nicolas Cage's character in 'National Treasure'. When asked how many times he failed to invent the light bulb, Thomas Edison responded, "I didn't fail, I found 2,000 ways how not to make a light bulb; I only need to find one way to make it work".
You sir have an opportunity most don't even try/apply for... or earn/get the opportunity to be a part of. Top 10... Top 15.... Top 100. Who cares? (Again, unless IVY)... you are in a known graduate program. Take advantage of that. You're obviously intelligent, creative, disciplined, determined, motivated, and capable of thinking outside the paradigm. Whereincase, most aren't. Use this to your advantage and do something great. We chose academia not for the name of the school, but because we have a passion for this business in a more narrow scope. Yes, research/development is anything but linear, but once you learn to sum up your research interest in under 3 sentences... you're in the right direction.
Good luck,
Dante
- Eigen, Dante311 and rising_star
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So, I realize I've posted about completing my Master of Science and was adamant about becoming a Professional Research Assistant. My graduate advisor was enthusiastic about my decision and supports me for a position at Univ. of Colorado Anschutz Medical in my respective field.
Upon re-reading my Masters thesis, having developed my hypotheses with guidance from my advisor, and having worked really hard at calculating a lot of biostatistics to support my hypotheses... I've finally concluded on pursuing a PhD in Epidemiology in relation to my respective interest.
Thus, my question - How to compose a letter to two faculty members/researchers in the field to welcome the opportunity to be considered for doctoral candidacy, but first to visit their respective facilities.
Many thanks~!!!!!!
ps - walked today in the graduate ceremony with my masters regalia. What an honor!
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Hey all,
Just completed my first MS this past February. Currently employed, but not my dream job. It's a job, nonetheless and it isn't demeaning work. It just isn't what I WANT to do. Anyhow, I was going to pursue an MPH to open some more doors, but opted to find a research position and work. I have a phone interview with the Univ of Colorado and I'm mixed on both anxiety and excitement. I know my field and my skills/abilities as well as I'll ever know them. By no means do I know it all and expect to learn more as I progress through academia. Eventually I want my MPH... and hopefully will decide on a PhD or MD.
ANYHOW.. I have a phone interview in the field of research of exercise physiology and diabetes, etc, etc... specific questions relative to my field and my own research I feel confident with, but would anyone mind pointing me in the direction of a good resource to be ready for questions I probably am not expecting and possible good responses????
thanks!
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What now???
in Jobs
Look, I have made a decision to:
a. Not fund another degree
b. Not to get a degree of the same level (i.e. not another degree at the masters level)
While I was reluctant, at first, to pursue a PhD. I think it is the only logical step after an MS.
If you can't find a job after getting an MS, you probably will have just as hard of a time after an MPH.
I would try and expand the net as far as job search. Look into completely different industries that require your skill set (plenty of jobs require SAS or R).
Thanks, but I'm a physiologist, not a bio-statistician...
My MS is in a research oriented field... which I don't not love, but an MPH would open so many more doorways for me.
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What now???
in Jobs
10 days ago I had the cajones to e-mail a PI from Joslin Diabetes directly... instead of going through HR. I told him via the cover letter I'd follow up in ten days. I did.
I received an email today from him apologizing that his response is tardy... and unfortunately he has no positions open at current time, but if something opens up he'll let me know for the future.
I would like to take this as a GOOD sign... considering most of these PI's are busy.. for one.. and must receive hundreds of e-mails that they wouldn't respond in kind to all of them or respond telling the individual to pursue a position via HR for Joslin.
Or am I over thinking that?
thanks
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AECOM (Yeshiva U) is a very well known school for its sciences.
Congrats! I could only dream of getting in there...
I have a 3.1 UGrad GPA, a 3.5 grad school GPA (completed and successfully defended my MS thesis...)
Good score on the GRE's, but how will this all translate to taking the MCATs?
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I just completed my MS in Kinesiology there. You'll love it. Beware of the ugrads though (being I was one, once upon a time @ umass...) ... they're toxic & dangerous.
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What now???
in Jobs
I grew up in Boston and I have worked in RA positions in hospitals there. I feel that the advice you are getting is weird-- or maybe it is targeted at labs in university settings i.e. they only hire people who they train. If so, expand out. And yes, you should write a good cover letter! Also, the Partners Hospitals usually have a lot of RA positions posted on their website. Good luck!
It's a bit distressing and kind of depressing actually...
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What now???
in Jobs
The reason that I think it is weird that people are telling you that they are only looking to hire someone with a B.S. is because you are in a highly educated part of the nation (Boston) and a lot of the entry level jobs tend to be held with young professionals with master's degrees.
Also if only one person told you were "overqualified" for the position that she could offer you, I won't take that to mean that you are "overqualified" for all of the clinical RA positions that are out there. Your three years of research experience I assume was when you were a master's student and you were working in a more part-time capacity. That is really different from three years of full-time research experience.
Good luck though on whatever you decide: MPH or RA.
For the most part, everyone I know as an RA has only their BS and was trained by the lab they're working in. One such individual informed me with today's economy the thing that'll get me in as an internal or a kick-ass cover letter....
I thought it was strange too.
However, not as many have an MS, etc.. etc.. out here as you may believe.
Even PhD's are limited to certain positions in which there are less positions available given current economic times. A number of university positions have been consolidated or eliminated due to financial burdens...
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What now???
in Jobs
What type of positions are you applying for? How long have you been applying for? The RAs that I have encountered in hospital research were in the same type of position that you are in when they secured their current position (Master's degree with limited to no full-time research experience). Just reading the description of your experience and education, I am not quite sure why you are being told you are "overqualified" unless there is something that I am missing about your qualifications. Also the pay scales for RAs in the hospitals that I have worked in were at a fixed level-- I don't think the department had the ability to pay people in the same level at different rates.
Thanks for the response.
I'm not entirely sure what's missing? I'm told by misc sources that these firms, hospitals, and university labs are looking to hire individuals with a BS in a respective health/science field rather than hire someone like me. I have my MS... and 3 years of clinical research, but in an academic setting. I was told by one PI that I qualify as the highest level of (clinical) research assistant and that I was "well over-qualified" for the position she could offer me.... So I do have research experience, but nothing outside of an academic setting. I was hands on with subject/participant recruitment (over 30 people enrolled in my study... with over 200 screenings). I have experience with participant retention rates, venous blood draws, data collection (RMR's w/ a Parvomedics metabolic cart, VO2Peak Tests, limited EKG experience, hands on exercise training (resistance and cardio) w/ a population who is at risk for serious disease (I am a medical/clinical exercise physiologist), and I have experience doing DEXA (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) on people for body comp. I am also familiar with real-time blood analysis and assay kits... be it RIA's or glucose analox analysis... and I have performed over 70 hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic "clamps"... (see Ralph Defronzo et al. 1978, I believe, for more info... it's a measure of whole-body insulin sensitivity and is a sensitive, complex procedure to perform, but is doable once sufficiently trained). I have experience with diet logs (3-day recalls), and with pedometers and accelerometers (actigraph gt3x)... in addition, I have thorough interest and experience with data array and statistical analysis via SPSS, SAS, and R Stat Software (which I love the best for it's opensource coding lol
heh... oops.
Thanks!
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One of the many reasons why I dropped from my PhD program and defended my MS and ran... for now. It's a good read I assure you. Check it out!
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What now???
in Jobs
Hey all -
First, let me intro myself. I'm Dante (pseudonym, for now...). Recently graduated from a prestigious graduate program in Kinesiology with a specific concentration in physiology and metabolism. I have 3 years of extensive clinical research and I am well versed in statistical software (SPSS, R Stat Package).
Now what? lol
I'm finding this piece of paper to be a nice decoration on my wall... but that's about it. I'm currently looking into an MPH program at Northeastern University (Bouve) as I've taken interest in an associate research professor's work there... however her program is an MS, PhD, or MS/PhD. I have a slew of reasons why I'm not apt to pursuing my PhD at this time... and I've had this discussion with my graduate adviser. I've already successfully defended my MS thesis this past March and will officially walk in May. I did graduate in February of this year though.
I'm finding upon application to many clinical RA positions in the private sector, healthcare, and Gov't... I'm being told as intelligent as I may be, and knowledgeable in my field of expertise... in addition to my "enthusiastic personality", as the PI's have no doubts in my future success as a researcher / scientist... unfortunately, my qualifications are deemed to be "well over-qualified" for the current positions they can offer me.
I've been told that this is HR speak for, a) "We don't want to pay you what you are worth." or
"We're terrified that if we hire you and something better comes along, you may drop us like a ton of bricks and jump on that ship."....this economy isn't helping much.
Any advice?
My fallback is the MPH... and it's beginning to look enticing. I have to finish my personal statement, but I already have the support. I may as well just do it even though I'd PREFER some 'real world' research experience.
Thanks in advance!
CV Help
in Applications
Posted
I appreciate the response. My graduate adviser told me that 2 pages was way too much. 1-1.5 pages was more than plenty... I feel privileged to have completed what I've done.
My CV includes (my information in the header)
Objective
Professional Profile (2 bullet pts)
Education (my MS & BS)
Teaching Responsibilities
Scholarly Contributions / Publications
Professional Memberships / Certifications
Professional / Technical Expertise
Research Experience (with sub headings for Clincial Research Asst & Clincial Ex Phys)
heh
too much?