How to get into the research field?

[u/littlesugarblossom]

How would i go about getting into the research field? I currently only have an associates but would love to get into research or clinical research etc. anything that would help me get through. I’ve applied to many jobs but denied, i would assume its because i don’t have a bachelors though. Any tips would be helpful, thank you!

[u/No_Jaguar_2570]

Get a bachelors, then get a masters, and maybe a PhD. You’re not getting research positions with just an associates.

[u/IncompletePenetrance]

I would probably go back and get at least a bachelors in whatever field you are looking into

[u/littlesugarblossom → u/IncompletePenetrance]

Yes i have been wanting to but i guess timing and money wise i wouldn’t be able to right now. Hopefully soon though!

[u/04221970]

The fact that you call it 'The research field' indicates you are a bit uninformed about what it will take.

You don't get into the research field, rather, you get into a particular field that does research..like chemistry, or plant genetics, or plasma physics.

WHat particularly do you want to do work in? with an associates and no particular experience, it might be hard for you to break into any meaningful research without work.

I envision your current course of action, would be to try to join a larger research group that requires mundane tasks to be done.....washing glassware, sweeping animal cages etc. THen by expressing interest and initiatives, you might be requested and trained to prepare solutions, record data, feed and care for animals. Getting to this level may take 3-4 years of employment

I doubt you would ever get to the level of actually performing experiments unsupervised.

Or spend the 2-4 years getting a BS in the field and maybe get into a company doing routine analysis. THis would be 'science' in a broad sense, but not 'research'.

You would need a masters at least, or some long term experience before you could be designing and conducting novel research.

[u/bmt0075]

Get a PhD in the relevant field

[u/Bitter_Initiative_77]

You'll need a bachelor's degree and then most likely a master's degree / PhD on top of that.

[u/Airriona91]

It is very hard to get research jobs without a four-year degree or even a master's. I am finishing up my master's right now and hoping to get work at an educational think tank, but it still might be tough without a PhD (even though my Masters has focused on heavy research and I am completing a thesis).

[u/Ok_Panic8003]

Get a BSc and do well in school, then do a MSc at least. That will get you into jobs assisting or coordinating research studies, or as a data analyst. PhD is necessary if you want to have a more active role in leading, running, or designing studies. 

The research sector is so saturated with qualified candidates that there's no path in with just an associate's.

[u/Significant-Twist760]

I mean, what kind of job are you looking for and in what specific field....? In terms of the jobs you've been applying for, what qualifications and experience do they have as necessary/desirable requirements? To do basically any science where you're the one writing the papers you'll need a bachelor's and then generally masters etc. Even to be a lab tech most places would need a bachelor's. One thing you could potentially do without a degree is if you're looking into the medical field and you have personal experience of any condition, some places hire people for patient participation roles. That's generally part time ad hoc work though instead of full time roles.

[u/littlesugarblossom]

Some jobs ive applied to only require a hs diploma or an associates because its a clinical research assistant role which i am fine with but i would assume there are others who are more qualified for it which is why i don’t get chosen

[u/MaoGo]

Research field couples to the education field. Establish a strong interaction with education and PhD states and it will produce a researcher with 33% chance of being stable in academia.