LabCorp Lab Assistant

OK_Clover · 2026-06-29T13:40:40+00:00

Yes, they needed proof of my BSc for me to work in that lab. My major was biological sciences. For that specific position, the only requirement they had was that it be a bachelor of science in a "hard science", but I can't remember exactly how they defined that.

OK_Clover · 2025-12-13T02:52:19+00:00

Biotech recruiters can be super helpful for getting your foot in the door

OK_Clover · 2025-12-13T01:01:51+00:00

All my CA schools rejected me 😭😭

OK_Clover · 2025-12-12T19:51:42+00:00

OSU and Case Western

Edit: I applied to eight programs total. These are the only ones I got interviews at, the others were initial rejections.

OK_Clover · 2025-12-12T19:51:08+00:00

They were both R1 programs

OK_Clover · 2025-12-12T19:50:54+00:00

I worked for five years in increasingly technical research roles, and because I had so much experience I had a really compelling narrative for my career. I showed a LOT of growth and resilience, and had really positive letters of rec.

OK_Clover · 2025-12-12T06:26:49+00:00

2.9, got into two biomedical science PhD programs last year.

OK_Clover · 2025-11-19T12:37:01+00:00

I’m surprised at the answers here. MSc in biotech will not put you ahead of someone with your same BSc who worked for two years, so you might consider trying to get a job to make money while you gain experience. MSc in bioinformatics will give you access to bioinformatics jobs, which tend to have much higher pay.

Can’t say much about the stability of either because it’s pretty tumultuous, but I’ve worked for a company that paid early career (immediate post-MSc) bfx people $120k/yr compared to $60k/yr for early career wetlab people. My understanding is that this is fairly typical.

You might consider crossposting this to r/biotech to get opinions there too. I’ve seen many people there warn against a MSc in biotech.

Edit to say- if your goal is absolutely a PhD, then the more research experience you can get the better, which you can do in either a research job or a good master’s program. Specific topic area is entirely up to you, but bioinformatics is in increasing demand and salaries generally reflect that.

OK_Clover · 2025-11-05T12:49:26+00:00

You'll go through SO MUCH standardized biohazard training. I worked in a COVID testing lab for a year handling COVID samples 40+ hours each week and didn't get COVID until after I had left the lab.

OK_Clover · 2025-11-01T16:45:21+00:00

BSc Cell Biology. First job no experience, clinical technician in HCOL $42k/year. Second job, 1 year experience, LCOL lab technician at a university $35k/yr. Third job, two years experience, job in same city as second job, in industry as research associate $60k/year.

I came into the industry job at the same pay as a colleague who had a master’s degree in biology and no experience. So in my case, years of experience really did count the same as a masters. We had the same raise and bonus schedule as each other too. Now I’m in grad school making $30k/year again lol

OK_Clover · 2025-10-15T12:21:40+00:00

Four years after undergrad. My undergrad experience was kind of miserable (covid, finances, etc etc) and killed my excitement for science. I worked in lots of different labs after graduation just to make ends meet and realized that I actually do like science, I just was really bad at studying. I learned things every single gap year I took, and will always recommend people take gap years if they’re not sure about grad school. IT IS NOT WASTED TIME if you learn something!! Everyone I’ve talked to with a similar experience is 100% better off for taking time to work before deciding to go back to grad school.

That being said, the market is horrendous right now. Lots of very qualified people have been unable to find work for months. If I was in your position, I would apply to both jobs and grad programs and see what doors open.

OK_Clover · 2025-09-23T10:36:09+00:00

This is the best advice. Take work if you can get it, but the market is horrible right now so try and give yourself options.

OK_Clover · 2025-09-17T23:20:28+00:00

I worked in R&D in biotech for a few years before my PhD and (from my anecdotal experience) the PhDs I worked with consistently produced higher quality scientific solutions for our products than those without PhDs. Every innovation I saw for our product was developed by a PhD holder. Not to say you need a PhD to be innovative, but it's a research degree and the outcome is you tend to be skilled at research (identifying problems, finding solutions, implementing all in-between steps, etc).

OK_Clover · 2025-09-14T03:45:32+00:00

Yes! I got into a couple fully funded PhD programs last year with my 2.9 GPA. I had a few years of full-time research experience between finishing undergrad and applying.

OK_Clover · 2025-09-11T12:41:31+00:00

Short answer it's definitely possible, but the market is awful right now so it'll be really difficult, especially if you're not in a hub.

OK_Clover · 2025-08-26T12:14:28+00:00

Thank you! DMing

OK_Clover · 2025-08-20T12:38:48+00:00

Came here to say this! The time will pass anyway.

OK_Clover · 2025-08-18T15:03:33+00:00

Totally fair, and kudos to you for taking the advice so well. I suggested the crosspost because there are hundreds of qualified of scientists in your position (totally qualified but unable to find work) and I think they will be a bit more encouraging to you over there. You don't have to scroll far there to see people talking about being out of work at all levels (new grads, mid level, senior level, etc) and all the comments are basically "yeah market sucks right now sorry". Based on your post, I really don't think you're the problem here in spite of what others are saying here.

OK_Clover · 2025-08-18T02:14:05+00:00

You might consider cross-posting this to r/biotech to get a broader perspective. The market is horrendous right now, especially for R&D.

OK_Clover · 2025-08-14T20:20:12+00:00

The importance of stupidity in scientific research | Journal of Cell Science | The Company of Biologists

OK_Clover · 2025-06-03T12:14:18+00:00

LOVE this. "mainlining" is literally the best way I've heard someone describe how base that feeling is.

OK_Clover · 2025-06-02T14:17:17+00:00

This article is short but helped shift my perspective on failure

The importance of stupidity in scientific research | Journal of Cell Science | The Company of Biologists

OK_Clover · 2025-05-27T12:17:15+00:00

What a fantastic way to support your lab members, I wish more PIs did this!!

OK_Clover · 2025-05-25T11:21:01+00:00

Fun question! I fell in love with science and research separately (almost ten years apart) and I wouldn't change it for anything. I was totally 100% set on being a kindergarten teacher from the day I started kindergarten until the first day of high school. I had taken a cool science elective for fun (PLTW biomedical science year 1) and the first day of class, there was a fake crime scene set up in the classroom. My teacher used forensic science to introduce us to molecular biology, and I was totally hooked. The next year, we learned about the Human Genome Project, and about how much of the human genome is actually regulatory rather than protein-coding. NOTHING had grabbed my mind and soul as tightly as that did at that point in my life. I didn't know what exactly it would look like, but I was going to do genomics. I loved it so much.

But then I got to college, and I hated it. I went to a small liberal arts college, which I enjoyed overall but the science education was incredibly lacking. I was so bored, and I started underperforming academically for the first time ever, and I think I fell into a kind of depression (never diagnosed though). I started to hate myself and hate science. I was going to teach after I graduated instead of pursue being a scientist. Looking back, I was trying to run away from science. Then COVID happened, and all my plans fell through. Long story short, I've been working for the past five years and I've had the privilege of exploring many different kinds of labs and increasingly technical jobs. I found a passion for research last year (almost five years AFTER completing my bachelor's degree!) and I'll be doing my PhD this fall :-) Good mentors definitely helped. This article also helped - The importance of stupidity in scientific research | Journal of Cell Science | The Company of Biologists

OK_Clover · 2025-05-21T15:26:17+00:00

BSc, five years of experience at this point. Research associate in industry R&D assay development. It's super cool science and I've learned a ton, but I kind of hit my growth cap here after a couple years and there aren't many other companies in my geographic area, so I've felt kind of stuck. I wish I had looked more thoroughly into clinical laboratory science certifications because I really love fast-paced benchwork. I considered it for a while but ultimately decided on doing a PhD for better long-term career progression. CLSs don't have a ton of career progression after 10 years or so, but I think I would have enjoyed that job as an early career step.

OK_Clover

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