In my experience, when most people hear the word “research” they think about pipettes, petri dishes, lab coats, and goggles. They think of laborious experiments, animal testing, tedious data points, and PhDs. The thought of human subjects research is typically far from anyone’s mind.
But perhaps you are like me and thought, “I can do more, be more, contribute more, if somehow I can break into human subjects research,” also known as clinical research. Unbeknownst to me at the time when I first attempted to make this leap, is that the key to going from bench to bedside research is to focus on all the similarities between the two while acknowledging the differences. So how do we do both? Here are some examples you can use when writing your resume, crafting your cover letters, or acing those interviews.
- Protocol: Yes, I have experience with meticulously executing protocols in an effort to avoid deviations and collect the most robust data possible. My first stop in any protocol is the flow chart (alternately referred to a schedule of events or study schema). This gives me an idea of the timeline and study procedures. My next goal is to understand those study procedures and how the data is to be collected. I am also on the lookout for any safety considerations and other details that can affect data integrity.
- Ethical considerations for our animal experiment friends: In animal studies, it is incredibly important that we run these trials ethically. That is why we submit our protocols and study materials to the IACUC for evaluation and approval prior to running the study. In clinical research, we have the IRB for the same purpose! The IRB is there to protect the rights, safety, and well-being of our subjects.
- Good documentation practices: Anyone with a lab notebook knows that documenting data is not as straightforward as one may think! Yes, in both bench and bedside research we single line through our errors and initial and date. Sometimes we have to include added documentation to explain our erroneous recordings. If you didn’t document it, it didn’t happen! *Pro-tip – bring an old lab notebook to your interviews to show off your skills if the position you are interviewing for requires GDP!
So if you’re coming from the lab world and wondering whether you belong in clinical research, the answer is: yes, absolutely. The skills you’ve honed at the bench — precision, protocol adherence, ethics, and documentation — are exactly the foundation you need to succeed at the bedside.
You don’t have to start over. You just have to reframe and build upon your experience.
Clinical research isn’t a different language — it’s a different dialect. And once you learn to translate your lab skills into clinical language, you’ll be surprised how many doors begin to open.
If you’re curious about making that leap, you’re not alone — and you don’t have to figure it out on your own either.
Let’s talk about what’s possible.
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