The Journal of Young Investigators

So your undergraduate career will soon be coming to a close and the decision on where to go next steadily drawing closer. Where go you go from here? Most people either continue on to grad school or have moved on to jobs in the work force. But what about the people who decide to take time off between undergraduate and graduate work?
One option, working as a lab technician, can be a valuable stepping stone between undergraduate and graduate work.
As a lab technician one works closely in the area of the scientist or lab, specializing in the skills needed for each specific area of research. Duties usually include, but are not limited to, background research, running samples and monitoring experiments, running and maintaining lab equipment, and collecting and analyzing data. Some technicians are involved in field work also, depending on the job and there can always be some room for growth. Techs can fine-tune and come up with more efficient lab procedures. The possibility of doing independent research under the guide of the scientist is always a definite maybe.
Lab Technician positions span many different fields including environmental sciences and conservation, health, oceanography, forensic, nuclear, and chemical to name a few. Typically opportunities are more available in the industrial sciences, which are growing rapidly. Positions in environmental, conservation and smaller private labs are more limited, usually due to funding. The average contract time for a lab technician is about 2 years and techs generally stay in the field for 2-4 years before moving on to other lines of work. Training varies from lab to lab and salaries range from $ 13 an hour for forest and conservation up to $28 an hour for nuclear technicians.
With all the information that's available on the web, finding a job as a lab technician appears to be easy with plenty of opportunities available. However, there is also a lot of information that isn't as easily accessible. For an inside look at what being a tech is all about I interviewed Brett Purrinton, a lab tech at the Bermuda Biological Station for Research and he helped shed some light on the life of a lab tech.
At the start of the interview a lot of the information seemed to be the same--, training, contract length, lab tech duties,-- but I got a completely new picture from talking about drawbacks, and job availability.
"There are opportunities but it's not easy. The hardest part is money. Most positions are government funded, most of which has been very tight lately," Purrinton commented.
Since government funding has been tight, many of the labs do not have access to grants and are not able to fund large projects so they have no need for staff. Salaries are also not that great which can make working as a lab tech more of a challenge for new graduates who have obligations such as rent and student loans to worry about. You also have to be willing to move since, more often than not finding a job means moving to a different state or even a different country.
There are ways to improve your odds at landing a job fresh out of graduating. One important way is to intern while still an undergraduate. You are able to get hands on experience, beyond just the classroom, which puts you a level above the rest of the competition. Brett also pointed out that "...a lot has to do with networking." Interning allows you to meet and work for people in the scientific community. These people can be valuable resources as references and giving your name out to other people possibly hiring in the near future. It is also a fun opportunity to travel and meet new people.
There are a few benefits that come from working as a lab tech that don't come with other jobs in the work field. One significant advantage is a flexible lifestyle. Most of the time it doesn't have to be the typical nine-to-five job. You can work nights and weekends and "don't have to be there right at nine and leave when the door closes." This allows for personal time to pursue leisurely activities and hobbies, as well as travel. However, time can also be a hindrance. Just like any job when you have large projects you can find yourself working many hours in one week in order to finish the a project. There is also the benefit of being able to move from one position to another relatively easily if one position isn't quite working out or another position is better suited to you.
Brett believed that his best benefits were location and people:"...it's allowed me to live in Bermuda and meet a lot of really cool people..." It has also allowed him to take part in every research cruise in the north Atlantic.
Working as a Lab Technician is also a great learning experience between undergraduate and graduate work. Brett described graduate school as more structured and more like a nine to five job. "You are expected to be in your office from 9-5 when not in class and you are your own lab tech. You do all of the background research, run all the experiments and manage all of the data yourself." Working as a lab tech can be great practice for grad work. You get used to the schedule and to "keeping your head in the game" Brett mused.
Finally I asked Brett if he considered it a good stepping stone between undergraduate and graduate work. He answered "Definitely. I took a year off and I am very glad I did. The job I had was at NY State which is where I ended up as a grad student. Being in the system definitely helped my application."
For more information on Lab Technician opportunities you can visit the US Department of Labor at www.bls.gov/oco/ocos115.htm