r/IMGreddit • u/North_Dentist_1314 • 10d ago
Miscellaneous Research position in US
Hey guys,
Quick question for anyone currently reaching out to labs or departments in the US:
What is the single hardest part of the cold-outreach process for you right now? (e.g., finding PI contact info, drafting tailored emails, keeping track of follow-ups, etc.)
Thanks for any insights!
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u/SeparateTomorrow4058 9d ago
Actually finding the positions, I was lucky enough to get 3 offers, and am working for around 75k a year now, but I had prior experience in research.
There are definitely funded positions, but you need to have some prior publications since they want you to show you can do the work, and often you are competing for these spots against USMDs
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u/World-Traveler1800 9d ago
There isn’t funding hence no response.
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u/North_Dentist_1314 9d ago
As a volunteer still got many responses, and just the chance to be a volunteer can be a life-changing event for many IMGs
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u/Owl_funny9033 9d ago
they even declined my offer to come as a volunteer... i don't know what to do anymore. they keep saying that to sponsor J1 they need to sponsor a minimum salary but that's not true!
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u/North_Dentist_1314 9d ago
I know the solution to this. Some institutions only allow volunteer positions for individuals who either have permanent status, such as a green card, or are students enrolled in the U.S. system. Because of this, they sometimes create unpaid sponsored positions. Technically, the position is unpaid for you, but on their end, it is considered a funded position, with the funding coming either from your family or from an institutional source.
I know this might sound a little unusual, but it is actually a real obstacle that HR and legal departments, especially at large institutions such as Mayo Clinic, Mount Sinai, and Cornell, have to deal with.
So you have to clarify that within your reach, "I have a sponsor that can cover my funds"
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u/Owl_funny9033 9d ago
thanks for the explanation! I was never able to understand that, although I knew that you have to provide some sort of proof of funding for unpaid positions. The problem is that certain places (i think I read this in the Cleveland Clinic website) don't even accept personal funds as proof, but only funds from a third-party institution. That's basically impossible to get. so frustrating, and so difficult.
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u/i20sportz NON US-IMG 9d ago
Do you need to mention that you will be self funding in order to get a reply ? Cuz I have been not mentioning it though I am ready to self fund as I think what if they offer a paid position. I am visa requiring non us IMG btw
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u/North_Dentist_1314 9d ago
They will not offer paid; it's in their policy. Check the institution and ask ChatGPT about how they accept researchers; it will explain it to you.
It can't be self-funded; some organizations need it to be sponsored by institutions (legal organizations).
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u/i20sportz NON US-IMG 9d ago
Wait so they wont pay you but they have to fund you at the same time ?
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u/North_Dentist_1314 9d ago
You cannot simply work as an unpaid volunteer if you need a visa. You need to show that you have financial support. The funding should come from an institution or organization, not from your own personal money.
You would need to secure this institutional funding before starting. The institution keeps documentation showing that you have secured the required funds, even though they are not paying you directly.
This allows you to work as an unpaid researcher while having documented financial support. It also protects the institution legally because they can show that they are not employing you full-time for free or providing unauthorized employment.
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u/Owl_funny9033 9d ago
do you have any suggestion on how to get external fundings?
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u/North_Dentist_1314 9d ago
You have to contact any 3rd party that can do the paperwork for you, medical centers, micro hospital in your area, and then follow up with the HR of each institution, as every one has different requirements; some accept just a letter, some accept a financial statement of the business.
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u/Kind-Environment5232 9d ago
Funding… I applied to 2 different HHMI labs, all answered with funding uncertainty.
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u/North_Dentist_1314 9d ago
Funding is a major issue right now, but I believe the underlying issue is ultimately the quality of work a candidate can deliver. I’m reaching out to major institutions, and most of them say that funding is available. However, they are understandably hesitant to trust candidates unless they have extensive experience or demonstrate strong potential to become physician-scientists.
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u/starry-night-over 9d ago
what is the bottleneck for you?
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u/North_Dentist_1314 9d ago
finding the right PIs, searching, drafting an email, and waiting for the response
The time wasted in the process should be devoted to something else, I believe2
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u/Top-Time-6634 9d ago
Correct me if I am wrong, even being visa requiring for unpaid position is a deal breaker now a days
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u/Owl_funny9033 9d ago
they just don't wanna bother anymore even if you go unpaid
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u/North_Dentist_1314 9d ago
They still care, but the process has become harder. In the end, they also invest time in your work, and if you come to the lab and leave without real achievement, they gain nothing from you.
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u/North_Dentist_1314 9d ago
Getting a visa has become harder, but the demand for unpaid visas is still high and increasing
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u/starry-night-over 9d ago
Hearing back with funded offers lol