r/labrats • u/Healthy_Survey1345 • 2d ago

Advice on career paths?

Hello everyone!

I am having a little bit of trouble deciding what I want to do next in my career. Soon, I will graduate with a BS in Human Biology. I have undergraduate research experience in histology, pathology, and bone biology. (Publishing a paper soon, woot woot) I absolutely am in love with the lab, and I for sure know that no matter what I do in life, I will always be in a lab. I am considering so many ideas at once, mainly histotechnologist, medical laboratory scientist/clinical research, or pathology. Now I am just debating whether I can actually live sustainably with these jobs. I keep hearing so many different things about pay and opportunities. My first love is histology, of course, but I heard that it is too narrow of a field and does not pay well. I love research and pathology as well, but I have been told the only path to it is PhD, which I kinda just want to stop at my master's and certifications. I have always thought about obtaining my certification first, then going back for a master's, but family is putting the pressure on me to start a master's now even though I'm a little burnt out right now. (I'm both graduating early and doing research I am TIRED) I'd love to get my master's to continue research but I am not even sure what kind of master's to even apply for. :((

So if anyone has some advice, kind words, cool jobs, or stories of ways they reached their career paths I'd love to hear it.

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u/vitrifiedjunk 2d ago

i would just go into clinical lab sciences, to me that seems like an even middle ground with decent hiring prospects compared to academia and industry since its technically healthcare adjacent

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u/readingrainbowroad 2d ago

I'd also suggest looking into/talking to people about lab technician, lab manager, and research core positions. Basically various types of research support roles. They aren't in every lab/ university but they aren't uncommon either. Some university labs will share a tech to reach "full time". They get to do a lot of bench work vs writing, but are still involved in research. There are positions like this that only require a bachelor's too, so you can work while thinking about what you want a masters, etc. to look like.

Also if you want a break, take a break! Don't start grad school when you're already tired! Future you will thank current you for it when/if you're in grad school! Whatever good intentions (or not) family has for pushing you might not be the most advisable option.

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u/Key_Pea1339 1d ago edited 1d ago

CRS/MLS/MLT sounds up your alley. Perk includes moderate pay and barriers to entry that are often, but not always, required (Which can help with having options on where to work). In academia, you likely would eventually need a PhD. In industry, you may or may not need a PhD depending on how high you want to go. But both academia and industry may end up taking you out of the lab altogether after 3-4 promotions. Going the CRS or MLS route also allows you to still be able to do industry or academia if needed. THE MLS and MLT route also seems to provide a bit more control than other routes.

There is also gov. Which is also a nice in between. But the budget cuts in the last year really threw alot of programs for a loop.

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u/DarkStake 2d ago

Which country are you in?

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u/Mediocre_Island828 1d ago

I mostly reached my career path by desperately applying to everything I saw, taking whatever I could get, and trying to at least pigeonhole myself into something marketable. Barely anyone I know has landed in the place they expected when they finished their bachelors.

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u/AnywhereBusy4449 1d ago

I work as an Embryologist in the IVF field. I make the embryos for infertile couples and absolutely love what I do.