What it's REALLY like working as a Research Assistant in Academia 🇬🇧 | job scope, salary & culture

What it is REALLY like working as a Research Assistant in Academia
Helloo all, hope you're doing well :) It's been 6 months (I think) since I started my first ever job as a research assistant. There's still a lot to learn, but I think I'm getting the hang of how things work in the lab. In this video, I share my experience working as a research assistant in academia, covering topics the me a year ago (who was frantically applying to jobs she didn't even fully know about) - daily job scope, working hours, work culture and salary. Hope you find the video somewhat helpful!
⏳ Time stamps:
00:00 - Intro
00:46 - What is a Research Assistant?
02:53 - Job scope
05:38 - Working hours
06:47 - Work culture
07:26 - Salary
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👩🏻‍🔬 About me:
Hello 👋 My name's Vy and I make videos about pursuing an education and career in STEM 🔬 I'm currently working as a research assistant in Cambridge and studied biomedical science in the UK 🇬🇧 Science aside, I really enjoy all things creative arts 🎨 This channel is also a place for me to document the little joys in my every day life and my travel adventures 🌎
💻 Socials:
Instagram - @biomedwithvy
This video was entirely filmed and edited on my phone.

[@bilaltouseef8124]

I like the way you describe the things. Simple and thorough.

[@biomedwithvy]

thank you! 😊

[@aiya_yes]

Love your sweater! 💙 Im binge watching your videos lately, wish you the best in your research career and KZbin!

[@alexa_clinicalresearch]

thank you for sharing! This is truly a great experience especially if you’re looking into joining the clinical trials industry! ☺️

[@biomedwithvy]

I'm happy to! and that's so reassuring to hear 😊

[@giacomopiastra7180]

So useful. Thanks!

[@inokesoroverebasaga139]

Thank you for sharing this. God bless you.

[@destinyzroom]

Thank you so much! Amazing video! Could you tell us why you're interested in research? Like what inspired you to pursue that?

[@ganimo2229]

Great and helpful vid. Thankyou very much. Also I found it funny that I thought there was a hair on my screen until I realized it was something on your ceiling instead. 🤭 I kept trying to scrub it off and thought it was maybe even a scratch. Scared me for a sec but otherwise again great video lmao. ☆

[@biomedwithvy]

omg hahahaa I didn't even notice thanks for pointing out 😂 glad you found the video helpful regardless!

[@SKG0]

This was great information. Do you have experience in dry labs? Or do you know of a resource to find more information on working in dry labs, closer to what most psychological and neuropsychological research might be conducted in? Thank you for sharing your experience!

[@elizabethsunny5095]

Hy, I love your videos, they are really nice and thorough with every topic! Also can you help with the interview part while applying for biomedical related jobs?

[@biomedwithvy]

thank youu 😊 a video for interview prep will be released in just a few hours!

[@sasha-gm6mb]

great video!! im in highschool and worked in a few labs, but most of it went right over my head, so i wish i saw this video first :) im interested in stem cell research but havent had the chance to work with them yet - what is the project you are working on right now?

[@biomedwithvy]

thank you! I work on humanising the mouse adaptive immune system 😊

[@nisrinesenikah9436]

Hi Vy, thank you for the informations is there anyway for a post graduate general practitioner from Morocco who would like to move to UK , is it easy for to find a post as a research assistant? (I have done all my studies in French) Also im planning to get a GMc registration

[@WatchGeek8167]

What do you do if you worked your 1st research assistant job, and loved it. You really learned a lot, and gained some new skills. You stayed for over a year and a half, but it was a very toxic work environment. You put up with the toxicity, because you loved the research, and the job itself. But staying backfired, because you wound up getting fired, due to the toxicity. How do you recover from that? What do you do moving forward? Will this hurt you badly in the long run?

[@hannahtay1393]

Hi Vy, your video has been so useful! I was wondering if working as a research assistant also grants you a chance to publish on reputable journals? Thanks!

[@AmiLyn100]

Holding a PhD, yes.

[@brokenstring3230]

Hi, i got job of Research assistant and greatfull for that, i what to know that how this work experience will be helpful for doing MSc Pharmacokinetics course ?

[@janicepulicken1007]

Can one with Bsc Honours degree work as research assistant?

[@myoblc]

Hi Vy, whats the typical career journey of an RA after the fixed term is served? That is what is next after one post? Thank you

[@biomedwithvy]

usually, fresh grads will go on to do a PhD after working as an RA for 1-2 years. some stay as an RA/technician and may go on to be lab managers.

[@tayyabakhan4923]

How you apply for your job after master ?

[@KyeEraTera]

tysm for the info on the video !! do you guys get like , free rooms / food / other services provided by the research institution? because 25-30K a year doesn't seem enough to cover rooms and much other expenses ?

[@biomedwithvy]

If you stay in Cambridge university owned housing, they tend to subsidise a portion of rent. Transport and sports facilities I use are also discounted. Other than that, not much is paid for, industry might cover more healthcare services but not so much in academia. The salary is pretty low but it's personally just enough for me to pay rent/bills, transport, food, fun travels and some for savings!

[@KyeEraTera]

@@biomedwithvy ohh okok , tysm !!

[@aishasadiq1017]

Hy Vy, thank you for this informative video. I'm currently pursuing a MSc in Medical Molecular Biology (In the UK) and will be rounding up in September, when do you think I should begin applying for research role??

[@biomedwithvy]

Hello! A lot of graduate programmes will have closed by now but research assistant and technician roles come on a rolling basis so anytime works. I personally started around March, landed an offer late April/early May and was expected to start mid September. Some labs are happy to wait a few months but some prefer a person to start ASAP, so it really depends!

[@aishasadiq1017]

@@biomedwithvy awesome thanks, I'll keep that in mind. Did you have any lab experience aside your undergrad/postgrad lab work? If not, was that an issue? Also, as an international masters student, I have no A-levels, do you know if this will affect my chances of getting accepted for a research assistant role? Lastly, could you share the names some companies you applied to during your application process. Thank you!

[@biomedwithvy]

@@aishasadiq1017 I had one short internship before A-Levels and one summer internship during my 2nd year of university. Idt not doing A-Levels is an issue at all, as long as the certificate can be translated to English or is recognised internationally! As an international student, I was limited to only applying to companies/institutes that have a sponsored license (these are usually large companies), so the universities I applied to were Cambridge, Oxford and some London unis!

[@deeyadim]

Hi! Thank you so much for this informative video! Are you planning to pursue PhD soon?

[@biomedwithvy]

glad you found it helpful! yes I'm currently applying for a few PhD programs so fingers crossed something works out soon 🤞🏻

[@Balanceiskey-nd6el]

Excellent video thank you so much for the information. 1.) Is a PI the same as a research associate, and are they in both academia and industry? 2.) Is it more typical for someone with a P.h. D to be a research associate instead of assistant? 3.) Do those with a P.h. D make significantly more in industry rather than in academia?

[@biomedwithvy]

1) PI can also be a research associate, but usually unlikely as PIs tend to do less research but act as an advisor + secure grants. PI is a more common name in academia. 2) Yes a PhD definitely gives you more credibility, but ofc not 100% of the time. 3) At a PhD level, I would say that the pay might be slightly higher in industry, but not significantly. hope this answers your questions!

[@Balanceiskey-nd6el]

@@biomedwithvy I am so grateful for you taking the time to answer my questions!

[@Balanceiskey-nd6el]

@@biomedwithvy Do you happen to know about any of these questions? 1.) I have research interests in exercise science and genetics, but I don't want to do any teaching. What are some positions called that would be available for me if I were to do research with a Master's, vs. a P.h. D? 2.) What are the settings where one could work in these positions from question 1? 3.) Overall differences between working for research in academia vs. industry?

[@wednesdayluv4070]

how did u learn all the lab work

[@biomedwithvy]

I started learning during university but also received some training from my supervisor when I first started my RA job!

[@johnstfleur3987]

107.

[@no-de3lg]

Could you help im looking for someone to help me I’ll pay for it

[@HimiTath]

Girlfriend Material,bro

[@hannahtay1393]

Hi Vy, your video has been so useful! I was wondering if working as a research assistant also grants you a chance to publish on reputable journals? Thanks!

[@adwoabiotech]

It usually depends on the group that you are working with and most importantly, how significant your contribution to the project is.