Does grad research determine your career? - (Sep/23/2008 )

I've been wondering if my research that I'm doing in grad school is going to determine the research for the rest of my career. I'm in a rather clinically oriented lab right now but I think I would rather continue with more basic science research when I eventually graduate (just finished my third year). Is the research that I've done here in grad school going to restrict the job availability when I graduate?

Actually..... not at all. Sometimes not even your PhD Thesis does that. How come? Because when your are a student you have to settle for whatever is given at your school and the Head researcher who will take you in. I have seen graduate students doing their thesis in ecology of seeds and end up working in viral infectious diseases. Two completely different areas. After you graduate you have to really know in what type of lab you want to work, talk to your supervisor and let them know you skill in the lab.

Good luck !!!

you can also try out a range of short term postdocs (hopefully not too many, you don't want to be a permanent postdoc) until you find an area that truly interests you.

Not at all.
In fact I was very frustrated as a student when I heard people talk about thier careers and they had done this and then gone and tried that and then something else came along. They seemed to have no direction whatsoever and I couldn't work out how they had ended up as sucessful scientists.

I think it is a matter of taking the opportunities that are presented to you. Don't narrow yourself into the research you did in grad school when looking for a post-doc. Apply for anything that sounds interesting and that you think you could do.