Neuroscience research career?

[yuj20]

Hi everyone, I'm a junior in college, majoring in Neuroscience. I'm seriously thinking about my career after graduating. Which way do you think I would end up doing a quality research?

: 1. Going to a graduate school for a combined masters degree &PhD, then doing research.

2. Going to a medical school, studying neurology and getting experienced as a doctor, and then doing research.

 

Please let me know which one would be the best choice, considering time and money! Thanks a lot!!

Edited April 29, 2017 by yuj20

[Function]

In Belgium, you can combine your (in case of neurology, 5-year lasting) specialisation with a PhD ... 2 years of research may replace 1 year of specialisation here; I'm planning on doing that: combining my specialisation (not sure which one yet, either neurology or neurosurgery) with a PhD, favourably in a fundamental neuroscientific setting, e.g. epilepsy, consciousness, ...

 

Think this is possible where you live?

Edited April 29, 2017 by Function

[yuj20]

That sounds like a good program for those whi want to be neurologist/neurosurgeon! I live in the US and cannot speak languages other than English and Korean though.

[Function]

I'd be stupified if it weren't possible in the US?

[CharonY]

Hi everyone, I'm a junior in college, majoring in Neuroscience. I'm seriously thinking about my career after graduating. Which way do you think I would end up doing a quality research?

: 1. Going to a graduate school for a combined masters degree &PhD, then doing research.

2. Going to a medical school, studying neurology and getting experienced as a doctor, and then doing research.

 

Please let me know which one would be the best choice, considering time and money! Thanks a lot!!

 

It really depends on what your goals are. If you want to be a researcher, often it means an academic position, with all the uncertainties of such an career. As an MD, on the other hand it is often not trivial to establish a research program for a variety of reasons. Most of my medical collaborators lack training in research, but what is even worse is that they can basically only allot their free time to do so. Some, who are affiliated with research organizations can get a reduced workload that they can spend on doing research, but it is difficult. On the other hand, at least it has a somewhat more clear trajectory in terms of career (even if one never gets into research) compared to a purely academic career.