7 Ways IMGs Can Find Research Experience ❤

Guys, finding research experience takes curiosity, persistence and a willingness to contribute ❤ Here are seven ways to start looking. Ask about the role, supervision, time commitment, funding and authorship expectations before joining a project.

Hello my friends, hope you are having an amazing day!! ☀️

⚡ How to read this guide red = mistakes & warnings · blue = dates, deadlines & timing · purple = numbers & costs · yellow = key terms · blue links = official sources (open in a new tab).

I will explain 7 possible ways that an International Medical graduate can get research experience in the United States of America. 🇺🇸

𝟏. 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐃 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐎𝐑

This is the way most of my friends got their research positions in Argentina and then in the USA. It’s 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒏𝒆 but it’s also the one that 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩.

•𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤? Talk to doctors in your country, in your University or Hospital. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒉𝒚𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉, it’s not just in the USA, and the ones that work in research in your country probably know a doctor in the USA that is involved in research too, or knows a doctor that knows a doctor in the USA.

•𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐭? 𝑨𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒄𝒉 the doctors in your community, 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 your interest, 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘 them your passion, 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍 them 𝐰𝐡𝐲 this is so important for you, and that you want him/her to 𝐛𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫. Look up what kind of research they work on and tell them some projects and ideas that you can add to his research. 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽: Once you start working with them, gaining their trust, getting publications, it will help you a lot to start getting that research experience, and 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝘾.𝙑. with publications. After some time they will get you in contact you with 𝒅𝒐𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑼𝑺𝑨 that can hire you, or make you publish with them!

𝟐. 𝐌𝐄𝐄𝐓 𝐃𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐔𝐒𝐀 🇺🇸

•𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤? If you are going to North America for a 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 or 𝗼𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽, you will meet a LOT of people. 🙂 •𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐭? Talk to the doctors, approach them, tell them the same things that I mentioned before.

It’s your opportunity to meet them in person and show them your interest, don’t miss it!! 
Don’t go back to your country empty handed!!

𝟑. 𝐔𝐒𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐒 •𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤? If you know people, or have a family member that is a doctor/ professor, talk to them, tell them how important this if for you and ask for their help. Don't be afraid to approach your aunt that still treats you as if you were 10 years old, or that doctor that you met five years ago and haven't talked for a while. •𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐭? Simple, just approach them, being very charismatic, showing interest, passion, and enthusiasm!! 😀

• 4. EMAIL DOCTORS DIRECTLY Find a team whose work interests you and use the contact details on its official institutional page.

• Write a brief, personal message: why their work matters to you, your relevant skills, and how you could contribute.

• Verify the address; do not guess it or send the same generic message everywhere.

I got friends from all over the world that got in contact with American doctors doing this, and got a researcher visa sponsored to come and work with them!

• 5. APPLY THROUGH OFFICIAL JOB PAGES Look for research roles on hospital and university career pages.

• Read the actual duties, required skills, compensation, and eligibility.

• Work authorization and sponsorship depend on the role and institution; ask the employer about your situation.

• 6. START AS A VOLUNTEER This is how my own research and USCE journey began!

• Apply through the hospital’s official volunteer office, learn the role well, and build trust by contributing.

• Any later research or clinical role requires separate institutional approval.

• Volunteering does not itself authorize patient care or guarantee a job.

𝟕. 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐧

This is a great website if you know how to use it, you can find research position, clerkships/ observerships/ extenrships, and meet great people

Keep your LinkedIn profile accurate and look for roles through official employers. When someone offers an opportunity, verify the institution, supervision, duties, and terms before committing.

Opportunities can take time to find, and not everyone has the same access or resources. Keep asking thoughtful questions, learning useful skills, and helping each other along the way ❤

I just want the best for all of you, I want you to succeed!! 
𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝗠𝗚 𝗮𝗿𝗲!!

Important advice

𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁, 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐲.

Every time you approach someone and want to show your interest, always start with the 𝗪𝗛𝗬? then tell the 𝗛𝗢𝗪? and lastly the 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧?

1. •𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝘁?

2. •𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝘁?

3. •𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺?

Good luck everyone — it is possible to build research experience, but meaningful contribution comes first. Ask early about responsibilities, supervision, and how the team will recognize your work.

Authorship should reflect a genuine contribution and the journal’s requirements. Adding a name as a favor is not the goal; learning and doing useful work are.

Keep working on the skills and relationships you can build. A project may lead to a publication, a presentation, mentorship, or valuable learning; none is guaranteed.

Best to all of you!! ❤

Hope my tips help you, I 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙖𝙜𝙚, and 𝑖𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑐ℎ 𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑤, by helping other you are also helping yourself

If you find my post helpful I invite you to share it with your friends/ USMLE groups, so it will benefit more people 🙂

Always remember this:

"𝙄𝙛 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙮, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩."

Dr. Sebastian Arruarana 𝗙𝗯 𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲: Doctor Sebas 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺: @doctor.sebas

Before you commit to a project 🔎

• Ask who supervises you, what you will actually do, what training is required, whether the role is paid, and how contributions are recognized.

• Agree on realistic expectations and keep records of your work.

• Protect confidential information and use institutional approval processes.