Career in exercise research

[Traps]

Would a masters degreee in exercise science be enough to get into researching or would you need a PhD?

In terms of laboratory research, how far can one go with a bachelor degree? Thanks.

[bryanc]

It depends on what level you want to be involved in, Traps.

If you want to be the one in charge (which entails deciding what you're going to research, designing the project, securing funding for it and generally being responsible for it) at a university research program, then you need a PhD.

If you want to be the one who coordinates studies, but doesn't necessarily design them--or at least never does so without a PhD behind them, then you could go as far as being a research coordinator or research tech working under a PhD professor. There is an off-chance that you could do some research as an MSc instructor at a small community-based university, but the likelihood you would be able to secure funding as an MSc is growing smaller and smaller as time passes.

In terms of lab research, it depends on the type of lab research you're interested in. You might be able to get a job as a lab tech with a bachelor degree in a relevant field if you have previous related lab experience.

[Traps]

Thanks for the great insight bryanc and nice blog (definitely part of my bookmarks now). I'm not up to par on interpreting all the datas and research jargon yet, but I really enjoy reading the studies. The studies on your blog and the ones from Dr. Len Kravitz's site is much easier for me to understand than studies from the Journal of Applied Physiology.

Are the chances pretty slim for someone to get involved in laboratory research with a bachelors? I don't really care about the type of duty. I just want to be involved. I'm currently pursuing a bacelors degree in exercise science and I want to know what my best options are after graduation. I was thinking either research or physical therapy, but I don't enjoy the rehab setting as much. I'm assuming the job demands are higher in physical therapy than in exercise research. Any other suggestions? Thanks.

[bryanc]

How do you define "laboratory research"? And what do you think the job your definition fits looks like?

Just want to see what your expectations are.