I am definitely still looking for paid technician or research assistant work but it's been over 9 months since my last laboratory job and I want to get back into the mix and back into publishing.

I graduated with my M.S. in biomedical engineering back in December and have applied to PhD programs. Things are not looking positive so I want to try to get on some projects to publish more papers since I feel if I apply again this is the only change I can really make to my application.

Anybody have ideas on what I can do? I have sent over 80 emails/job applications at this point and of the ones that responded to emails asking for spots, none seem to have funding (cold emails) and I just don't hear back from the applications I submit online even after follow up emails with the group or HR. I have clocked over 4 years of experience, 2 years as a full time research assistant and I really feel I am more than qualified to be paid but if labs don't have money what can I do?

Are there any grants or fellowships for non-students to perform academic research? I just want to learn and do research again. I even use old connections to get into research symposiums, the science itch has gotten bad.