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Science Careers Job Fair
We received this event invitation for those looking to pursue industry positions in the future. We recommend registering for this free event in advance!
I’m delighted to let you know that Science Careers has partnered with Harvard University to produce a unique Science Career Fair open to all on March 14, 2018. I would be grateful if you could help to advertise this event widely!
Join us for a chance to meet with top scientific organizations and get important advice from career experts. The combination of valuable career development seminars, company presentations, and exciting career opportunities make this a free “must-attend” event for scientists. The event will include 4 sessions: Exploring Bioscience and Entrepreneurship; Networking for Scientists; Science Communication and Public Engagement Fundamentals; and Transitioning into a Non-academic Career.
In addition, the following companies will offer presentations: Pfizer; EMD Serono; MilliporeSigma & EMD Performance Materials; FAPESP -Sao Paulo Brazil Research Foundation; Jackson Laboratories; and Moderna Therapeutics.
Date: Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Location: Northwest Science Building, 52 Oxford Street, B100, Harvard campus, Cambridge, MA
Time: 11:00 am – 5 pm EST
For more details and to register, visit sciencemag.org/careers/jobfair.
Short Course – Navigating the Corporate Environment
The Sackler School has opened registration for their next short course, focused on preparing individuals for industry. If you’re heading to industry, register soon — seats are limited.
We are pleased and proud to announce a new short course “NAVIGATING THE CORPORATE ENVIRONMENT”. This course continues our series of courses and seminars designed to educate and train students and postdocs toward career excellence in academia and across the biomedical workforce. This course will provide an introductory understanding of working in biotech, pharma and research organizations.
This course will combine lecture and interactive activities from a Northeastern University Business faculty with discussions with alumni and others from a variety of companies. Topics will include managing people, understand culture, working in groups, teamwork, organizational structure, company overviews, the market and associated peers, roles within an organization and how to be successful in a corporate environment.
This course will consist of five 2-hour sessions on Thursday evenings from 6 – 8 pm, starting on Thursday, March 1. Subsequent sessions will be on March 8, 15, 22 and 29. Attendance at all five sessions is mandatory as are pre -and post-course surveys and a $20.00 course fee. The class size is limited to 30, and will be accepted on a first-come first-serve basis.
Please note this is a not-for-credit course. A light dinner will be served for each seminar!
Workshops in Preparing Future Professionals: A Model in Postdoc Career Development
We were joined by Nathan Vanderford from the University of Kentucky on the second part of his seminar series, this time demonstrating valuable tools and lessons to develop a course or workshop on professional development for PhDs!

Realities of today’s workforce with PhD degrees
2% unemployment
52% within academic
48% outside academia
26% for profit
9% non-profit
8% federal employment
3% self-employed
2% state employment
Graduate students interest in moving into the tenure track declines over time:
41.7% First Year
21%Third Year
(Fuhmann et al CBE Life Sci Ed 2011)
But, there is no concerted training for alternative careers!
Goals of the course:
– Understand the realities of the job market
– Realise what skills are required to transition
– Identify resources
– Take action to prepare for their chosen career
Five Major Didactic Requirements:
Career Exploration
– Explore the career paths that are of interest to them
– Written paper on necessary skills
Transferrable Skills
– Perform a self assessment and create action plans for improving identified weaknesses
Informational Interviews
– Students contact an individual in their ideal career and conduct an informational interview to develop networking skills
– How did the interviewee obtain their workplace skills?
– How did graduate skill prepare you for this career?
– Expand student’s network by asking for additional points of contact
Career Development
– Students obtain experiences in critical components of the job search process including résumé and cover letter writing
– Practice interviewing and job search execution
Student Engagement
– Students interact with guest speakers as well as present their finding from each assignment to promote student-driven discussions
Demographics:
6% Postdocs
55% PhD trainees
32% Master’s students
6% Other (undergraduates, non-degree seekers)
Course Strengths:
– Safe environment to explore their career options and work through options in a positive way
– Self-assessment
– Identification of career options
– Student engagement
– Student-driven discussion
– Diversity of disciplines
– Development of work readiness skills
Course Challenges:
– Diversity of disciplines (which guest speakers, from which disciplines)
– Tuition (who pays?)
– Permission to attend (scheduling of the class versus time spend for research)
– Course versus workshop format
Course versus Workshop Format
Course:
Positives:
– Sustained engagement
– Incentives (grade) to participate
– Effective platform for exercises
Challenges:
– Costly
– Limited reach
– PI resistance
Workshop:
Positives:
– Free
– Reach a larger audience
Challenges:
– Interrupted engagement
– No incentive to participate in exercises
– Non-effective platform for exercises
Future Plans:
Certificate Program:
– Work hours component (4 hours)
– Course hours (2 hours)
Tips for trainees:
Goal setting tips:
– Write out goals and map out a strategy
– Post your goals where you can easily see them
Career Exploration and Networking:
– LinkedIn
– Alumni network
– Informational interviews
– Work Experience
Transferrable skills:
– Functional skills
– Knowledge-based skills
– Personal traits and attitudes
– A realistic assessment helps with your placement and career success
Tools to assess transferrable skills:
– Science Careers myIDP
– Gallup StrengthsFinder
– SkillScan
– MN Career Pathways
– Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
Non-traditional careers within Academia and how to get them with Nathan Vanderford
Nathan Vanderford joined us for a great seminar on navigating the world of alternative careers in Academia!
Where do current US Biology, Agricultural and Environmental PhD Grads work post-defense?
- 52% in Academia
- 48% in Industry
It’s OK to not pursue a tenure track position!
Field | 2004 | 2009 | 2014 |
All | 70.0% | 69.5% | 61.4% |
Life sciences | 71.2% | 66.8% | 57.9% |
Physical sciences | 71.5% | 72.1% | 63.8% |
Social sciences | 71.3% | 72.9% | 68.8% |
Engineering | 63.6% | 66.8% | 57.0% |
Education | 74.6% | 71.6% | 64.6% |
Humanities | 63.4% | 63.3% | 54.3% |
Use your PhD as a hub for your career path.

Nathan’s Story:
2003: Bachelors in Science
2008: PhD in Biochemistry
2009-2010: Scientific Writer and Editor (Markey Cancer Center, U. Kentucky)
2010-2011: Postdoctoral Fellowship (Moleculr Physiology & Biphysics, Vanderbilt University)
2010-2011: Director of Research Communications (Markey Cancer Center, U. Kentucky)
- Operations manager
- Administrator
- Manager
- Consultant
- Strategist
- PR/Marketing liaison
- Government affairs liaison
- Teacher/mentor
- Career Development
- Researcher
- Kentucky Lung Cancer Research Fund
- Cigarette Excise Tax Program
- Cancer Center Support Grant (Ass’t Director for Research)
- Career Training in Oncology Program (Creator/Founder and Director)
Using your PhD as a hub for career selection:
- Academic affairs
- Institutional Effectiveness
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Library Services
- Economic Development
- Extension Services
- Information Services
- Philanthropy
- Finance and Administration
- Human Resources
- Marketing
- Public Relations
- Sponsored Projects
- Research Compliance
- Research Operations
- Research Development
- Health Care Entrepreneurship support
- Academic affairs
- Institutional Effectiveness
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Library Services
- Economic Development
- Extension Services
- Information Services
- Philanthropy
- Finance and Administration
- Human Resources
- Marketing
- Public Relations
- Sponsored Projects
- Research Compliance
- Research Operations
- Research Development
- Health Care Entrepreneurship support
How to find your next job:
- Provide value
- Network
- Develop your personal brand
- your knowledge
- your value proposition
- your mission
- your values
- your skills
- your vision
- Use social media to advertising and demonstrate your brand
- Twitter, Reddit, LinkedIn, Blogger, LinkedIn, Instagram
- Gain practical work experience in your field of interest through internships, volunteering and collaborations
- Provide value
- Network
- Develop your personal brand
- your knowledge
- your value proposition
- your mission
- your values
- your skills
- your vision
- Use social media to advertising and demonstrate your brand
- Twitter, Reddit, LinkedIn, Blogger, LinkedIn, Instagram
- Gain practical work experience in your field of interest through internships, volunteering and collaborations
Tufts University Postdocs Can Now Access the VersatilePhD!
Stay tuned for a seminar on using the VersatilePhD in your career development!