Advice for Scientists

Nathan
Vanderford

The Relevance of Graduate Education

Do you think that the majority of graduate education programs today are providing relevant education and training to their students in relation to the jobs that graduates are actually obtaining? The National Science Foundation’s report titled Science and Engineering Indicators 2012 indicates th...


Gaia
Vasiliver-Shamis

How to Stay on Top?

You got into science because you are passionate about understanding how things work or maybe because the white lab coat is totally your style. And so you went to grad school, chose a lab and started working on your super-exciting-this-is-going-to-be-a-Cell-paper project. Then, you get sucked in with...


Thomas Patrick
Chuna

Just Say No

Hello everyone! This can be a hot topic, so understand that the opinions I am about to lay out are mine and mine alone. I don’t speak for the Five O’Clock Club on this, nor do I speak for Bio Careers. At a recent conference for career professionals where I was teaching a workshop, I wa...


Gaia
Vasiliver-Shamis

How to Give an Effective Talk

We’ve all been there, sitting through yet another B-O-R-I-N-G seminar that you decided to attend because the title sounded so interesting, your boss told you to go or, let’s be honest, there was free food involved. Even the most beautiful science, at times, is presented in the most boring, impos...


Lauren
Celano

Top ten tips to identify the companies you want to work for

Numerous options exist to identify potential companies to work for, especially those companies that are innovative, but not (yet) well-known. Below is a top ten list of ways to uncover exciting and innovative companies relevant to your area(s) of interest. The advice provided below is applicable to ...


Nicholas
Mitchell

A Round About Way to Academia

My new life begins tomorrow. Except, tomorrow isn’t tomorrow; it is more fittingly next week, next month, next semester, or next year. Regardless of when it comes, though, what I believe happens tomorrow is always the same: “tomorrow I begin the career that fulfills me in every way.” 


Sandlin
Seguin

Becoming An Expert In Things I Enjoy

As a graduate student, I worked really hard to do the things that graduate students are supposed to do. I went to the seminars. I read the journal club papers. I did well in my classes. And I will admit that I was often pretty jealous of other people who weren’t so regimented about those things, b...


Sandlin
Seguin

Working as a Technology Licensing Intern

One of the important factors in my job hunt was that after my defense, my husband accepted a job in Seattle. Seattle is very far from Pittsburgh, where I graduated, but much closer to our friends and family. It was a great opportunity for his career, and of all the places we could end up, the Seattl...


Virginie
Adam

MSL: Medical..Science…What?

If you browse job listings on the websites of pharmaceutical companies, it’ll soon become apparent that there are a slew of titles and abbreviations, which often differ between companies…it can get confusing!  Sometimes, at Company X an ‘Associate’ scientist has more experience than a �...


Lauren
Celano

The Art of Follow-up

Following up with individuals who you meet at scientific conferences, networking, and other activities is important to develop relationships with your connections.  Over time, these relationships can provide insight into industry, various career paths, and job opportunities. These should be act...