May 22, 2017
Dear Colleague:
NSF has identified improvement of graduate student preparedness for the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) workforce as one of its priorities. As part of this effort, a supplemental funding opportunity is available in fiscal year (FY) 2018 and FY 2019 to provide support for non-academic research internships for graduate students to support career opportunities in any sector of the U.S. economy. NSF currently invests in a number of graduate student preparedness activities and has historically encouraged principal investigators (PIs) to include such activities in research proposals to NSF. This Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) describes new commitments and funding opportunities at NSF to ensure graduate students are prepared for the 21st-century STEM workforce.
Blog
Article – Nature: “Biology needs more staff scientists”
Steven Hyman at the Broad Institute writes in the journal Nature that independent professionals advance science in ways faculty-run labs cannot, and that staff scientist positions keep these talented people in research.
Read the full article on the Nature website.
Conference – 15th Sino-American Pharmaceuticals Professional Association Greater Philadelphia Annual Conference
BGS students who are interested in attending the Sino-American Pharmaceuticals Professional Association Greater Philadelphia (SAPA-GP) Annual Conference or in its mentorship program can contact BGS student, Nan Lin. Nan is able to register the first 50 students or post-docs who contact her about the conference FOR FREE.
Please click below for more information on the conference.
Online Course – iBiology Searching for Beta Testers: Planning Your Scientific Journey
iBiology announces the release of the beta version of its new course Planning Your Scientific Journey. The course aims to teach life science trainees how to choose a good scientific problem as well as how to plan their journey ahead. By the end of the course, students will have a plan for how to approach their scientific question and other research goals, and an agenda for a meeting with their mentor to get feedback on their plan. The course starts June 5, 2017. Graduate students and postdocs are encouraged to apply to become beta testers; advanced undergrads, faculty as well as career and professional development practitioners are also invited to become beta testers. “Planning Your Scientific Journey” is a free online course that is funded by NIGMS.
Event – Learn to Lead: Expanding Opportunities for BGS Graduates – Joshua E. Allen, Ph.D.
Navigating the Crossroads: Where Do We Go From Here?
presents
Joshua E. Allen, Ph.D., BMB , 2012 (El-Deiry)
Vice President, Research and Development, Oncoceutics, Inc.
Thursday, June 1, 2017
12-146 SCTR
12:00-1:00 p.m.
For more information, see the events calendar.
Video – Not Networking 101: Building Relationships for Success – Joanne Kamens
Networking is one of the most important career building activities a person can undertake. Many people think networking involves formal events, however in her iBiology talk, Joanne Kamens discusses how this is often not the case. There are opportunities to build connections everywhere you go, and Kamens gives strategies and advice on how to build and maintain relationships in a variety of ways. This seminar was co-sponsored by the American Society for Cell Biology Committee for Postdocs and Students.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMFPicUqfCg
About the Speaker
Joanne Kamens is the Executive Director of Addgene (https://www.addgene.org), a non-profit global plasmid repository that collects and distributes plasmids and other research reagents for scientists. Before joining Addgene, Dr. Kamens received her PhD from Harvard University, and spent 20 years in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Dr. Kamens founded the Massachusetts chapter of the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) and has a particular interest in training scientists to be effective mentors and mentees. She gives numerous talks on career advice for scientists at universities, events and conferences.