BGS Career Development
Making It Count!
This article from the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology profiles two Ph.D. scientists who work at national laboratories. Tom Metz leads a metabolomics team at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and Mollie Rappé is a science writer at Sandia National Laboratories. The scientists describe how they reached their current positions and what working in the national laboratory system is like.
The American Society for Cell Biology has posted this insightful article about mentorship. It details the learning potential involved in mentoring undergraduates in the lab. Of course, it’s no secret that graduate students juggle numerous responsibilities. Still, they would be wise to view the opportunity to mentor as a teaching opportunity, rather than an additional task. The author emphasizes graduate students’ potential to strengthen undergraduates’ “scientific identity,” the extent to which they see themselves as scientists. Fostering scientific identity is crucial, especially for members of underrepresented minorities. The author makes a number of suggestions – allowing students to attend meetings with your PI, involving them in lower-stakes side projects, and more.
The Society for Neuroscience provides this career advice article written by Dr. Donna Korol, Associate Professor at Syracuse University. Although she acknowledges that there are no concrete answers when it comes to finding and securing a postdoc, she provides her insights on a number of commonly asked questions, such as, “Is it okay to do more than one postdoc?” or, “If I want to go into academia, can I still do an industry postdoc?” Read her perspectives here.
In this article from the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dr. Aubrey Smith explains his career path and love for teaching, a passion that led him to his current position as associate professor in the department of biology at Montgomery College. Smith explains the benefits of teaching at a community college.
The American Society for Cell Biology provides an insightful article by Dr. Gaia Cantelli, lecturing fellow at Duke University. Cantelli writes about the importance of effective communication in science. The ability to explain science, whether to the public, to educate students, or to communicate with patient advocates is crucial, she asserts. Writing is perhaps even more important for those seeking nonacademic careers, as an in-demand transferrable skill. Cantelli provides insights on conventions for science vs scientific writing as well as general tips to hone your skills.
This article from the Biophysical Society lists some of the information that might be found in a thoughtfully crafted letter of recommendation. This might include a brief description of the writer’s relationship with the letter’s subject, a statement on their accomplishments and strengths, or specific examples of excellence, such as demonstrated leadership abilities. Having a sense of what constitutes a high-quality recommendation enables students to provide their mentors with the additional details and background information they might need. The author also explains the importance of professionalism in requesting letters of recommendation.