In considering where to pursue postdoctoral research, an important factor is work culture and environment. Chris Woolston’s article in Nature explores the merits of newer laboratories compared to those that are more established. Woolston also acknowledges that new labs can be perceived as high-risk and provides tips for students and researchers to ensure that they will have a productive experience, such as checking the principal investigator’s publication history.
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NIH: UPDATE 2018: Which Federal Agencies & Contractors Hire Scientists?
For those interested in a career in government, the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Intramural Training & Education (OITE) has provided a useful update, detailing which federal agencies hire scientists. They also provide a list of common contracting firms used by government offices to fill positions, another potential pathway into a federal position.
Inside Higher Ed: A Road Map for Successful Career Exploration
A program funded by an NIH Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training (BEST) award at the University of California, San Francisco has developed a useful career development tool – the Career Exploration Road Map. This Inside Higher Ed article highlights some of its features.
The map is intended to be revisited throughout career exploration, in recognition that the processes of practicing self-assessment, investigating careers, and implementing change are each highly iterative. The map is complemented by a YouTube video titled, “The Fantasy, The Ideal, and The Reality of Career Exploration.”
NCI Updates Team Science Field Guide
The NIH’s National Cancer Institute (NCI) recently released an updated version of its Collaboration and Team Science: A Field Guide. This guide is used by institutional leaders to “help guide change at an organizational level, shifting research culture from a primary investigator-initiated focus to one that embraces collaborative and cross-cutting efforts across disciplinary dedicated departments.” It also includes resources for graduate courses and programs to integrate team science and interdisciplinary research into their learning. (Via the AAMC)
JAMA: Supporting the Next Generation of Biomedical Researchers
Ron Daniels, JD, LLM, president of Johns Hopkins, and Victor Dzau, MD, president of the National Academy of Medicine, published a JAMA article on the “Next Generation of Biomedical Researchers.” After a summary of the issues that biomedical trainees and early-career researchers face, the article discusses the recently-released NASEM report on the Next Generation of Biomedical Researchers. The report committee was chaired by Ron Daniels. (Via the AAMC)
Article – Medical Science Liaison: A Career Option for PhDs
The American Society for Cell Biology has posted an interview with a medical science liaison.