BGS Career Development

Making It Count!

Online Resources

Let’s Experiment: A Guide for Scientists Working at the Bench

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iBiology is offering a new online course: “Let’s Experiment: A Guide for Scientists Working at the Bench.”

“This free 6-week course features scientists from a variety of backgrounds, who provide concrete advice on how to design and carry out experiments in biological research. We use case studies to make the abstract more tangible. In science, there is often no simple right answer. However, with this course, you can develop a general approach to experimental design and understand what you are getting into before you begin.

By the end of this course, you will have:

  • A detailed plan for your experiment(s) that you can discuss with a mentor.
  • A flowchart for how to prioritize experiments.
  • Tips and best practices for how to get started with an experiment.
  • A lab notebook template that is so impressively organized, it will make your colleagues envious.

The course is designed for students and practitioners of experimental biology with busy schedules. If you are interested in learning more, please watch the trailer, visit the course page, or take a peek at the syllabus. The course starts February 19th, 2019.” (Via iBiology)

ASBMB Webinars

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The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) provides a list of archived webinars. They are each complimentary and include recordings and slides.

The career development topics are diverse, including an inside-look at faculty search committees, advice on job hunting and compensation negotiation, insights to improve interview skills, and more.

View archived webinars here.

iBiology: Job Hunting in Industry

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iBiology has posted a series of four talks on effectively searching for industry scientist positions. See the following overview:

“Job hunting in industry might seem like a mysterious or overwhelming task, but there are specific skills you can learn to make the process approachable and successful. In a series of four talks, Bill Lindstaedt, the Assistant Vice Chancellor of Career Advancement, International and Postdoctoral Services (CAIPS) at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), will show you how to effectively search, apply, interview and negotiate for industry scientist positions. In part 1, Lindstaedt covers how to set yourself up for success in the job search, including how to find out about biotech and pharma companies and how to set up informational interviews with industry professionals. In part 2, he describes how to write a winning resume, and how to effectively find out about and apply to industry scientist positions. In part 3, he teaches key interviewing skills so you will excel at the interview process. And, in conclusion, in part 4, he provides tips for how to successfully negotiate your industry scientist job offer.” (Via iBiology)

Watch the professional development talks here.

Wharton Business Foundations Skills Courses on Coursera

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Many BGS students have expressed interest in learning about aspects of business as part of their preparation for various careers.  Wharton conducts a series of Coursera courses in business foundations. 
https://www.coursera.org/specializations/wharton-business-foundations

The courses are free for people who don’t want or need any course credit and simply want exposure to business principles and practices.  However, some people may wish to receive credit for individual courses or for a certificate (6 courses including a capstone project). Coursera estimates it takes 4-5 weeks to complete each course.  

The cost per month of Coursera is $79.  BGS can reimburse students for up to 7 months of Coursera who show proof of completion (*details below).

If you take any of the courses (whether for credit or not), we’d be interested to hear what you think of them.

*Tiffany Brooks (brookst@upenn.edu) can help with reimbursement. Reimbursement will be processed via Concur and require the following documentation:

  1. Proof of course completion plus credit received
  2. Proof of payment, which needs to be credit card receipt showing payment for this course
  3. Completed statement of Business Connection

Request for reimbursement must be submitted within 60 days of course completion/credit received.  Approval of submissions past the deadline is at the discretion of the program.

SfN: Career Skills Toolkit: From PhD to Postdoc

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For doctoral students considering a postdoc position, SfN has created a toolkit for exploring career options. Its contents include advice on how to:

  • Explore career options and decide on your next steps.
  • Build the skills and network you need for career advancement.
  • Highlight your value on a CV or resume.
  • Identify and secure a postdoc position.
  • Plan your postdoc to help you achieve future career advancement. (Via SfN Neuronline).

Read more and download the toolkit presentation here.

New NIH Peer Review Videos for Applicants

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The NIH Center for Scientific Review (CSR) has released two new peer review videos for applicants. The first, “What Happens to Your NIH Grant Application,” gives viewers insight into the review process. The second video, “Top 10 Peer Review Q&As for NIH Applicants,” features 10 experts from CSR as they address frequently asked questions.

Read more here.