iBiology carries two videos by Alexandra Schnoes, formerly of UCSF, about using internships to explore careers and make career decisions. Dr. Schnoes provides much in the way of useful details. UCSF, moreover, has been at the forefront of obtaining quantitative information regarding outcomes, some of which she shares in the videos (see as well Schnoes, A.M. et al., Internship Experiences Contribute to Confident Career Decision Making for Doctoral Students in the Life Sciences, CBE – Life Sciences Education, 17:ar16, 1–14, Spring 2018.)
Online Resources
Online Course – iBiology Launches Course: Planning Your Scientific Journey
“iBiology announced the release of its new free online course Planning Your Scientific Journey. The course is built by scientists for life science trainees, and it aims to teach 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 (1) criteria to evaluate a research question, (2) a plan for how to approach their scientific question and other research goals, and (3) an agenda for a meeting with their mentor to get feedback on their plan. The course starts October 2, 2017, and is targeted to advanced undergraduates, graduate students and postdocs.”
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.
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.