BGS Career Development

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Scientific Societies: ASCB

ASCB Biotech Courses

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ASCB is offering two week-long courses this summer for PhD students, graduate students, and postdocs in health, science, and medical programs who wish to explore opportunities to implement their expertise in a biomedical business career. Of 230 attendees in 2014-2018, 66% now have jobs in industry, regulatory affairs, or tech transfer; the remainder are still in training or in academia. The course fee is $875 and scholarships from $200-$400 are available, thanks to support from Biogen. The East Coast course, in partnership with Manning School of Business at University of Massachusetts Lowell, is May 31-June 6. The West Coast course, in partnership with Keck Graduate Institute in Claremont, CA, is July 12-18. Each course can accommodate up to 50 graduate students and postdocs (international and domestic).

The deadline to apply is March 31. The application stipulates that applicants must become an ASCB member once they are accepted. Click here for more information and to apply.

Please note – BGS can provide up to $1500 to support students participating in off-site courses. Find more information and access the BGS Course Fund Request Form on the following page, under, “Travel Funds.”

ASCB: “Five ways to get involved in community science outreach”

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The American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) provides five key pieces of advice for graduate students looking to become more involved in science outreach. The skills one gains as an advocate for science (communication, organization, leadership, and more) are applicable to any number of careers. Of course, there are other great benefits to science outreach. The author explains:

Discussing science with friends and neighbors can give them a better sense of what you and other scientists really do—science can seem very technical and confusing to non-specialists. Finally, talking big picture science can also remind you, the specialist, that science is fun! It’s a reminder that many of us need after another day of troubleshooting experiments.

(Via ASCB)

Read more here.

ASCB: How to ignore good advice and postdoc in a newly opened lab

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The American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) features one scientist’s reflections on the process of searching for a postdoc position as he neared the end of his PhD. The author ultimately decided to join a newly opened lab despite initial misgivings, and he shares honest insights on what he sacrificed and gained in the process (i.e. loss of built-in networks versus gaining an immediate impact on the lab’s research and culture.)

Read more here.

ASCB: “Trainee survival tips: the importance of self-care”

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Acknowledging the difficulty of being a graduate student or postdoc, this ASCB article provides tips for self-care. Notably, the author recognizes that stressors can arise even when everything is going well, so self-care should be considered an ongoing priority. Five general tips include:

  1. Find something that you enjoy and try to incorporate it into your daily routine.
  2. Choose the right people to socialize with.
  3. Take a break when you need it.
  4. Take time to decompress each day.
  5. Love yourself.

The author provides further explanation and specific examples of each. Read more here.

ASCB: “The stranger in the lab: Staff scientists”

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This ASCB article provides clarity on the often obscure role of staff scientists. The author asserts that although many students and postdocs are interested in these positions, openings and job descriptions can be difficult to find. The article then explores academic staff scientist positions, including a number of possible titles and responsibilities. When searching for these positions, word of mouth can play a critical role.

Overall, the author explains, “If you like the ‘doing’ part of science and not the writing /funding part of it, a staff scientist position may be a great fit for you. Furthermore, staff positions can be a great example of transitional careers—a place to learn new things and make you a better scientist for future endeavors.”

Read more here.