BGS Career Development

Making It Count!

Competency: Communication

Prepare for the BioSciences Career Fair

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In anticipation of the BioSciences Career Fair (October 25, 2018), the Biomedical Postdoctoral Council and Penn Career Services will host a preparatory workshop. They will cover essential information on:

• Why career fairs can be helpful to you no-matter where you are in your PhD program or postdoc appointment

• Putting together a career fair ready resume if you are on the job market

• Preparing your introduction for when you chat with employers

• Using Handshake and Career Fair Plus to gather information on employers

• Making a list of relevant questions you can ask

• Networking when you are not looking for a job

• What you can do after the fair to help your continued career exploration or applications (Via Handshake).

When: Thursday, October 18th 2018, 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Where: Clinical Research Building (CRB) Robert Austrian Auditorium

CTL Workshop: Teaching as Community Service and Outreach

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Are you passionate about giving back to the community? Do you want to encourage interest and increase public literacy in STEM? If yes, come learn how to use your knowledge of scientific research to engage and educate the public. This workshop with Dr. Lori Flanagan-Cato of the Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology will focus on helping attendees develop and incorporate teaching skills in community service and outreach activities.

Counts toward the CTL Teaching Certificate.

When: October 24, 2018, 3PM – 4PM

Where: BRB 0801

RSVP here. 

ASCB: “Writing as a scientist: a skill for life”

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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.

CTL Workshop: Conveying Technical Information to Non-Experts

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Researchers in the biomedical sciences must often explain technically-complex material to non-experts, with ‘non-experts’ comprising diverse individuals including collaborators, new lab members, or audiences at a conference talk.

In this workshop, we will discuss best practices for tailoring the communication of technical information with Dr. Casey Greene who leads the Integrative Genomics Laboratory. Attendees will learn and practice these important communication skills, and benefit from the advice from a BGS faculty member with extensive experience! Counts toward the CTL Teaching Certificate.

                                             When: Oct 10 2018, 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
                                                                  Where: BRB 1201
                                                                         RSVP here.

                                          Contact Katerina Placek for more information.

 

Call for Proposals: Early-Career Fellowship Program

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The Open Notebook/Burroughs Wellcome Fund fellowship for early-career science writers is now accepting applications for their next two fellowship periods. The first will begin on January 2, 2019 and end on August 31, 2019. The subsequent fellowship period will begin on July 1, 2019 and end on February 28, 2020.

During this remote and part-time fellowship, fellows will report and write six articles for publication at The Open Notebook and will receive a stipend of $4,200.

Eligibility

“The fellowship is open to early-career science writers with fewer than two years of professional science writing experience. (Internships and student work do not count toward this requirement). Graduate students interested in science writing are eligible. Prospective fellows must be available to devote sufficient time to completing articles as specified in the fellowship description. (International applicants are welcome. Note that applications, including writing samples and letters of recommendation, must be in English.)” (Via The Open Notebook)

Apply by 11:59 p.m. U.S. Central time on October 11, 2018.

Click here to apply.

Biophysical Society: “Using Social Media to Share your Science”

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In recognition of social media’s power to spread information and misinformation alike, this career article from the Biophysical Society explores how these online tools can be used for science outreach, strengthening networks, and creating a following for one’s own research. The author offers a broad overview of Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. They also provide strategies unique to each of these platforms, such as how to present yourself in the headline versus summary sections of LinkedIn.