BGS Career Development

Making It Count!

Career: Nonprofit

BGS Professional Skills Series: ‘Philanthropy & Fundaising’

by

And now for something different! The next session in the BGS Professional Skills Series is, ‘Philanthropy & Fundraising.’ It will be led by Torren Blair, Senior Director of Development, Basic Science and Translational Science Programs, and Megan Osvath, Associate Director of Development for Biomedical Research on March 26, 2019 from 4-5 PM in the Barchi Library (140 John Morgan Building.)

For most, the talk will be a revelation, and certainly useful. Philanthropy and other forms of fundraising are central to the growth of institutions such as Penn, but they are relevant as well to numerous, smaller spheres of nonprofit activity. Importantly, these activities embrace a number of skills relevant to a variety of pursuits:  valuation of what we do, how to communicate with the public, creating win-win situations, and teamwork. Please join Torren and Megan as they describe the objectives and skills required in a behind-the-scenes look at how these activities are conducted at Penn.

Light refreshments will be served!

Please register here by March 22, 2019: https://goo.gl/forms/CAxW3SlWz1aVS1Zl1

If you have any questions, please contact Rebecca Lopez.

PSPDG Workshop: How to Write a Policy Memo

by

“Policy memos are the currency of the advocacy world. Used by political staffers, activists, community organizers, corporate lobbyists, and NGOs, they can be distributed to policymakers, the press, and even the general public. They summarize an entire complicated, controversial topic into a few pages, giving the reader the lay of the land and an overview of how you feel about it in just a few minutes.

Anyone wanting a career in science policy will want experience writing policy memos, and we’re hosting a workshop to teach you all about them! The workshop will include tips and tricks from major political advocacy groups, as well as hands-on learning to give you a head start in preparing for your submission to the National Science Policy Network’s Memo-Writing Competition. The winning science policy organization gets up to $1,000 for programming!

Lunch will be provided!” (Via PSPDG)

When: Tuesday, February 5, 2019. 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Where: BRB Room 253

SfN: How to Prepare for a Science Policy Career

by

The Society for Neuroscience has published a number of insights for students interested in a career in science policy. These include:

  • Learn about different science policy careers.
  • Track the issues.
  • Participate or plan advocacy activities.

The author provides fuller detail on these and other recommendations. For even more information, they recommend reading the government program management and policy and advocacy career path guides.

Read more here.

IHE: “Nonprofit Leadership by and for Early Career Scientists”

by

In this Inside Higher Ed article, Adriana Bankston (associate director of fundraising and strategic initiatives at the Future of Research) shares her perspectives on the transition from academe to a nonprofit career. She lists some of the skills that translate from one to the other, including organization, professionalism, dependability, and team work. She also acknowledges difficult aspects of the transition, such as working with much different data and research as well as needing to articulate the bigger picture of that work.

Read more here.

“Learn How to Negotiate, When, and for What!”

by

This Career Services workshop is open to all graduate students and postdocs. The workshop will address:

  • The basic principles of successful negotiation
  • What can be negotiated
  • How should you respond when offered a position
  • This workshop will focus on opportunities in the business, non-profit, and government sectors. (Via Handshake)

When: Thursday, November 15th 2018, 12:15 pm

Where: McNeil Building, Conference Room 97, 3718 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States