BGS Career Development

Making It Count!

Career: Science writing

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.

Science: “Explore the skills that can open career doors after your doctoral training”

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This Science article discusses a survey of 3,803 science and engineering Ph.D.s working in various industries. Survey respondents revealed that while many believe they began developing important professional skills while in grad school, there are a number of skills that they have found very important at work that were not a central focus of their Ph.D. training (for example, personnel management.)

The article’s authors developed an interactive graphic based on the survey’s data. It compares the extent a skill is developed in grad school with its importance in 12 career sectors, including research, consulting, teaching, and more. It is intended to give doctoral students an overview of the day-to-day duties and responsibilities of jobs in a variety of sectors and to shed light on which skills should be prioritized, either within their Ph.D. training or through extracurricular activities.

Video Series: Career Exploration Videos

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In this iBiology career exploration series, scientists share their backgrounds and experiences in a variety of fields, including education, industry, and government. If you are thinking of a career in science education, you may enjoy this video featuring Drs. Alvarez, Eckdahl and Fowlks. They have each found opportunities to pass on their passion for biology by teaching at the undergraduate level. In this video, they share stories about the events that sparked their interest in biology and speak about their respective career paths.

Alternatively, those that enjoy engaging with different audiences and find themselves talking non-stop about their scientific passions may relate to Dr. Debra Cooper’s story of her transition to a career in science policy. A policy consultant in the California State Senate Office of Research, Cooper advocates for the application of scientific research in society. In her feature, she shares her own career path and provides an overview of other potential roles in the field. iBiology also features Jon Lorsch, Director of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) in this video about careers in scientific public service. Lorsch provides an overview of the type of investigator-initiated research funded by NIGM and describes the fulfillment he has found working in administration and leadership. The BGS Career Development blog will be updated regularly as new videos are added to the series.

PennToday: Careers in Media

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Ongoing dialogue about how news media cover science suggests a need for increased interaction between the fields. If you are interested in a career in media, stop by Kelly Writers House to hear from Penn alumni who work for The Washington Post, Cosmopolitan, and other news sources. They will share insights on how to prepare for your career search. For more information, visit here.

Sponsors: The Povich Journalism Program, The Daily Pennsylvanian, the Creative Writing Program, and the Nora Magid Mentorship Prize
When: Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 6:00PM
Where: Kelly Writers House, 3805 Locust Walk

Networking Happy Hour – Janssen Pharmaceuticals

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Join BGS Career Development on Wednesday, September 12, 2018 as we kick off our first networking event – a happy hour featuring alumni from Janssen Pharmaceuticals of Johnson & Johnson. Enjoy beer, wine, and snacks as well as equally refreshing conversation with BGS alumni from Janssen. It will be a fantastic opportunity to learn about the diverse career paths offered by a leading pharmaceutical company, including: research, medical writing, regulatory affairs, and medical affairs.

When: Wednesday, September 12, 2018 from 4:00 – 5:30pm

Where: Jordan Medical Education Center Lobby

Register here

by September 4, 2018 to guarantee your spot!