BGS Career Development

Making It Count!

Science: Working Life

New Program for Students: Level Up

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Want to share the joy of robotics or sewing? Have a foolproof method for research poster design? Want to introduce others to R or animation? Apply to be a workshop leader.

Level Up student workshop leaders teach other students how do something they are skilled at in one of three tracks: 

  • Design and Digital Media (e.g. animation, research posters, podcasting, branding, palette design)
  • Making (e.g. robots, games, apps, buttons, sewing, 3D modeling)
  • Research Tools and Technology (e.g. archival photography, visualizations, R, Excel, Zotero)

Library staff will provide students with all the necessary support for a successful workshop — training, promotion, workshop space, and pay for the time preparing and conducting the workshop. All you need to start with is a great idea! For more information, go to: guides.library.upenn.edu/levelup. 

The Attractions of a Career in Academic Bench Science

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Have you mostly heard about ‘alternatives’ to a career at the bench?

Does carrying out research, writing grants and manuscripts, and supervising others appear overwhelming?

Are there secrets to being an academic scientist while balancing family life and managing well-being?

How much fun is life in academia, really?


Hear positive perspectives on academia from:
Faye Mourkioti, PhD
Assistant Professor

Ken Zaret, PhD
Professor

February 24, 2020, 3:30 – 5 PM (Smilow 12-146 AB)
Light refreshments will be served. Register here.

iBiology, “Take Your Skills Up a Notch”

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iBiology offers a number of free online courses for professional development:

Promo image for Let's Experiment course: drawn man, woman, mouse, plant and molecule with title of the course

Goal: Effectively design and execute your wet lab experiments
You: Senior undergrads, grad students or postdocs looking to learn or brush up on your experimental design skills
Why?? Real scientists + real case studies + useful tools and templates = powerful experimental skills building
Link: http://bit.ly/LE-self-paced

Promo image for Planning Your Scientific Journey course: pictures of 13 scientists with the title of the course

Goal:  Develop a great scientific question and build your research plan around it 
You: Senior undergrads, grad students or postdocs looking to learn or brush up on how to design research projects or build achievable plans
Why?? Fantastic scientists give you the skills to tackle the exciting unknown of research
Link: http://bit.ly/PYSJ-self-paced

Promo image for Business Concepts for Life Scientists course: drawn lightbulb surrounded by science-related icons: microscope, flask, molecules

Goal:  Learn the core principles of business in a course built for scientists  
You: Senior undergrads, grad students or postdocs looking to move into business roles or bring key business concepts to your research
Why?? Practicing businesspeople, all trained scientists from diverse backgrounds, show you what you need to know about business
Link: http://bit.ly/BCLS-self-paced

Career Services’ PhD Career Exploration Fellowship 2020

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The PhD Career Exploration Fellowship (formerly the PhD Externship) program encourages non-faculty career exploration among doctoral students by facilitating shadowing experiences and fostering mentorship relationships with advanced-degree holding professionals. This unpaid opportunity allows doctoral students to gain hands-on, real-world career experience in administrative offices, libraries, pharmaceuticals, museums, science outreach, and other centers on Penn’s campus and in the Philadelphia area. Students can use this experience to cultivate a stronger professional profile and to develop career-readiness competencies and administrative skills in preparation for a range of careers.

The program was created in 2017 to help meet the need for career development among doctoral students interested in pursuing non-faculty tracks. In 2019, 26 PhD students participated in opportunities across 20 organizations both within and beyond the university to support an array of career interests.

The application deadline is Thursday, January 30, 2020. All applications will be through Handshake at this link: https://upenn.joinhandshake.com/jobs/3417819

If you have any questions about this program, please contact Career Services’ PhD Professionalism Fellow, Kate Webb (katwebb@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Spring Career + Internship Fair 2020

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Image result for career services upenn

Friday, January 31, 2020 ~ 11:00am – 3:00pm
Bodek Lounge & Hall of Flags, Houston Hall
3417 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104

General Information

  • Dress is business casual. Please bring copies of your resume.
  • Participating industries include Consumer Products | Consulting | Education | Engineering / Manufacturing | Financial Services | Insurance | Government | Healthcare / Biotechnology / Pharmaceuticals | Real Estate | Retail | Technology | AND MORE!

To see a list of registered employers online, please visit: https://upenn.joinhandshake.com/career_fairs/13047

Science, “To advance your career, think of yourself as a business”

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Image result for business cards stock image

In a recent article in the Science career advice column, career consultant and professional speaker Alaina G. Levine promotes the practice of thinking of yourself as a business. According to the author, whether you work in government, academia, or another field, thinking of yourself as a business with “products” (or valuable skill sets) to offer allows you to incorporate useful business practices into your career development. A few examples include understanding what potential “customers” (or employers) find valuable and building your brand.

Read the complete article here.