For graduate students and postdoctoral fellows contemplating their next career steps, the possibilities can seem both exciting and overwhelming. The Vanderbilt University Office of Biomedical Research Education and Training’s 2026 Annual Career Symposium offered a roadmap to those possibilities, bringing together alums and professionals from across the biomedical enterprise to demonstrate the breadth of careers available to scientists beyond the traditional academic pathway.
Held on May 29 at Vanderbilt’s Student Life Center, the symposium featured panels, networking opportunities, and career-focused discussions designed to help trainees at the Ph.D. student or postdoctoral fellow stage explore the diverse opportunities available to those with advanced scientific training. Presentations covered varied topics such as medical and regulatory writing careers, careers that merge science and business, industry jobs, consulting, entrepreneurship, medical science liaison positions, patent law and tech transfer jobs, and clinical and data science research. The annual event is a cornerstone of the BRET Office of Career Development’s mission to help biomedical trainees identify and prepare for fulfilling careers that align with their interests, skills, and values.
“Our trainees are incredibly fortunate to have access to the multiple nationally recognized programs created and run by the BRET Office of Career Development,” said Walter Chazin, Chancellor’s Professor of Medicine and senior associate dean of BRET. “The annual, day-long career symposium is a highlight, providing an efficient means for our trainees to learn about the many career options that exist across the biomedical career landscape. It is especially rewarding to be able to bring alums back to campus to share their stories and show the many paths that a biomedical Ph.D. can lead to.”
Throughout the day, attendees heard firsthand accounts from Vanderbilt biomedical alums who have built successful careers in a wide range of sectors. The symposium’s format encouraged both broad exploration and more personalized conversations, allowing trainees to learn directly from professionals who once sat in the same classrooms and laboratories.
Alum Jennifer Ayala discusses careers in medical and regulatory writing
One of those alums was Jennifer Ayala, who earned her Ph.D. in pharmacology while training in the laboratory of Emeritus and Lee E. Limbird Professor of Pharmacology Jeff Conn. During her graduate studies, Ayala investigated the role of metabotropic glutamate receptors in the hippocampus, developing expertise in molecular pharmacology and electrophysiology while contributing to more than 20 peer-reviewed publications.
Today, Ayala serves as associate scientific director at Citrus Health Group, where she develops scientific content for publications, congress presentations, and strategic medical communications initiatives. She participated in the symposium’s panel on medical and regulatory writing careers, sharing insights about a profession that many trainees may not encounter during their scientific training.
For Ayala, medical communications were not part of her original career plan, but something she discovered along the way. “I had transitioned out of the lab and was looking for a way to incorporate my background and love for communicating rather than doing the science,” she said. “In searching for job postings, I came across ‘medical writer’ and was intrigued.”
Ayala told attendees that many of the skills she relies on today were developed during her time at Vanderbilt.
“One of the most valuable aspects of my training at Vanderbilt was the combination of rigorous scientific training and opportunities to communicate science,” she said. “I learned the fundamentals of designing experiments, analyzing data, and critically evaluating scientific literature while also gaining experience presenting at conferences and authoring manuscripts.”
Those communication experiences became foundational to her current career, where translating complex scientific and clinical data into clear, compelling narratives is a central responsibility.
Ayala said she was motivated to participate in the symposium because she wanted trainees to recognize that there are rewarding scientific careers beyond the principal investigator track and wanted to help raise awareness of alternatives.
“I know firsthand that many trainees are interested in science but may not see themselves pursuing the traditional PI route,” she said.
Her advice to current trainees interested in writing-focused careers is to seek opportunities to develop communication skills whenever possible, whether it’s by writing manuscripts, abstracts, and posters or presenting their research. All these experiences help develop trainees’ communication skills and build a portfolio of work that can be valuable when applying for jobs.
Ayala also encouraged trainees to remain open to unexpected opportunities and evolving career interests.
“I hope trainees take away that career paths are rarely linear, and that it is okay not to have everything figured out right away,” she said. “By remaining open to new experiences, building meaningful connections, and being willing to explore different paths, you can find a career that aligns with your interests and strengths. Patience, curiosity, and persistence can be just as important as having a detailed plan.”
Alum Adeola Davis presents on medical science liaison careers
Another Vanderbilt alum returning to campus was Adeola Davis, who participated in the medical science liaison careers session. Davis earned her Ph.D. in neuroscience in the laboratory of Danny Winder and completed postdoctoral training with Aurelio Galli, both former faculty members at Vanderbilt, before building a career that spans public education, medical affairs, consulting, and organizational learning.
“I’ve always been interested in roles where I can contribute to improving patients’ lives. While I’ve held a variety of positions in the pharmaceutical industry, that purpose has remained a consistent through line,” she said.
Today, Davis serves as senior director of research and development learning and development at Acadia Pharmaceuticals, where she leads enterprise learning strategies designed to strengthen scientific, medical, and organizational capabilities across research and development and medical affairs teams.
During the symposium, Davis shared perspectives from her professional journey and discussed the skills, many of which she learned during her time at Vanderbilt, that have helped her navigate multiple career transitions.
“Vanderbilt helped me build strong scientific thinking and communication skills, but just as important were the opportunities to collaborate, ask questions, and think beyond the bench,” she said. “The ability to translate complex science into meaningful insights has been incredibly valuable in my career.”
Her participation reflected one of the symposium’s defining strengths: connecting current trainees with alums whose careers illustrate the many directions a biomedical Ph.D. can lead.
She told trainees that “your career doesn’t have to follow a straight line: It’s okay to explore different roles and change direction as your interests evolve.”
In addition to formal presentations, the symposium provided opportunities for attendees to engage directly with speakers during networking sessions and smaller group discussions. These conversations allowed trainees to ask candid questions about career transitions, workplace culture, professional development, and the realities of working in different sectors.
By bringing together alums from a broad range of professions, the symposium highlighted a central message echoed throughout the day: Scientific training develops skills that are valuable far beyond the laboratory. Critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, collaboration, and adaptability—skills Vanderbilt biomedical trainees gain during their dissertation or postdoc work—are highly sought after across industries and career paths, setting our alums up for success regardless of where they land.
For many attendees, realizing that there is no single definition of success after graduate school may have been the day’s most valuable takeaway. As the symposium demonstrated, a biomedical Ph.D. can serve as the foundation for a kaleidoscope of careers, each offering its own opportunities to advance science, improve human health, and make a meaningful impact.