Path to Career Resources
Explainer: hard vs. soft money
Feb. 4, 2022—You may hear academics throwing around terms like “hard money” and “soft money” when talking about salaries. What do these terms mean, anyway? This blog post explains the difference.
Science policy-related internships and fellowships
Nov. 8, 2021—Are you interested in a career in science policy? Check out these terrific lists of internships and fellowships for scientists who want to transition into science policy. https://www.science-policy.net/getting-involved–careers.html https://ccst.us/wp-content/uploads/CCST-Alumni-Science-Policy-Career-Guide-Feb-2020.pdf https://scipolnetwork.org/page/scipol-guide
2021 PhD Student ASPIRE Guide for Career Planning
Sep. 2, 2021— The ASPIRE Team is excited to provide PhD Students with the ASPIRE Guide for Career Planning. Plan your year and career goals, journal your career ideas, and sketch out a plan in the PDF guide for 2021-2022.
Navigating Curveball Questions in Industry Interviews
Jan. 28, 2021—Path to Career Resources! Check out this article featured in Nature on navigating curveball questions in industry interviews.
Possible Careers for PhDs in Biomedical Sciences
Dec. 11, 2020—Sometimes it’s just nice to have a list of possibilities. Here’s a terrific list of career paths for PhDs in the biomedical sciences, compiled by Lauren Easterling at Indiana University School of Medicine. It’s nicely arranged by broad theme. See something you’re not familiar with? Check out our Beyond the Lab video and podcast series...
Vanderbilt Takes on Capitol Hill A Look Inside Science Policy for Students and Fellows
Sep. 18, 2020—This article was originally published in the Results & Discussion newsletter, Spring 2019, Issue 9. By Colbie Chinowsky, Graduate Student The BRET Office of Career Development and the Graduate School took to the road in October 2018 to further their combined mission of empowering and preparing Ph.D. and postdoctoral trainees for careers within the biomedical...
Future Directions: Allison Eberly, PhD, Clinical Microbiology Fellow, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Sep. 15, 2020—This article was originally published in Results & Discussion, Spring 2020, Issue 10. By Meagan Postema, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow How does one obtain post-graduate career training outside of a traditional postdoctoral fellowship? Allison Eberly, Ph.D., a recent Vanderbilt University graduate, chose to pursue a Clinical Microbiology Fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Eberly...
Future Directions: Dario Gutierrez, PhD, Head, Investigational Biology, Merck
Sep. 15, 2020—This article was originally published in Results & Discussion, Spring 2019, Issue 9. By Shwetha Narasimhan, Graduate Student The promising field of immunotherapeutics is currently hailed as the new hope in the fight against cancer and Dr. Dario Gutierrez is determined to make this hope a reality. As the Director and Head of the Investigational...
Future Directions: Molly Seale, PhD, Medical Science Liaison
Sep. 15, 2020—This article was originally published in Results & Discussion, Issue 8, Fall 2018. By Justine Sinnaeve, Graduate Student Molly Seale, Ph.D., is currently learning to ride a hoverboard – part of her never-ending pursuit of new life experiences and risk taking. It is this mentality that she brings to her job as East Region Field...
Future Directions: Miranda Hallett, PhD, Patent Agent
Sep. 15, 2020—This article was originally published in Results & Discussion, Issue 7, Spring 2018. By Leslie Sedgeman, Graduate Student Miranda Hallett, Ph.D., always had a passion for science and law, but wasn’t sure how to combine them. She completed her Ph.D. in Cancer and Developmental Biology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis,...
Alumni Profile: Kayla Boortz Young, PhD, Commercialization Program Manager, Life Science Washington
Sep. 15, 2020—The article was originally published in Results & Discussion, Issue 6, Fall 2017. By Kendra Oliver, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow Kayla (Boortz) Young, Ph.D., is living the dream in Seattle, Washington. Previously a Commercialization Program Manager at Life Science Washington, she ran a mentoring program for early-stage life science companies (medical devices, pharma, health IT, global...
Alumni Feature: Dr. Laurent Audoly
Sep. 15, 2020—This article was originally published in Results & Discussion, Issue 5, Spring 2017. Dr. Laurent Audoly has seen the world over. Thanks to his degree in Pharmacology from Vanderbilt University, he has been able to balance a career in the pharmaceutical industry along with a career in teaching. Since leaving Nashville, Dr. Audoly has held...
Future Directions: Tech Transfer with Tom Utley, PhD
Sep. 15, 2020—This article was originally published in Results & Discussion, Issue 4, Fall 2016. By Marilyn E. Holt, Graduate Student Thomas Utley, Ph.D., views science from the top of a metaphorical mountain. As a member of the licensing department at the Vanderbilt Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization, Dr. Utley works directly with inventors to get...
Tennessee Brewer Uses Scientific Principles to Elevate Beer Creation Process
Sep. 15, 2020—This article was originally published in Results & Discussion, Issue 3, Spring 2016. By Andrew Wiese, Graduate Student Cell biologist turned brewmaster, Dr. Laura Burns, left an academia-centered career path three years ago for the opportunity to pursue her passion for fermentation and beer creation. Taking advantage of a unique opportunity, Dr. Burns turned a...
From Neuroscience to Strategic Consultant
Sep. 14, 2020—This article was originally published in Results & Discussion, Issue 2, Fall 2015. From Neuroscience to Strategic Consultant By Courtney Anthony-Bricker, graduate student Anuraag Sarangi is the quintessential alumni success story. After Dr. Sarangi earned his Ph.D. in neuroscience from Vanderbilt University in 2009, he completed a brief stint as a postdoc at the University...
Time well spent: tending to your career and professional development
Sep. 1, 2020—“I’m a postdoc being paid by an NIH training grant. Can I take time out of the lab to participate in this ASPIRE module?” “I’m paid by my PI’s research grant. I’ve heard people say that means I have to spend 100% of my time doing research and I can’t go to the Career Symposium....
Non-ASPIRE Programs to Enhance Your Career and Professional Development
Aug. 28, 2020—The ASPIRE program provides many opportunities for career and professional development, but there are numerous other terrific opportunities at Vanderbilt and in Nashville to test your interests and build your skills and network. This list of potential activities to enhance your career and professional development was originally compiled by VU alumnus Teddy van Opstal, PhD...
Finding example F30, F31, and F32 NIH NRSA applications
Apr. 28, 2020—Grad students and postdocs who are in the midst of writing fellowship applications, and especially F30 or F31 or F32 NIH NRSA applications, usually find it helpful to see examples of successful fellowship proposals. Reading funded proposals provides insight into how the scientific proposal is structured, and the expected quality of the essays and training...
Tips for international postdocs on finding funding for your research
Apr. 8, 2020—Scholars who come to the U.S. to conduct postdoctoral training often seek help from our office to find funding for their research. International postdocs are not eligible to apply for NIH F32 NRSA postdoctoral fellowships or NSF postdoctoral fellowships, two major sources of funding for US citizens and permanent residents. Thus, we have compiled the...
30 Behavioral Interview Questions from LinkedIn Talent Solutions
Mar. 17, 2020—Great businesses are built on people. People who not only have the right skills and experience, but who have the potential to do great things in the role, the team and in the company. However, screening candidates for potential is the toughest part of an interview. Oftentimes you assess someone’s potential by looking at their...