‘“Path to Career” Resources’
Email templates for your job search and networking
May. 5, 2014—Job hunting and networking can feel like a full-time job. Make your search and networking easier with these email templates from The Muse. Muse founder Alex Cavoulacos has penned these email templates for you to adapt to ask for a recommendation, follow up on a job application, thank someone for a job interview, or ask a...
How do I tell my PI?
Apr. 21, 2014—Grad students and postdocs are often apprehensive about talking to their faculty adviser about their career interests, especially if their interests lie outside the “traditional” career path of becoming a tenure-track professor at a university. But did you know that only ~15% of biomedical sciences PhDs go on to become tenure-track professors? That’s right… 85%...
Beyond the Lab: Tom Utley
Feb. 14, 2014—Check out the next installment of Beyond the Lab, featuring Tom Utley, Licensing Analyst with the Vanderbilt Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization. To skip to specific topics within the video, visit the YouTube page summary to see questions covered.
Is your job search out of control?
Feb. 11, 2014—“Career Mojo: Is your job search out of control?” by Dana Manciagli, The Business Journals What is your job search like? I’ll bet, like so many others, you’re applying to lots and lots of positions, you’re following up on just a few (and only once for those,) and you’re not doing “precision networking.” Read more…
“Planning a Career in Today’s Landscape” article by Kenneth Gibbs
Jan. 30, 2014—November 2013 PhD Career Connections speaker Kenneth Gibbs shares his experience when he made the nerve-wracking decision to step away from lab science, highlighting his non-traditional journey since. When, after completing my Ph.D. in immunology, I told colleagues and mentors that I had accepted a position as a Science & Technology (S&T) Policy Fellow at the American...
Life as a core facility director
Dec. 9, 2013—What is it like to direct a research core facility in academia? Watch the new Beyond the Lab interview with Dr. Rob Carnahan, Director of the Antibody and Protein Resource Core at Vanderbilt University.
Postdoctoral opportunities at the NIH
Dec. 4, 2013—The NIH Office of Intramurual Training & Education maintains a list of available NIH postdoctoral positions on their website. As in academia, however, not all NIH postdoctoral opportunities are advertised! If you are interested in a particular lab at the NIH, you should reach out directly to the potential postdoctoral mentor even if there is...
The next installment of “Beyond the Lab” is now available, featuring Dr. Amy Moore, Director of Research Programs at Georgia Research Alliance
Nov. 22, 2013—The next installment of our new Beyond the Lab video series is now available online. In this interview, postdoctoral alumnus Dr. Amy Moore describes her career trajectory in research administration. Watch as Amy describes how she identified career options and conducted her job search, and what she does in her job as Director of Research Programs...
New Beyond the Lab video series interviews VU PhD alumni about their career path
Nov. 11, 2013—Check out our new Beyond the Lab video series showcasing the careers of our PhD and postdoctoral alumni! In Beyond the Lab, the BRET Office of Career Development interviews Vanderbilt PhD and postdoctoral alumni about their career path since leaving VU. Each 10-20 minute video features a different alumnus describing his or her job and providing advice...
2013 Career Symposium presentations are now posted online
Oct. 23, 2013—If you missed the 2013 BRET Career Symposium, Influencing Human Health with Your PhD Degree, the presentations are now available to view online at https://medschool.vanderbilt.edu/career-symposium2013/agenda. You can view the presentations by clicking on the speaker name. The Symposium speakers addressed careers ranging from global health to drug development, and they included: Linda Distlerath, Senior Counselor, Worldwide...
To Connect or Not To Connect
Sep. 16, 2013—This recent blog post from Allison Vaillancourt for the Chronicle of Higher Education outlines some of the pros and cons of being an “open networker” on LinkedIn. For the most part, I agree with Allison’s approach. Like Allison, I value “quality” over “quantity.” I rarely connect with people I don’t know, and this includes current...
Parental leave resources for grad students and postdocs
Aug. 28, 2013—“Parental Leave resources for grad students and postdocs” on AAAS Driving Force Blog Becoming a new parent is overwhelming in the best of circumstances. It can be especially stressful when you are unsure of whether you will be able to take time off from work when your child is born. This is the case for...
Dealing with the dreaded, “Do you have any questions for me?” in an interview
Aug. 24, 2013—How should you respond? What could you possibly ask that you haven’t already learned from your extensive pre-interview research and that doesn’t venture into “no-no” category (think: salary, time-off)? This recent article by James Caan for LinkedIn describes three great questions to ask as the interview is winding down.
How to be a Great Mentor
Aug. 22, 2013—How to Be a Great Mentor, from Inside Higher Ed A Mentoring Manifesto Kerry Ann Rockquemore sums up the themes of her series on how best to help new professors. Read more: http://www.insidehighered.com/career-advice/how-be-great-mentor#ixzz2ciAqrVJt Cultivate Belonging It’s about asking the right questions, learning to pronounce your new colleagues’ names and sharing unwritten rules, writes Kerry Ann Rockquemore. Read...
The science of science communication
Aug. 21, 2013—If you can’t make it to this year’s event but the topic interests you, the presentations from the National Academy of Sciences 2012 Science of Science Communication Colloquium can be viewed online! Visit http://www.nasonline.org/programs/sackler-colloquia/completed_colloquia/agenda-science-communication.html to see presentations by thought leaders in the science of science communication.
5 Non-Annoying Ways to Follow Up After a Job Interview
Aug. 13, 2013—“What You May Be Ignoring In Your Job Search” by Heather Huhman, Glassdoor.com You did your research, tailored your resume, and applied for a great position. You may have even scored an interview, came prepared, and impressed the interviewer. Now it’s just time to play the waiting game, right? Wrong! If you’re sitting around waiting for your dream job to find...
Ten Take-Aways from the Career Symposium
Aug. 7, 2013—Your professional journey will be unpredictable and unforgettable. Begin your journey by understanding your strengths. Strengths Finder 2.0 is a great place to start. (Linda Distlerath) Have a good dose of humility. In your first job, find a buddy who can help guide you through the unwritten protocols and etiquette of your workplace environment. (Linda...
Best Questions to Ask in Your Job Interview
Jun. 26, 2013—Best Questions to Ask in Your Job Interview, by Carole Martin, in BioSpace When this question is asked in the interview, surprisingly, the most common answer is “No.” Not only is this the wrong answer, you have missed an opportunity to find out information about the company. It is important for you to ask questions; not...
An Introvert’s Guide to Getting the Most from a Conference
Jun. 26, 2013—“An Introvert’s Guide to Getting the Most From A Conference” by Dharmesh Shah Ideas fly around the room. Informal teams form and mutate and re-form. Decisions are quickly made and un-made and refined. Plans are drawn and re-drawn and perfected. Three hours later, you and a room full of incredibly talented people have used your...
Path to Career: A Compendium of Interview Questions
May. 1, 2013—Check out the full article on Insider Higher Ed.