Professional Development Training and Resources

The Office of Scientific Career Development focuses on professional development topics that are found in the Core Competencies of a Successful Scientist. The training is often organized jointly between the Office and SPAC.

Upcoming Workshops and Events are usually posted to the postdoc-student listserv.

Ivory Tower Quest

The Ivory Tower Quest Series focuses on finding tenure track faculty positions.  Rotating on a two-year basis, the series presents panels and talks on composing an application packet, interviewing skills, and negotiating a start-up package.  We also provide a venue to give a practice chalk talk with faculty in attendance.  In addition, previous postdocs who have obtained faculty positions have generously made available their application packets for you to learn from. Events in the series are advertised via the postdoc-student listserv and flyers.

First Friday Series

First Friday's are a series of seminars that expose FHCRC postdocs and graduate students to non-academic science-related careers. The format for First Friday events ranges from presentations from one individual to presentations from a panel of individuals. Events in the series are advertised via the postdoc-student listserv and flyers.

 Previous First Friday topics include:

• Science Education Outreach Careers
• From Pipettes to Patents (Patent Law)
• Science Writing
• The ABCs of Biotech Careers:  Academics, Biotechnology, and Corporate Science
• Technology Transfer Office-Related Careers
• Careers in Project Management
• Consulting Careers

Exploration Program for Industry Careers (EPIC)

EPIC is focused on preparing postdocs and graduate students for careers in the biotech industry via a series of workshops and site visits to local biotech companies.

If you would like to request a specific type of professional development training that the Office can organize, please e-mail Dr. Karen Peterson with your idea.

Other Professional Development Resources

1. HHMI Lab Management
   The Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Burroughs Wellcome Fund have several resources available http://www.hhmi.org/labmanagement including:
   Making the Right Moves: A Practical Guide to Scientific Management for Postdocs and New Faculty, second edition
   The second edition of this popular collection of practical advice from seasoned biomedical investigators has been updated with material from the 2005 BWF-HHMI course in scientific management. The book covers a range of issues of concern to beginning academic scientists: obtaining a job, time management, mentoring students, getting funding, publishing, and more. The second edition also contains three new chapters on laboratory leadership, project management, and teaching and course design.
2. NIH Training Workshop Videocasts are available at http://videocast.nih.gov/pastevents.asp?c=83
3. AAAS Science Career Webinars are available at http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/tools_tips/multimedia/webinars
4. Center Public Speaking Training web page