College of Medicine students, postdocs take part in NIH Career Symposium

Thirteen graduate students and three postdoctoral scholars from Penn State College of Medicine took part in the 11th annual National Institutes of Health (NIH) Career Symposium held May 18, 2018. The annual event helps graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and clinical fellows learn about the diversity of career options available within the biomedical and life sciences.

Students were shuttled from the College of Medicine to NIH in Bethesda, Md., where the all-day event took place.

During the four one-hour blocks in the morning and early afternoon, participants could choose from sessions in three main tracks: academia, industry and non-bench. Each session consisted of three to six panelists who provided insight into both their current careers and the journey that led them there. Participants also had time to ask questions.

In academia and industry sessions, attendees met a large cross-section of scientists and were able to ask focused questions about how to get started in a science career. Many panelists had completed postdoctoral fellowships before moving into their current positions, many at NIH. Most panels suggested that while a postdoc would be helpful for acquiring a position, it was not required. Some advice remained consistent across all panels: Communication, especially the ability to showcase your research, is one of the most important skills you can acquire as a graduate student or postdoc.

Additional advice varied by the focus of the panel. Careers in Science Writing and Editing stressed the need to build a portfolio of writing samples while a student or postdoc. Finding the Right Size Company for You panelists stressed the need for a tailored resume for each position, as well as the decreased emphasis on publication history in industry. The consensus of the Science Advocacy and Policy panel was that the best way to get into this career track was through volunteering or applying for a fellowship with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). In the Teaching Intensive Faculty Careers panel, panelists broke down what it took for each of them to acquire teaching positions at their institutions.

Among the non-bench and industry sessions offered, Finding the Right Size Company for You described how small companies might lack traditional benefits such as health and dental insurance, but offer employees a greater ability to influence the direction of the company. The Breakaway Careers in Industry and Science Advocacy and Policy sessions both stressed the amount of bureaucracy found in most day-to-day experiences, but also pointed out the excellent work-life balance away from the bench. Technology Transfer and Patent Careers suggested that internships or volunteering at a consulting firm are good ways to gain experience in the field, and that there may be a lot of on-the-job training in intellectual property legal matters.

After the panels and refreshments, participants learned more about widely applicable skills in the Skill Blitz sessions. These sessions were generally presented as didactic lectures from NIH faculty and staff well-versed in interviewing, CVs, resumes, cover letters, negotiating job offers, stress management and work-life balance. There was also a session titled Find the Career for You, in which Lori Conlan, PhD, director for the Office of Postdoctoral Services and Career Services Center at NIH, described the role graduate students and postdocs will play in the future.

The event also included a LinkedIn photo booth where students and postdocs could get professional headshots.

One of the final panelists of the day summed up the event well: “No matter the job we end up in at the end of the day, we are all still scientists.”

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