Navigating career development and building resilience in times of unrest
Brought to you by the ASBMB Education and Professional Development Committee
From COVID-19 to the racial justice movement, 2020 has been a year of disruption and change for those in or entering the STEM workforce. Some Ph.D. life scientists may be considering new directions for their careers as a result of this disruption, while others may not know the myriad career paths open to those with advanced training in STEM.
This three-day virtual conference provided direct access to scientists in various roles and job sectors who shared their career journeys and advice for those who wish to pursue similar careers. Each day began with a keynote covering overarching topics related to the STEM workforce or career development.
Keynote speakers
Sherilynn Black
Assistant professor of the practice of medical education and associate vice provost for faculty advancement, Duke University
Briana Konnick
Associate director of graduate career development, University of Chicago
Harinder Singh
Director of graduate professional success in STEM, University of California, Irvine
Sessions
Empowering yourself to promote systemic change and equity in STEM
Sherilynn Black, Assistant professor of the practice of medical education and associate vice provost for faculty advancement, Duke University
Research-intensive faculty careers
- Christopher Heinen, Moderator
Professor, department of medicine and director of postdoctoral affairs, University of Connecticut Health Center - Michael D.L. Johnson
Assistant professor, department of immunobiology, University of Arizona - Christine Beck
Assistant professor, departments of genetics and genome sciences and molecular biology and biochemistry, The Jackson Laboratory - Timothy O'Connell
Associate professor, department of integrative biology and physiology, University of Minnesota
Science policy careers
- Benjamin Corb, Moderator
Director of public affairs, ASBMB - Lida Beninson
Senior program officer, The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine - Kyle Dolan
Head of science and innovation, British Consulate General, Chicago - Adriana Bankston
Principal legislative analyst, University of California, Office of the President - Sandeep Dayal
Health science policy analyst, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Food science careers
- Christopher Peña, Moderator
Content strategist, Purohit Navigation, Inc. - Varsha Shete
Global nutrition science R&D senior scientist, PepsiCo - Terry Reyes
Regulatory affairs manager, Impossible Foods - Swetha Mahadevan
Director of product development, Brighteed
Effective résumés and cover letters for biological scientists
Briana Konnick, Associate director of graduate career development, University of Chicago
PUI faculty careers
- Saumya Ramanathan, Moderator
Assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, department of life and physical sciences, Fisk University - Hemant Badgandi
Senior lecturer, Vanderbilt University - Hannah Malcolm
Assistant professor, department of chemistry, University of North Florida - Sharifa Love-Rutledge
Assistant professor, department of chemistry, University of Alabama in Huntsville - Alberto Rascón
Associate professor of biochemistry, department of chemistry, San José State University
Academic/research administration careers
- Nathan Vanderford, Moderator
Assistant professor, department of toxicology and cancer biology and assistant director for research, Markey Caner Center, University of Kentucky - Allison Augustus-Wallace
Associate professor of research and director of undergraduate academic pipeline programs for diversity, Louisiana State University - Nicole C. Woitowich
Research assistant professor and center administrator for the Institute for Innovations in Developmental Sciences, Northwestern University - Kathleen Goss
Associate director for administration, Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Chicago - Whitney Cheung
Executive analyst, interdisciplinary research & strategic initiatives, University of California, Davis
MSL careers
- Tamica Collins, Moderator
Postdoctoral fellow, University of Chicago - Adriana Vela
Oncology medical science liaison, Bayer Pharmaceuticals - Anne Marie Philpot
Regional medical scientific director, Merck - Dawn P.G. Brown
BioOncology medical science liaison, Genentech - Rudy Christian
Managed markets director, Alkermes
Career and professional development in pandemic climate: myths and realities
Harinder Singh, Director of graduate professional success in STEM, University of California, Irvine
Industry careers
- Folnetti Alvarez, Moderator
Ph.D. candidate, Stony Brook University - Renee Yura
Director of diagnostics, Pfizer, Inc. - Melissa Starovasnik
Senior scientific advisor, Genentech, Inc. - Mark Harpel
Scientific leader, novel human genetics, GlaxoSmithKline
Research staff careers
- Beth Stivison, Moderator
Postdoctoral researcher, Vanderbilt University - Parmvir Bahia
Research associate, University of South Florida - David Scott
Director, Cancer Metabolism Core, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute - Ileana Cuevas
Lab manager, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center