Careers

Nigel Delaney, Vice President of Computational Biology at the startup GenePeeks, talks about his transition from team member to manager and recommends PhD students remember the value of their training and time off when needed. In the Decoding Life series, we talk to geneticists with diverse career paths, tracing the many directions possible after research training. This series…

During my many interactions with grad students and postdocs, I have learned that a large number of early career scientists train on campuses where important career development services are not widely available. While some schools may provide a diverse array of such services, at many other institutions the only opportunity to enhance early career training…

Brooke LaFlamme found her career in scientific publishing through informational interviews. She recommends trainees interested in science communication fields start writing early and often. In the Decoding Life series, we talk to geneticists with diverse career paths, tracing the many directions possible after research training. This series is brought to you by the GSA Early…

Yaihara Fortis Santiago, Manager of the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses her journey from Puerto Rico to discovering a fulfilling career helping early career scientists advance their scientific training and helping them foster cross-institutional relationships. In the Decoding Life series, we talk to geneticists with diverse career paths, tracing the many…

GSA is currently accepting proposals from students and postdocs for the next round of Career Development Symposia. Gain leadership experience and serve the early career scientist community! Many postdocs feel powerless. But early career researchers can work together to take control of their future, says Sarah Dykstra, a postdoc at Tufts University and co-organizer of…

Danielle Blecha-Bashirullah, Founder and Principal of D BASH Business Solutions LLC, a consulting company in Madison, WI, emphasizes the skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur, negotiating contracts and how to maintain a healthy work-life balance. In the Decoding Life series, we talk to geneticists with diverse career paths, tracing the many directions possible after research training.…

Nadine Piekarski, an embryologist at The Fertility Center at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), describes her experience transitioning out of academia and how she uses skills from her PhD training in an IVF clinic. In the Decoding Life series, we talk to geneticists with diverse career paths, tracing the many directions possible after research training. This series is brought…

Chris Cherry, a patent lawyer at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC, talks about the need for biology PhDs in patent law and how he learned that leaving research does not mean the end of being involved in cutting-edge science. In the Decoding Life series, we talk to geneticists with diverse career paths, tracing the many directions possible after…

Guest post by Rory Flinn, PhD There are many career paths for PhDs that don’t require a postdoc, including some faculty positions in certain disciplines. When you are exploring career options, it is important to ascertain whether doing a postdoc would make you more competitive for a career path of interest. If you determine that you…

Interview with Aashiq Mirza, postdoctoral fellow at Weill Cornell Medicine, talks about acquiring interdisciplinary skills and practical habits for success during the early stages of a research career. In the Decoding Life series, we talk to geneticists with diverse career paths, tracing the many directions possible after research training. This series is brought to you by the GSA Early Career…

Interview with Mary Ellen Wiltrout, MITx Biology Digital Learning Scientist and Curriculum Development Specialist, highlights the importance of sharing career interests, maintaining connections, and acquiring specific skillsets for a successful career in science education. In the Decoding Life series, we talk to geneticists with diverse career paths, tracing the many directions possible after research training. This series…