Think you’ve made it in the big leagues after getting accepted into graduate school? Think again. Today, an advanced degree in the life sciences doesn’t guarantee a professorship. But neither does it chain you to a lab bench for life.
In a networking reception last week at 89 Chestnut, the latest installment of the Life Sciences Career Development Series offered graduate students a chance to explore the options available after receiving a second or third university degree. Students met with successful individuals from various science-related fields.
“My advice is to first know that many students are in the same boat [and that] you have resources at your disposal to help you decide,” said Arij Al Chawaf, a Ph.D. candidate in neuroendocrinology, and the chair of the LSCDS committee. Funded by the Faculty of Medicine’s Graduate Affairs and the School of Graduate Studies, the LSCDS is directed by a team of graduate students and brings career choices to students in life sciences.
Guests at the evening included scientists treading the traditional career paths of academia, biotechnology or the pharmaceutical industry, but also graduates working in government, consulting, finance and medical writing.
One of the guests was Dr. James Paterson, who earned his PhD working on the molecular genetics of breast cancer, and has found a way to use his background to explore unconventional career paths. Paterson, who held a number of post-doctoral fellowships, now works at Scientific Insights Consulting Group, a company that specializes in helping large corporations understand and communicate science within their own development operations and to consumers. Paterson made the transition from lab work to consulting work through background experience in management, bioinformatics and scientific writing.
“Life sciences bring you experiences that help you develop skills that are applicable in solving problems outside the industry,” Paterson remarked.
Rama Grantab, a graduate student from the Department of Medical Biophysics is considering a career in science journalism, and also shares Paterson’s views on career choices. “Think outside of the box. Be creative and explore the possibilities.”
The need for scientists extends past the research that’s necessary to understand life at a cellular and molecular level. From telling a science story in a newspaper to developing rocket fuel and winning a Nobel Prize, the future for graduates in the life sciences is nearly limitless.
For current and future graduate students in life science, the LSCDS will be hosting career seminars every month as well as the Life Science Career Day in June. Further information can be found on their website, www.lscds.com.
