Career Paths

Shu Chin
Ma

Becoming a Scientific Writer the Hard Way

Let’s start by clearing something up: I am not a scientific writer in the sense that I get paid per word, finger-pecked on the keyboard. Althought, I do a fair amount of writing in my work, and I thoroughly enjoy it, thus, I may have some tips on getting started on becoming a scientific write...


Thomas
Magaldi

Ensure that your first job meets these two criteria

I often encounter two types of graduate students and postdocs who are on the job market. The first type is looking for the perfect job.  Students in this category want their first job to meet all of their career requirements such as responsibilities, salary, location, growth opportunities,...


Jena
Pitman-Leung

How to Tell Your Advisor…. “I’m Leaving Academia”

Many people enter a Ph.D. program or postdoctoral fellowship with the plan that they will be in academia forever. However, for about 70% of trainees, this plan changes along the way. Sometimes it happens slowly, over a long period of time, and sometimes it happens quickly. In either case, usually th...


Kristine
Hennessy

Doing Your Homework

After choosing to leave the academic track behind, I had to begin focusing on my new career as a high school biology teacher.  I realized that I knew nothing about teaching teenagers, or understanding the complex world that science is.  


Fabian
Zanella

Choosing a lab to work in Academia: Big vs Small

Once you are set to pursue academic research, you may have a few options regarding labs and PIs you would like to work for. While this is a very coarse view on how labs function according to their “size,” with exceptions in all kinds, I have observed that many of those characteristics are s...


Amber
O’Connor

Business Planning for a Freelance Career

This month, I thought I’d share with you some of the administrative things I’ve had to learn and complete when it comes to starting my freelance science writing business. Having your own business means that you charge for services to earn income, and that you are responsible for assuring the ...


Shu Chin
Ma

Pros and cons of working remotely

When you hear the words “working remotely,” does it conjure up an image of someone sloppily dressed in their ratty pajama, hair unkempt, with a huge mug of coffee cradled in one hand, while sitting in front of the television with a computer, haphazardly propped on their lap? How about someo...


Kate
Sleeth

Do you have a Sponsor?

I am wondering how many people know the difference between a mentor and a sponsor?  I am sure everyone has heard of mentors, but have you heard of a sponsor (and this isn’t someone who is trying to raise money for a deserving charity!)?  My description of a mentor is someone who teaches ...


Christiana
Davis

Acquiring Grant Writing Skills Early in Your Career

There are many opportunities in industry for life scientists with grant writing skills. As a Medical Writer, you may choose to include grant proposal writing as one of the services you offer. I was recently asked to write a technology grant proposal for launching an iOS App. Although I did not ...


Shu Chin
Ma

Careers in different fields: a personal prospective: part 3, startup companies

Thinking of where to start? If you think joining a start-up company is your Willy Wonka’s golden ticket to lucrative stock options, mega cash-ins later, and early retirement before you hit the legal drinking age, then you might be interested in the Brooklyn Bridge, which I can sell to you at ...