Career Paths
Wenny
Lin
Obama says “thank you.” You should too.
Recently, a postdoc in my research group asked for my help in preparing an oral presentation. Because we worked on similar projects, I was happy to send him slides from my previous presentation as a resource for ideas. And I also coached him in some of the potential questions he may receive from the...
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Clement
Weinberger
You’re in (a) good company
So how do you know that? You don't have to be a rocket scientist to answer that question. I mean – if you just think about the people you are talking or sitting with at the moment, or those you are working with right now, it's not so hard to decide if you are in “good company.” After all, you ...
Andrea
H.
Great program!
We increasingly see job postings that call for well-rounded candidates. I think this trend is here to stay, especially with the growth of interdisciplinary or cross-functional positions both in academia and industry. I actually think this is a good thing, since this trend facilitates mor...
Xiaoli
Du
Available resources for government jobs
The NIH Career symposium was held this month on the Bethesda NIH campus. The 4th annual career symposium has covered all the possible career areas for fellows including Faculty careers, careers in science education, careers in science policy, research in industry, career options for clinicians, cons...
Kate
Sleeth
Fun Alternative Teaching Methods – Music Videos!
Occasionally, we come across excellent teachers who find a unique angle to deliver their subject. Universities have wonderful professors who have very traditional teaching approaches. However a few years ago I discovered a novel teaching method which I enjoy. They are videos on bio...
Andrea
H.
My Time Away From the Bench
“Are you sure you’re ok with going from helping injured soldiers walk again to helping people look better?” I’m willing to bet that very few people have heard this as an interview question. But it was a valid (albeit surprising) question in my case. The vice president inter...
Kate
Sleeth
The Perceptions about Ph.D’s
At a seminar by Dr. Peter S. Fiske, he touched the subject of the public’s perceptions of individuals with Ph.D’s to great hilarity. If you were to ask an average person on the street what someone with a Ph.D looks like, they would probably describe a geek; glasses, pocket protector, pocke...
Clement
Weinberger
It seemed like a good idea at the time
One of my grad school profs was fond of saying “it seemed like a good idea at the time” when asked why he’d done something. It’s all about finding an idea that really is a good idea. That should mean something to anyone whose grant was just funded, and it means even more when the grant is re...
Jennifer
Reineke Pohlhaus
Is there a PhD problem in the United States?
This is an interesting question, but it is not the first time in recent history that folks have been asking it. Here are a few other related questions that have been floating around: Is PhD supply greater than demand? Is the Federal government providing enough support to maintain research capa...
Wenny
Lin
Some practical reasons why NIH postdocs are having babies
Despite the progressively louder tick of the biological clock, many scientists are unwilling to allow a pregnancy or a newborn slow them down during the high-stakes years of a postdoctoral fellowship. Besides, the meager stipends and sometimes limited health benefits combined with the wrath of lab m...