Last week, OITE launched a new “How-to” series to share information with trainees about what it takes to get a job in a particular field. The inaugural session of the series was on how to find a job in science education and outreach. What kinds of jobs exist in this broad field, and what does it take to find a job in science education & outreach? If you are considering a job in this diverse field, it is important to know what the job entails so you can connect required skills to those you have developed through your graduate education and/or postdoctoral training. In these positions, you may be asked…
-
-
A Writer Writes, Always
Last week, OITE hosted an online chat with Mariette DiChristina, Editor-in-Chief of Scientific American. If you’re considering a career in science writing, be sure to check out the transcript of the chat here: Day in the Life of a Science Writer. During the chat, Mariette suggested that aspiring science writers begin blogging immediately. Setting up a blog is free, and forcing yourself to write in a more accessible way about science will improve your writing skills, your ability to juggle multiple projects at once, and will help you to build a portfolio of writing samples. Also, think about submitting a short piece to the NIH Catalyst, or a newsletter associated with…
-
Need a Job? Get on out There and DANCE
Sitting and reading the news in the library, I stumbled upon a story in a recent issue of Science that highlights one of my true loves: dance. I danced for over 20 years when I was younger, and still dance now, though I’m beginning to feel a bit old in a hip-hop class filled with teens and 20-somethings. I dance regularly, think about dance often, and have watched countless dance performances and films, but I must confess I have never explored the relationship between dance and science. It seems a natural partnership, as both are creative endeavors. And a quick search on PubMed reveals 212 entries that include the words…
-
A Day in the Life of…A Science Writer
This fall, OITE is hosting “A Day in the Life of…,” a series of interactive, online chats exploring a variety of careers in science. In September, we heard from David Kosub, a Public Health Analyst, about careers in science/public health policy, and chatted with Philip Mayer, an Assistant Vice President of Pfizer, in October to explore careers in big pharma. This month, we are featuring careers in science writing and will chat with Mariette DiChristina (left), Editor-in-Chief of Scientific American. Below are the details of the chat, as well as a bio of Ms. DiChristina. Click here to set up an email reminder for our talk next Thursday. Cheers! EVENT:…
-
Volunteer for Your Career
“I don’t have any experience.” “I’m only trained to do one thing.” “I don’t have the skills employers are looking for.” Sound familiar? These are sentiments I’ve heard in counseling appointments with graduate students and postdocs in the past, typically from those exploring careers outside of academia. While I do think that many, if not most, of the skills developed through graduate programs and postdoctoral fellowships can be transferred fairly easily to a variety of careers, there is no doubt you will be a more attractive candidate to a given employer if you have had some experiences in that particular field. How can you possibly gain experience while you’re conducting dissertation…
-
Success on Election Day – and in Your Job Search
Today’s the BIG day: Election Day! There are many hotly contested races around the country, and some of us will be anxiously awaiting today’s results. By day’s end, some politicians will be enjoying the thrill of success, and others the agony of defeat. What about success on the job market? We know from recent job reports that unemployment remains high. Still, some employers are hiring, so some people are getting jobs. How are they doing it? Or more to the point, are there particular traits shared by successful job hunters? This is the topic of a recent article posted on EmploymentDigest.net. In this piece, the author shares the following 6…