Happy holidays, everyone! Last month, OITE hosted an online chat on careers in science writing with Mariette DiChristina, the Editor-in-Chief of Scientific American. The chat was attended by over 400 people, and some questions remained unanswered by chat’s end, so Ms. DiChristina graciously offered to answer those remaining. Here are her responses to your questions: Q: I would love to hear about what steps one should take while in grad school – i.e. prepare for a postdoc? seek out writing opps? A: Definitely seek out writing opps if you want to be a writer. As I probably said during our e-chat, find ideas and propose them to publications. Proposals should be…
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Money, Money, Money: Where It Is and How to Get It
Fellowships, grants, awards…all of these words may run together in a blur for you, even if you are aware that they each represent some type of funding. Whether you are a postdoctoral scholar looking for additional training, a postdoc or clinical fellow looking for a transition grant, or a graduate student looking for a postdoc opportunity, it will be critical for you to understand the different types of funding available to you, guidelines and restrictions for different funding mechanisms, and how to write effective proposals for funding. DEFINITIONS For starters, let’s review a few definitions. I found the following distinction between fellowships and grants from the Hamilton College website quite helpful:…
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Back to Basics: How to Prepare for an Interview
Great news! You have been invited to interview for a job that is a strong match for your educational level and past experiences. In order to enhance your chances of securing the job, it is critical for you to prepare effectively for the interview. Here are few tips to get you started. 1. Know thyself. Print out your CV and be prepared to discuss anything on it in great detail. Think through your past experiences, projects, accomplishments, and be ready with stories that go beyond what can easily be found on your CV. To prepare for interviews, I will print out the job description, highlight skills I think are key…