The transcript of today's chat, the first in an interactive, online chat series on career options for scientists this fall, can be found below. EVENT: A Day in the Life of...A Public Health Analyst GUEST: David Kosub, Ph.D., Public Health Analyst, NIAID, NIH DATE: Thursday, September 16, 2010 RESOURCES:

So first, the good news...I finished my first triathlon this weekend! It was a slog, to be sure, but I finished, and that is what I was hoping to do.

The tri was not without incident, though...about halfway through the 12 mile bike loop, I got a flat on my bike. Argh! First time out - what luck.

The best part of it was that I had a spare tube - and no pump. Great! I rode on it until I found a race official, who didn't happen to have a pump either.

A few days ago, I was talking with a member of my swim class about our backgrounds. It turns out he assists his partner with writing best-selling horror novels.

When I mentioned this blog, he perked up and asked whether I intended to turn it into a book. I laughed, of course, as I don't imagine myself as a writer--or at least, I recognize the need to improve my writing in order to write something people might actually purchase.

So, just what does a science policy analyst do every day? A science museum exhibits coordinator? A VP of drug development? OITE aims to answer these questions via an interactive, online chat series this fall.

The series will be held from 12:00 - 1:00 pm every third Thursday from September through December, which includes: Sept. 16, Oct. 21, Nov. 18, and Dec. 16.

Topics covered will include careers in science policy, science writing, drug development in industry, and science education.

Congratulations! You are now at the National Institutes of Health, the nation's premier biomedical research agency. What next? How can you best take advantage of your time at the NIH? Read through these 5 strategies to discover the many resources available at the NIH.

You've heard it all before, from a lab mate, a friend, maybe a relative: "You've got to use LinkedIn more! It's the best way to connect with old friends, network with other scientists, find a job," etc. If you're currently LinkedIn but not sure you're using this networking tool as effectively as you might be, you're in luck.

At some point, you will move on from your current position. Whether your departure is precipitated by a job offer or is made for other reasons, it is important that you leave your current position in the most professional, courteous way possible. Below are some tips for resigning with grace, culled from an article in the Job Employment Guide.

I'm sitting in a café enjoying a hot cup of Tanzanian Peaberry (coffee snobs, unite!) The coffee is keeping me warm on this 60-degree August day. It is downright chilly out there. Speaking of cafés...have you embraced the Science Café phenomenon yet? These face-to-face chats are typically held at an informal location (café, restaurant, pub, etc.), include a brief presentation by a scientist sharing current research, and are followed by an interactive discussion. Science cafés are open to the public and can be found all over the world. There may be a café right in your own backyard: "Alcohol and the Adolescent Brain: Dude, where's my car?"

"To Whom It May Concern"...no, that's not right...."Dear Sir/Madam"....ugh, that's so outdated...."Dear I-Don't-Know-Your-Name-and-I'd-Rather-Be-Playing-Scramble-Right-Now..." Where to start? Many of us still struggle when it comes to crafting a cover letter for a job of interest. I thought it might be valuable to review some of the basics, as job hunting may be new to some of us, while others of us may know that we need to strengthen our letters, based on a lack of positive feedback. Let's begin: Q: How should I address my letter if I don't have a name? A: Stay away from "Sirs" and "Madams," and try a title instead.

In a recent article, oil giant BP described the April 20 oil rig explosion and subsequent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico as a "learning experience." Richard Morrison, BP's vice president of Gulf of Mexico operations, and Richard Lynch, BP's vice president of drillings and completion, said "spill response has led to technical breakthroughs in how to monitor and clean up oil, and created a storehouse of equipment and knowledge." Still, new