SESSION 1: 10:00-11:30AM

​

Teach Your Children Well: K-12 Teaching

LOCATION: Alumni Hall A

 

MODERATOR: 

Disan Davis

Program Manager, RockEDU, The Rockefeller University

​

PANELISTS:

Maria Agapito

Assistant Professor, Biology Division Chair, Bard Early College High School

​

Devon Collins

Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology, Bard High School Early College

Postdoctoral Fellow, The Rockefeller University

​

Alison Davis

Assistant Principal, Biology Department and Research Program Coordinator, The Bronx High School of Science

​

Session Description:

There is probably not a grad student or postdoc who cannot remember a time in their lives when a teacher had a huge impact on their desire to become a scientist.  Whether that was your second-grade teacher who led your class on an “experiment” of what happens to a carton of milk left on the classroom heater over the holiday break, or a biology teacher who stayed late and provided extra resources to help pursue the answer to a burning question, we all know that our early education was essential to us becoming who we are today. Yet it is relatively rare for PhD scientists to go back and play that same role in the lives of the next generation of great minds.  If you love learning and teaching, and seeing the light turn on in a young child’s mind, K-12 education can be the most rewarding career imaginable. Join this outstanding panel and discover what they love about teaching, what’s frustrating, and how these panelists made the move from academics to educators. If making a difference, personal fulfillment, and contributing to society are among your core values, K-12 education can provide all that and more!

​

Government Careers 

LOCATION: Alumni Hall B

​

MODERATOR: 

Anna Dulencin

Sr. Program Coordinator, Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers University

​

PANELISTS:

Oliver Ou

Chemist, USDA

​

Cesar Perez

Division Director, Food and Drug Administration

​

Joana Vidigal

Tenure-track Investigator, National Institutes of Health

​

Session Description:

Working for the government involves a wide variety of career options, from running a basic research lab to working on science policy and everything in between. This panel will shed some light on the kinds of opportunities most available to recent Ph.D. graduates, and provide insight into how to find the right fit for you.

​

Careers in Marketing

LOCATION: Coles 101

 

MODERATOR: 

Nancy Ilaya

Scientific Director, L’Oreal

​

PANELISTS:

Heather King

Director, Marketing Communications and PR, Precision BioSciences

​

Nietzsche Lam

Director, Neuroscience & Strategy, Nielsen Consumer Neuroscience

​

Emily Bauer

Oncology Marketing Lead, UK & Ireland, Bristol-Myers Squibb

​

Session Description:

The mere mention of the word “marketing” can bring to mind either the nostalgic days of Mad Men, or the sleazy world of used-car salesmen.  People tend to see marketing as a way to get people to buy things they don’t need, or that it preys on people’s insecurities.  Not only is there method to the madness, but real science.  PhDs with a bit of savvy and flair can use their abilities to convince study sections of the beauty of their latest proposal, the novelty at the core of their not-so-novel ideas, and engage an audience for an hour describing why their failed experiments were actually the greatest breakthrough in the field.

 

The field of marketing is more technologically advanced and science-driven than ever before, and if you like persuading others, writing, and building the most beautiful animations or graphic illustrations of data, you might love a career in marketing! 

​

Funding Opportunities in Europe For Creative Minds From All Over the World

LOCATION: Coles 109

​

SPEAKER: 

Viktoria Bodnarova

Regional Representative, EURAXESS North America

​

Session Description:

This session will focus on funding opportunities under Horizon 2020 – the EU’s research and innovation Framework Programme - for researchers who are keen to develop their careers in Europe. The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) and the European Research Council (ERC) offer such funding in a complementary way: whereas the first provides fellowships for career development at post-graduate and post-doctoral level for excellent mobile researchers, the second offers attractive grants to promising post-doctoral researchers enabling them to establish or consolidate themselves as independent leaders of a research team. Also, the EURAXESS initiative will be introduced, which aims to support and assist in researchers’ mobility, as well as provide information on additional funding opportunities in 40 European countries.

The EURAXESS North America office is located in Washington, DC, which can be contacted by individual researchers, as their first point of reference, wishing to pursue a research stay in Europe.

E-mail: northamerica@euraxess.net
Web: http://northamerica.euraxess.org

 

Research Careers In Industry

LOCATION: Farkas Auditorium

​

MODERATOR: 

Abu Jalloh

Scientist II, TCR Discovery, Gritstone Oncology

​

PANELISTS:

Tynisha Glover

Principal Scientist, Janssen

​

Delise Oyola-Robles

Senior Principal Research Associate - Tech Services & Mfg. Sciences, Eli Lilly and Company

​

Natalie Silmon De Monerri

Principal Scientist, Pfizer, Inc.

​

Session Description:

Most biomedical PhD trainees think their two major career options are “academia” or “industry”.  Those considering a career in industry sometimes think this means basically doing what they do now, but for more money and in a more stressful environment. The fact that very few academics have even a basic understanding of how pharma works is one of the main reasons companies hesitate to hire people directly out of academia.  The pharmaceutical industry draws on a variety of expertise to fill variety of positions, and your technical skills are important but are by no means the most important skills you’ll need to be successful. Our panelists will shine a light on the road into a career in the pharmaceutical industry and what to expect when you get there.

​

Professional Development on a Busy PhD’s Schedule

LOCATION: Science Bldg Auditorium, Room 103

​

SPEAKER: 

Tom Magaldi

Assistant Dean, Gerstner Sloan Kettering Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences 

​

Session Description:

Professional development is the process of gaining important skills and experience that will help advance your career. Sometimes this involves developing skills that are not immediately relevant to your research responsibilities. However, the pressure to publish your science or graduate on time can make professional development appear to be a luxury. Come to this talk to develop methods for pursing professional development opportunities that do not interfere with your academic priorities. 

​

Can I Stay, Or Should I Go?: A Visa Workshop

LOCATION: Schwartz E Auditorium

​

SPEAKER: 

Brendan Delaney

Attorney, Hill, Frank & Delaney LLC

​

Session Description:

Foreign national postdocs and researchers face challenges in navigating their career path in the US due to visa and immigration related issues. This workshop will discuss relevant temporary visas including the J-1 Visa, J-1 waivers and touch on other visas (in a more informative way) such as the H-1B/O-1/TN etc. We also tend to discuss the type of issues that they face in terms of their career development, such as visa transition to industry, and also how they can build their CV/Resume for purposes of a self-sponsored application (including the types of evidence, documents and material that they need), which may allow them to expand their career opportunities and transition to an employment position of their own accord.

​

LUNCH 11:30AM-:12:30PM

​

SESSION 2: 12:30-2:00PM

​

Careers in Teaching and Education

LOCATION: Alumni Hall A

​

MODERATOR: 

Victoria Ruiz

Assistant Professor of Biology, St. Francis College

​

PANELISTS:

Matthew Marcello

Associate Professor, Pace University

​

Christina Medina-Ramirez

Director, The Skirball Science Learning Center, Hunter College of CUNY

​

Davida Smyth

Associate Professor, Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts at the New School

​

Session Description:

Teachers are essential to engage students to foster a scientifically informed public and inspire the next generation of scientists, policy makers, and informed citizens. It’s a common misconception that being a college professor is easier and less stressful than being a PI running an NIH-funded research program.  Those going into teaching expecting an easy life chatting with undergrads and taking summers off are in for a rude awakening when they face the reality of life in an undergraduate teaching insitution. Our panelists are all passionate eduators who exemplify what we all hoped we’d get as our professors in college, and they have a wealth of knowledge and advice to share with you in this session!

​

Careers in Science Outreach and Informal Education

LOCATION: Alumni Hall B

​

MODERATOR: 

Jeanne Garbarino

Director, RockEDU Science Outreach, The Rockefeller University

​

PANELISTS:

Christine Marizzi

Lead Community Scientist, BioBus, Inc

​

Odaelys Walwyn-Pollard

Scientist & Educator, The Rockefeller University

​

Latasha Wright

Chief Scientific Officer, BioBus, Inc

​

Session Description:

Spending just a few minutes on Facebook, Twitter, or C-Span illustrates the urgent need for scientists to be more engaged with society. If your interest in science started with a desire to save the world, Science Outreach might be the most urgently needed way to make that goal a reality. Science outreach careers bring science to the public in many settings. Whether it’s from a research university teaching high school teachers how to run a lab, graduate students mentoring K-12 students to pursue a degree in STEM, or a scientist explaining scientific curiosities on YouTube, their passion for science is undeniable. This is the panel for you if love mentoring people in your lab and the desire to communicate your science to nonscientists.

​

Careers in Patent Law and Tech Transfer

LOCATION: Coles 101

 

MODERATOR: 

Ananda Ghosh

Technology Marketing Associate, NYU

​

PANELISTS:

Mauricio Alvarez

Patent Agent, Steptoe and Johnson LLP

​

Beth Ashbridge 

Law Clerk, Goodwin

​

Session Description:

Private companies have long understood that the key to their survival is the generation and protection of intellectual properties. More recently, academic institutions are diversifying their revenue through more aggressive pursuit of commercializing their own intellectual property. As the science behind patents becomes more complex, PhDs are increasingly in demand to bridge the gap between business and law. Whether the issue is licensing an idea to a company, establishing contracts between companies and universities, or startups coming out of schools, the world of patent law and tech transfer is an exciting and challenging environment. It can be confusing and daunting to contemplate a career in IP Law, Tech Transfer, or Venture Capitalism, but our expert panel will explain their paths taken to this exciting new world.

​

Careers in Disciplinary Societies

LOCATION: Coles 109

 

MODERATOR: 

Christine Ponder

Senior Director, Research Affairs/Postdoctoral Affairs, New York University

​

PANELISTS:

Yvette Seger

Director of Science Policy and Deputy Director, Office of Public Affairs, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB)

​

Julie Wolf

Science Communications Specialist, American Society for Microbiology

​

Joerg Schlatterer

Manager, American Chemical Society

​

Session Description:

There is almost no field of science that does not also have a disciplinary society associated with it, and most scientists are members of multiple societies. Aside from having a pet journal to read and an annual meeting at some (hopefully) exotic location, most of us give little thought to who runs these organizations and what they do on a daily basis. Disciplinary societies can be large or small, regional or global, and encompass anything from the tiniest scientific niche to the very broadest scientific concepts. Careers at disciplinary societies are almost as varied as the societies themselves, and this panel will help you gain a better understanding of the many roles played by PhDs in these important organizations.

​

Non-Research Industry Careers

LOCATION: Farkas Auditorium

 

MODERATOR: 

Doug Mahana

Medical Director, Healthcare Consultancy Group - HCG

​

PANELISTS:

Anastacia Awad

Head, Diversity & Inclusion, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research

​

Emily Bauer

Oncology Marketing Lead, UK & Ireland, Bristol-Myers Squibb

​

Jaime Blais

Scientific Director, Cardiovascular Metabolism, Janssen

 

Session Description:

Many students and postdocs assume that transitioning to industry means they’ll just be pipetting in a fancier setting and getting a bigger paycheck. But most PhDs working in private industry don’t do bench research, and this session sheds light on the wide range of non-research careers open to you in the corporate world. From communications to regulatory affairs to education, and beyond, the options for your future are far greater than you might have thought.

​

Negotiations Workshop

LOCATION: Science Bldg Auditorium, Room 103

​

SPEAKER: 

Bernadette So

Executive Director, Career Development Center, Rutgers University

​

Session Description:

Asking for what you want can be challenging--if you’re not prepared. Learn how to address salary questions during an interview, strategies to approach a salary negotiation, and how to manage potential negotiation factors. 

 

The Humble PhD and Postdoc: How to Overcome Common Career Challenges

LOCATION: Schwartz E Auditiorium

​

SPEAKER: 

Tom Magaldi

Assistant Dean, Gerstner Sloan Kettering Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences 

​

Session Description:

Conducting research in graduate school or during a postdoc can be a humbling experience. Long hours, tedious experiments, lack of sufficient mentoring, and uncertain job prospects can wear down brilliant and innovative minds. In this highly interactive workshop you will learn to recognize common mistakes that often derail the career paths of students and postdocs including failure to reward accomplishments, succumbing to pessimism, risk aversion, and the inability to communicate honestly with yourself and others.  By recognizing these mistakes, you will learn to maximize your potential and pave a path for a happy and successful career

​

COFFEE BREAK 2:00-2:30PM

​

SESSION 3: 2:30PM-4:00PM

​

Medical Science Liaison Careers

LOCATION: Alumni Hall A

​

MODERATOR: 

Charlotte Wincott

Associate Director, MSLs, Pear Therapeutics

​

PANELISTS:

Elisabeth Mari

Medical Science Liaison, EMD Sereno, Inc.

​

Lee Rafsky

Associate Director, Medical Science Liaison, Jounce Therapeutics

​

Trey Williams

Senior Medical Science Liaison, Alkermes

​

Session Description:

Most postdocs and grad students have never heard of medical science liaisons (MSL), much less know whether it’s a career they might be interested in. Formerly the sole domain of MDs and PharmDs, PhDs have slowly, but inexorably shown the world that the skills developed in graduate school enable them to learn almost anything and put that knowledge to use rapidly. An MSL works to bring the science behind medicine, medical devices, and new therapies to physicians who use them. You travel a lot (at least at first), interact with different people every day, work on a wide range of projects on tight deadlines. We were lucky to slow down four of these elusive creatures long enough to share their stories with you, don’t miss this opportunity! 

 

Careers in Science Communciation and Media

LOCATION: Alumni Hall B

​

MODERATOR: 

Ben Lillie

CEO, Caveat

​

PANELISTS:

Dave Bernstein

Senior Director of Science and Strategy, Stand Up To Cancer

​

Sally Burn

Director of Scientific Communications, Sema4

​

Julie Wolf

Science Communications Specialist, American Society for Microbiology

​

Session Description:

You don’t have to look very hard on the internet or on cable news shows to find examples of how the general public’s perception of science could be better (to be diplomatic).  It is easy for scientists to blame the lack of knowledge and understanding on poor education and regressive government policies, but the truth is scientists are often just poor communicators.  Scientists can no longer hide in the ivory tower and occaisionally make pronouncements to the masses about the wonder of science if we expect society to continue to value and fund scientific research.  If your passions and interests lie in a desire to know about all kinds of science and turn that knowledge into stories that people care about, this panel is for you! Join our panelists and hear their stories, listen to their advice, and start planning your own journey down this road.

​

Careers in Science Policy

LOCATION: Coles 101

 

MODERATOR: 

Caroline Amendola

PhD Candidate, NYU School of Medicine

​

PANELISTS:

Shama Desai Ahuja

Director, Tuberculosis Surveillance and Epidemiology, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

​

Adrián Rivera-Reyes

Former Candidate for Philadelphia City Council
Administrative Assistant, University of Pennsylvania

​

Yvette Seger

Director of Science Policy and Deputy Director, Office of Public Affairs, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB)

​

Session Description:

Our ability as a society to support the scientific enterprise depends on a bright and dedicated group of science-trained individuals who can recommend policies to lawmakers, granting agencies and other influential groups. From stem cell research to teaching science in public school, sound policy requires thoughtful and insightful individuals to create the structure under which we operate. Our panel will discuss the different ways to apply your scientific training in ways that affect the way science is done.

​

Careers in Technology and Business Development

LOCATION: Coles 109

​

MODERATOR: 

Ashley Schloss

Tech Coalition Manager, Reboot Representation

​

PANELISTS:

Nadim Shohdy

Assistant Dean, Therapeutic Alliances, NYU Langone Medical Center

​

Althea Stillman

Associate Director, IP Group Inc.

​

Keisha Thomas 

Associate Director, Corporate Development, Syros Pharmaceuticals 

​

Session Description:

Research institutions are the source of many ground-breaking discoveries and inventions with the potential to save lives or preserve world around us. If you aspire to help turn those discoveries into products or businesses then a career in technology & business development may be for you. In this panel, we will hear from professionals who have moved from the bench to work at the interface of science and product development.

​

Careers in Data Science, Analytics & Visualization

LOCATION: Farkas Auditorium

​

MODERATOR: 

Ceren Altincekic

Data Scientist, Mars Petcare

​

PANELISTS:

Luis Cunha

Senior Software Engineer, Capital One

​

Deepna Devkar

Vice President, Data Science and Engineering, CNN

​

Friederike Schüür

Director of Machine Learning and Research at Cityblock Health

​

Session Description:

Many PhD trained scientists have used analytic tools to extract meaning from large amounts of experimental data. These skills can be translated from research to do predictive analytics and data mining. This panel is made up of scientists that have evolved from academic researchers to data scientists and now work in a very broad range of careers that most of us probably didn’t know existed.  If you have the skills and interests necessary to make this transition, there is almost no career sector that doesn’t have a need for good data scientists.  The trick is finding how to match their values to yours and start a career that is sure to provides lots of opportunities and challenges in the future.

​

Resume Workshop

LOCATION: Schwartz E Auditiorium

​

SPEAKER: 

Bernadette So

Executive Director, Career Development Center, Rutgers University

​

Session Description:

Converting your CV to a resume is a much bigger challenge than most people expect. One of the biggest difficulties in finding a position outside of academia is getting an interview, and your resume is critical to overcoming this barrier. This session will help you understand what a resume is, and what it is not, and teach you how to turn your experience into a resume that gets noticed.

​

Choosing a Traditional or Non-Traditional Postdoc

LOCATION: Science Bldg Auditorium, Room 103

​

MODERATOR: 

Yaihara Fortis-Santiago

Manager, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, MSKCC

​

PANELISTS:

Melissa Fernandez

Postdoctoral Fellow, NIH-NCI-HIV Dynamics & Replication Program

​

Lydia Grmai

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Johns Hopkins University

​

Elyssa Lehman

Postdoctoral Fellow, Pfizer, Inc.

​

Session Description:

Graduate students considering their next career move usually look at doing a postdoc, and that makes sense for many. But not all postdoc positions are created equal, and more and more innovative programs are appearing that can give you postdoctoral experience in a more specialized setting that will prepare you more completely for the ultimate career of your choice. Join us for a discussion of a few examples, and hear about why a non-traditional postdoc might be the best career move you can make.