SESSION 1: 10:00-11:30AM

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Sales and Field Application Specialist Careers

LOCATION: Alumni Hall A

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MODERATOR: 

Caleph Wilson

Field Application Scientist, Miltenyi Biotech

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PANELISTS:

Sofia De Leon Tobal

Technical Sales Representative, Integrated DNA Technologies

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Jim Hayes

Field Application Scientist, Clinical Bioinformatics, QIAGEN

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Anu Konduru

Field Application Scientist, Sartorius

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Session Description:

If you can think of a single piece of lab equipment you use that doesn’t come with a product manual and an 800 number to call for help when you can’t make it work, you’re in rare company. As science becomes more complex and technologically advanced, the problems that arise from this complexity have grown more and more difficult to solve on your own. Field application specialists have to be extremely knowledgeable about the products and technology they support, but they also need to be able to think creatively and be able to work with people who have a wide range of knowledge and technical skills. This goes way beyond “try unplugging it and plugging it back in” levels of tech support. A field application specialist might travel the country, or the world, working side by side with scientists to develop new ways to test their hypotheses, or they might work in a  lab figuring out new ways to improve devices or new applications for technology already on the market. Besides being a rewarding career on its own, these careers can also provide great opportunities to broaden your career into management, marketing, sales, business development, and many other options. Our panelists represent a wide range of career paths and their advice will help you understand how to apply your passion and creativity to maximum effect.

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Careers in Non-Profits and Foundations

LOCATION: Alumni Hall B

 

MODERATOR: 

Jun Tang

Senior Manager, Cancer Research Institute

 

PANELISTS:

Upal Basu Roy

Vice President of Research, LUNGevity Foundation

 

Giovanna Guerrero-Medina

Executive Director, Ciencia Puerto Rico

 

Shefali Soni

Program Officer, Helmsley Charitable Trust

 

Session Description:

If your interest in science is rooted in a desire to make the world a better place and to contribute to society, careers in non-profits and foundations might be a great fit.  But these are not monolithic institutions, and there are a wide ranges of job types within them. This includes scientific research, managing grants, establishing partnerships between academia and industry, and many of the traditional scientific support roles you’d expect to see in any sector of STEM.

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Our panelists can shine a light on the different roles played by PhDs in their world, and help you understand what to look for and what questions to ask when considering a career here.

 

Faculty Positions in Academia

LOCATION: Coles 101

 

MODERATOR:

Kartik Chandran

Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

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PANELISTS:

Shruti Naik

Assistant Professor, NYU School of Medicine

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Katey Rayner

Associate Professor, University of Ottawa Heart Institute

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Josefa Steinhauer

Associate Professor, Yeshiva University

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Session Description:

Public, private, research, liberal arts: there are many options for those who are looking for a faculty position, but with the varying expectations of faculty at different institutions, what should you be doing now to increase your chances of landing a faculty position?   Even though faculty positions are the most well-understood of all the careers at this symposium, most students and postdocs don’t really have a good understanding of what factors are most important in getting a position, and then being successful at getting tenure. Our panelists can help dispel common misconceptions about life at a research intensive insitution, or a more teaching-focused university. 

 

A Strong CV Is Not Enough: What You Don’t Know Might Hurt You

LOCATION: Coles 109

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SPEAKER: 

Mary Mitchell

President, The Mitchell Organization

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Session Description:

Nearly every major hiring decision involves face-to-face interaction.  And the interview process is often as much social as formal.   This workshop will both heighten your awareness and give you the confidence to present yourself effectively outside your lab.  Topics include: Interview skills, communications principles, business etiquette, appropriate dress, and how to thrive at business/social events. 

 

Getting Your First Job: How To Become “Business-Ready” To Stand Out Against Your Competition

LOCATION: Farkas Auditorium

 

SPEAKER: 

Randall Ribaudo

Co-Founder, CEO, SciPhD

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Session Description:

Adapting to industry jobs can be a significant challenge for scientists coming from academia. Industry values and even requires skills that go beyond the traditional scientific/technical competencies. Being “business-ready” means being able to demonstrate you have the business and social skills valued in order to fit into their team-based work environments. This workshop introduces 23 business and social competencies valued in industry, and shows you how to relate your own experiences to demonstrate your value to the organization and stand out against your competition.

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Careers in Finance & Equity Research

LOCATION: Schwartz E Auditorium

 

MODERATOR: 

Bryan Czyzewski

Vice President, Jefferies

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PANELISTS:

Uya Chuluunbaatar

Vice President, Amzak Health

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Lina Kaminski

Sr. Associate - Biotechnology Equity Research, Canaccord Genuity

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Audrey Le

Assistant Vice President and Senior Equity Analyst, Fiera Capital

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Session Description:

The bioscience industry is built on life science innovation but money is the means to development. If you have an interest in how money flows to investments and enjoy a high-intensity work environment being a financial analyst may be the career path for you. In this panel, we will hear from professionals who have made the leap from evaluating bio data to engrossing themselves in financial data and learning how the industry operates.

 

LUNCH 11:30AM-:12:30PM

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SESSION 2: 12:30-2:00PM

 

Careers in Public Health

LOCATION: Alumni Hall A

 

MODERATOR: 

Preeti Pathela

Director of Research and Evaluation, NYC DOHMH

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PANELISTS:

Blythe Adamson

Senior Quantitative Scientist, Flatiron Health

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Dustin Duncan

Associate Professor, Columbia University

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Jennifer Nguyen

Director, Global Real World Evidence, Pfizer, Inc.

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Session Description:

We all understand that being competitive for grant funding requires at least some link to human health and its improvement. For most of us, this link is somewhat vague and many years in the future (if even in our lifetime). But for scientists who are truly passionate about seeing their work directly impact the lives of people and improving society as a result, a career in public health is one way to make that passion a reality. Public health is a broad term and complex field that involves scientists of every discipline from basic researchers to clinicians, from sociologists to psychologists, and finding your place in this complex world can be challenging. Our panelists will talk about their own career paths and the twists and turns they took, but also explain why and where PhDs are needed and what skills you can develop now to be ready to join their ranks when your training is complete.

 

Medical Communications Careers

LOCATION: Alumni Hall B

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MODERATOR: 

Danielle Pasquel

Associate Medical Director, Symbiotix, LLC

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PANELISTS:

Gary Burd

Global Medical Director, Caudex

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Rana Elkholi

Associate Medical Director, BGB Group

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Stephen Towers

Senior Scientific Director, Healthcare Consultancy Group

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Session Description:

Medical communications is not journalism, academic publishing or regulatory writing. MedComms agencies advise pharma companies on how best to educate and inform their customers about new therapies and medicine, supported by clinical and economic data. Many global MedComm agencies have an office in the greater New York City metro area and are growing their medical writing staff. Those who enjoy being technical, creative, fast paced and looking to work in a range of therapeutic areas should attend this session.

 

Careers in Publications

LOCATION: Coles 101

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MODERATOR: 

Sebastien Thuault

Senior Editor and Team Manager, Nature Communications

 

PANELISTS:

Kristina Hopkins

Customer Consultant, Elsevier

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Kaoru Sakabe

Data Integrity Manager, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Angela Welch

Senior Publisher, Elsevier, Inc.

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Session Description:

A career in the publishing world can be incredibly rewarding and exciting, but as the world of publishing changes it can be hard to know what roles will be played by PhDs in the future. A career in publishing can mean many things, and while that means the opportunities are broad, it can also be difficult to decipher what jobs might fit your interests, skills, and values the best.  Our panel will explain the breadth of possibilities, what skills are most needed, and what is the best way for a PhD to make the transition.

 

Nature Masterclass

LOCATION: Coles 109

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SPEAKER: 

Shari Wiseman

Senior Editor, Springer Nature

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Session Description:

A brief introduction to Nature and the Nature journals as well as the peer review and editorial decision-making processes at these journals. This seminar is suitable for researchers in general from graduate students upwards. Even if you aren’t currently close to submitting a paper to Nature, having a better understanding of what top journals look for can help you get your work into the best journal possible.

 

Consulting Careers

LOCATION: Farkas Auditorium

 

MODERATOR: 

Stefanie Mazlish

CEO, TSL: The Solution Lab

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PANELISTS:

Jeffrey Skaar

Partner, Boston Strategic Partners

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Mike Veenstra

Consultant, IQVIA

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Rosa Viñas Castells

Associate, McKinsey & Company

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Session Description:

If problem solver, creative, analytical thinker, and team player describe you well, then you may find a career in consulting and related fields a good match. Panelists will cover consulting and related careers where those transferable skills you picked up in graduate school become your number 1 asset. 

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Careers in Bioinformatics and Genomics 

LOCATION: Schwartz E Auditorium

 

MODERATOR: Jim Hayes

Field Application Scientist, Clinical Bioinformatics, QIAGEN

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PANELISTS:

Issac Galatzer-Levy

VP Clinical and Computational Neuroscience, AiCure

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Zachary Kurtz

Scientist, Lodo Therapeutics

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Jonathan Scheiman

Co Founder, CEO, FitBiomics

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Session Description:

The genomics revolution has allowed the generation of unprecedented amounts of data, created entirely new fields of research, and holds the promise of new treatments for diseases once thought incurable. This massive generation of data must first be turned into information before it can become knowledge, and bioinformatics is the means for that transformation. There is almost no biological question that can’t benefit from greater knowledge of the genome, and for the technological abilities to analyze vast amounts of data. Genomics and bioinformatics are closely linked, and as relatively new fields, the true potential of these disciplines is only now beginning to unfold. Join this session and hear our panelists discuss their journey into a new frontier of science, and discovery the opportunities that lie ahead for those intrepid souls who yearn to break new scientific ground and break down the silos that separate the traditional biomedical research fields.

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COFFEE BREAK 2:00-2:30PM

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

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Careers in Editing

LOCATION: Alumni Hall A

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MODERATOR: 

Dolonchapa Chakraborty

Postdoctoral Fellow, NYU School of Medicine

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PANELISTS:

Paul-Andre Genest

Senior Editor, John Wiley and Sons

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Sebastien Thuault

Senior Editor, Springer Nature

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Shari Wiseman

Senior Editor, Springer Nature

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Session Description:

If you instanltly spotted the typo in this blurb, you might think you have all the skills needed to make a great editor. It is true that an eye for extreme detail, firm grasp of writing skills and conventions, and at least a touch of OCD are skills used by editors, but there is a great deal more involved in their professional lives. Most editors at scientific journals spend less and less time actually editing articles as their careers progress, and you need to manage time, people, and reviewers, all while staying on top of the latest scientific advances relevant to your field. Being an editor doesn’t mean leaving science even though you won’t be doing experiments, and for those with a passion to know everything it can be an incredibly exciting and rewarding career. Our panelists represent a broad range of experience and career paths, and this is a great place to start your exploration of a career you might think you understand (but probably don’t).

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Entrepreneurs: From Science to Startup

LOCATION: Alumni Hall B

 

MODERATOR: 

Anita Kishore

Principal & Founder, Access to Opportunity Consulting (A2OC)

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PANELISTS:

Michal Gilon Yanai

Associate Director, Biomedical Entrepreneurship Program, NYU Langone Health

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Maria Luisa Pineda

Cofounder & CEO, Envisagenics

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Colin Malone

Co-Founder & Head of Biology, VNV NewCo

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Session Description:

What do all the companies and organizations here at the career fair have in common? People who were entrepreneurial started them all. In this session entrepreneurial individuals share how they made an impact with their innovations and how you could too.

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Grant Writing Workshop

LOCATION: Coles 101

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SPEAKER: 

Jaime Rubin

Vice Chair for Investigator Development/Professor of Medical Sciences, Columbia University

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Session Description:

This workshop addresses topics that newly independent academic investigators and those transitioning to independence need to understand to successfully compete for extramural peer reviewed funding to support their research laboratories. This includes: (1) Funding Agencies (government and non-government); (2) Types of Funding Programs (research grants, fellowships, career development awards); (3) Grant Review Processes (including the National Institutes of Health); (4) Strategies for Identifying Appropriate Funding Opportunities; and (5) Approaches for Competitive Applications.

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Schmooze or Lose: Networking

LOCATION: Science Bldg Auditorium, Room 103

 

SPEAKER: 

Mary Mitchell

President, The Mitchell Organization

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Session Description:

Social settings often intimidate otherwise accomplished professionals. Mary Mitchell discusses business event etiquette concerns such as, address introductions, handshakes, small talk, gender differences, and Miserable Moments - forgetting names, breaking into a group, alcohol protocol, and a host of others. You’ll be given an opportunity to practice these skills. 

 

Careers at Regeneron

LOCATION: Farkas Auditorium

 

MODERATOR: 

Lisa Purcell

Senior Staff Scientist, Infectious Diseases

Scientific Director, Secondary Education Programs, Regeneron

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PANELISTS:

Alexandra Bettina

Scientific Writer, Regeneron

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Jenelle Timmins

Associate Director, HR Business Partner for R&D, Regeneron

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Richard Torres

Senior Staff Scientist, Target Information GroupScientific Director, Regeneron

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Session Description:

Regeneron has grown tremendously over the last few years, and many former NYU students and postdocs have found careers with them. This session will highlight some of the diverse career paths available within this vibrant company that you might not know much about. This goes beyond the bench scientist in industry we all think we know, and will open your eyes to the breadth of possibilities at Regeneron and other pharmaceutical companies.

 

Non-Tenure Track Faculty Careers in Academia

LOCATION: Schwartz E Auditiorium

 

MODERATOR: 

Erwin Cabrera

Director - Research Aligned Mentorship (RAM) Program, SUNY - Farmingdale State College

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PANELISTS:

Chiara Bertipaglia

Scientific Program Manager, Columbia University Zuckerman Institute

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W. Marcus Lambert

Assistant Dean of Diversity and Student Life, Assistant Professor of Education Research in Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine

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Sophie Thuault-Restituito

Chief of Staff, Irving Institute for Cancer Dynamics, Columbia University

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Session Description:

Academic institutions are increasingly looking for PhD-trained people to help support scientific research and training. Panelists who have taken a variety of paths to the support of side of research will talk about their careers in academia beyond the tenure track. Leaving the bench doesn’t mean leaving science behind, and these careers can keep you in the world of academia.  As academic research evolves, the need for people who understand science becomes even greater.  Solving problems, building consensus, taking risks, and being diplomatic are all big parts of this world, and our panelists are all great examples of how you can use the skills gained in research to help make scientific research more effective and rewarding for everyone.

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KEYNOTE ADDRESS: 4:30PM-6:00PM

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KENNETH GIBBS, JR.

FROM PH.D. TO J-O-B FINDING YOUR WAY AND MAKING AN IMPACT AS AN EARLY CAREER SCIENTIST