Welcome to the Professional Development web-page for Graduate Students and Post Doctoral Fellows. 

We invite students and faculty to offer suggestions for content or to volunteer their own favorite links pertaining to Professional Development. 

Please e-mail suggestions to msedensk@neoucom.edu, and check back as there will be periodic additions and updates.  

Video:

Click on the following link to watch the 38-minute video of an INTERACTIVE workshop on interviewing preparation and skills.  Presented by Dr. Donna King, June 2006:
Job Interview Workshop Video

PowerPoints by Graduate Students:

"Women in Science: Gender Differences in Academia" by Keytam Awad, April 2006. 
Studies have shown that women with BS degrees in biological disciplines outnumber men, but men still greatly outnumber women in biology faculty positions. This Powerpoint file offers data and explanations, and outlines changes that can counteract gender inequity. 
Women in Science (PowerPoint 1.5MB) 

"Life After Ph.D.: Postdoctoral Training" by Guttalu Kumaraswamy, April 2006. 
This Powerpoint gives an overview of postdoctoral options in academia, at research institutes, and in industry. It offers food for thought on priorities for choosing one postdoctoral situation over another. 
Life after Ph.D (PowerPoint 2.2MB) 

"Uncle Sam Wants You: Postdoctoral opportunities in the US government for biomedical researchers" by Seth A. Faith, May 2006.  
An in-depth look at postdoctoral opportunities in different branches and divisions of the US government. If you think you want a government postdoc (or permanent job), NIH is NOT the only game in town. Includes many links to relevant websites. 
Uncle Sam wants You (PowerPoint 521KB)

"Career Options After Ph.D." by Shyny Koshy May 2006.
This Powerpoint focuses on options for careers in bench research in the pharma/biotech industries in the first half, and also on medical writing and legal careers (patent attorney) in the second half.
Career Options (PowerPoint 2.2MB)

"Exploring Career Paths in Academia" by Kristi Allen, June 2006. A set of Powerpoint slides outlining the different types of academic positions. Advantages and disadvantages to consider when weighing your options on the academic track.
Exploring Career Paths in Academia (PowerPoint 726KB)

Recommended Links:  

Quintessential Careers: Guide to Job Interviewing Resources
A terrific on-line guide to interviewing resources, with a selection of good short articles and more links to other sites. There are also links to other career tools. Highly recommended by Dr. King.  (May 2006)

About.com - Writing Your Curriculum Vitae 
A guide to writing your first c.v. or resume. Practical and clear. Recommended by Dr. King.  (May 2006)

thewritejobs.com 
Technical and medical writing website. Also covers journalism, media, publishing. Includes career advice and resources for writers, as well as job listings.  (May 2006)

American Medical Writers Association
Homepage of the largest chapter of the American Medical Writers Association. We recommend looking at the "Toolkit for medical writers" and "Getting started in medical writing" in the toolbar on the left side.  (May 2006)

ScienceJobs.com
International job listings, searchable by category, including postdocs. Sponsored by New Scientist magazine.  (May 2006)

ScienceCareers.org
The jobsite run by the journal Science. THE place to look for jobs in research. Also includes relevant and current career-related articles and advice.  (May 2006)

Academic Career Advice
"Academia: in the ivory tower, surrounded by ivy-covered walls" Fetzer (2004).  This short paper from Anal Bioanal Chem is a spot-on summary of skills, aptitudes, and considerations for a successful academic career.  (May 2006)

Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
A page of career Resources for graduate students and postdocs prepared by the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology.  It includes articles on questions relevant to academic interview situations and other grant and job-related links. 
Recommended by grad student Maria Serrat.  (May 2007)

Proposal Writing:  The Business of Science
An excellent and concise (6 page) .pdf file written by Wendy Sanders, now serving as Assistant dean for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.  The focus is NIH grant applications, but many tips are more widely applicable.  (May 2007)