Biophysical Society Bulletin | July/August 2019

Career Development

Tips on Building a Network One of the keys to a successful

you have an interest in their work, and may spark future collaboration between both parties. Similarly, if there is a speaker invited to your institution to give a seminar, it may be worthwhile for you to volunteer to carpool for them. Doing so will give you a chance to interact with the speaker and to get to know them personally, thus increasing your chances of expanding your network. If attending meetings or interacting with guest speakers poses a challenge, then reaching out to authors directly is another option. More often than not, au- thors are always happy to discuss their research with people who take interest. To help accomplish this, some journals offer readers the ability to publish their comments on recent- ly published papers. The Circulation journal encourages their readers to publish a short Letter to the Editor to comment on recently published papers in the journal. This is one method in interacting with various authors, as well as building up your academic credentials in your field of research. Social media, such as LinkedIn and various scientific forums, is another platform that people may use to expand their network. Your peers will always remember and appreciate you if you are actively contributing to the forums and offering constructive criticism. In doing so, others may recognize your talents and may reach out to you for possible future collaboration. It is good practice to always be prepared to introduce yourself to others because the time may arise at any moment. By being a good team member, actively participating during conferences and seminars, and keeping up to date with the latest scientific publications are many ways to help build your professional network. John Simon GuggenheimFellowship Applications are invited for fellowships to further the development of scholars by assisting them to engage in research in any field of knowledge under the freest pos- sible conditions and irrespective of race, color, or creed. Who can apply: The competition is open only to citizens and permanent residents of the United States and Canada. Deadline: September 16, 2019 Website: http:/www.gf.org/competition-timeline/

career in both academia and industry is building a network. Building a network is a process and isn’t something that can be accomplished in a single day, so it is never too early to start. Below are some insightful tips and recommenda- tions that will hopefully help you as you build your network.

The people you work with can be a great resource in building your network, which may include advisors, classmates, and colleagues. Establishing a rapport with these people will not only gain you a first-degree connection, but also create the opportunity for you to establish second-degree connections as well. It is also good to keep in contact with colleagues from your previous institution, or someone you have met personal- ly by sending them a short email during the holiday seasons. By keeping in contact, these people may introduce you to potential collaborators, new positions, funding information, and experts in specific research fields. Another important resource for building your network are professional events, such as scientific meetings, seminars, and journal clubs. Scientists and professionals from the industry attend these conferences and events in order to present their research and promote products, so attending them will give you an opportunity to establish new connections and strengthen previous networks. Extensive research before attending these conferences is essential to expanding your network. For instance, if you are planning on attending oral presentations or poster sessions, be sure to have questions ready for the presenter. This shows that Grants & Opportunities Pew Latin American Fellows This program provides support for young scientists from Latin America to receive postdoctoral training in the United States. Who can apply/be nominated: Applicants must identify and confirm a postdoctoral position in the laboratory of an established principal investigator in advance of applying. Deadline: September 25, 2019 Website: https:/www.pewtrusts.org/en/projects/ pew-latin-american-fellows/to-apply

July/August 2019

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