Biophysical Society Bulletin | June 2023

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Young Scientists Receive Biophysics Award at Science Fairs

The Biophysics Award, sponsored by the Biophysical Society’s Education Committee, is presented to high school students at re gional and state science fairs across the United States. The winners are chosen by local judges and BPS volunteers who take on the challenge of selecting the best biophysics-related project. Each student winner is given a $100 award and recognition by BPS for their outstanding achievement. In 2023, BPS was proud to present The Biophysics Award at the following fairs: • Anne Arundel County Regional Science and Engineering Fair • BCC/Rensselaer Region III Science and Engineering Fair

• Montgomery County Science Research Competition • Northeastern Indiana Tri-State Regional Science Fair • Northwest Science Expo • Prince George’s Area Science Fair • Prince William-Manassas Regional Science and Engineering Fair • Riverside County Science and Engineering Fair • San Luis Valley Regional Science Fair • Terra North Jersey STEM Fair

• Colorado Science and Engineering Fair • Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair • Fairfax County Regional Science and Engineering Fair • Georgia Science and Engineering Fair • Greater New Orleans Science and Engineering Fair • Hoosier Science and Engineering Fair

The Society could not give these awards and encourage young scientists without the help of members who volunteer to judge. We are so grateful to the judges who give back to their local communities to share their passion for biophysics. For many students, presenting at a science fair might be their first time giving a science talk outside of an in-school presentation and it might be their first step towards a scientific career. Many shared their gratitude for the award and their pleasure at being able to present to real scientists in the field. Finding a Job in a Difficult Economy for Graduates and Postdocs

3. Use novel job-listing avenues. The use of social net working websites has spurred novel ways to advertise jobs. With sites such as LinkedIn, you can now tailor your search to match your skill set. Future PI Slack is another powerful resource encompassing lengthy lists of academic jobs and discussion boards. I can confidently recommend both. 4. Preparing for the interview. Depending on the type of job you are applying for, the interview format can vary greatly. I’ve done both in-person and virtual interviews, and the format, duration, and style have been very diverse. You should be pre pared to negotiate your salary in some interviews, and others will have a human resources representative present. Inter views can also include a problem-solving session in which you need to give a proposed solution to a problem the employer is looking to solve. It helps to research the institution careful ly before the interview and read any instructions that were given to you in advance. For academic jobs, a “chalk talk” is common, as are one- to two-day-long interview sessions. Be prepared, get some good rest beforehand, and if you are fly ing in from far away, arrive a day early to recover from jet lag. I wish you all the best in your job hunting and trust that you will find a position that fits your skills and experience! — Molly Cule

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the so-called “Great Resignation” led to big changes in the job market. Now, grad uate students and postdoctoral fellows are waking up to a reality in which a looming recession seeks to affect their job-hunting prospects. It appears that 2023 is a challenging time to be in the job market, so let me outline some useful tips for getting started.

1. Utilize your network. My best experiences of finding a job involved poorly advertised positions that I learned about from my network. I even landed one position when an unsuccess ful inquiry to a professor about one job led to him telling me about a colleague of his who was looking for someone with my skill set. 2. Industry jobs require a different application strategy. From the format of the cover letter to the emphasis on skills over publications, it pays to tailor your application to the type of job to which you are applying. There are even differences between the expected formats when applying in the Ameri cas, Europe, or Asia.

June 2023

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