Biophysical Society Bulletin | May 2020

Career Development

64th Annual Meeting Graduate Student Breakfast

For many future biophysicists and scientists, graduate school can be a challenging time in their burgeoning career. At the BPS Annual Meeting, the Graduate Student Breakfast session, hosted by the Early Careers Committee, graduate students had a chance to get advice from experienced scientists on what kind of jobs to look for, what are the job requirements, how to put yourself in the best possible position to succeed, and more. The 2020 session was organized by Early Career Commit- tee members Holly Holman , University of Utah, and Nathan Hudson , East Carolina University. The invited panelists were Jeanne Small , Program Director, National Science Foundation, and Professor Martin Guthold , Wake Forest University. The speakers covered a wide range of topics discussing both academia and industry. For those who were unable to attend, here are some take-home points. Be Flexible: Guthold stressed that students should not limit their job search to only academic positions, as there are a finite number of positions, but an endless stream of applicants. As a result, it is important to prepare your CV for positions other than academia. He said, “Do not always think about your self-interests.” It is important to put yourself in the shoes of the interviewer and determine how you can help your potential employer achieve his/her goals. Tailoring your mindset to the needs of your potential employer will help maximize your chances of getting that particular job. Be Patient: Applying for positions and waiting to hear back can feel like it takes an eternity. Job searching is a job in itself, and is quite time consuming. It is important that you not

become frustrated with the process. Guthold says, “Try to learn from your experiences, and think about what they [em- ployer] are looking for and how you can help them.” Find Balance: While it is important to pursue your passion, it is equally as important to consider the current state of your personal life as well. The ultimate question you should be asking yourself is, “Am I happy?” This is one question that Jeanne Small asked herself during her tenure position at Eastern Washington University. While she enjoyed teaching her students and conducting research, she found it difficult balancing that with taking care of her family. To combat this, professors will usually go on a sabbatical to not only take time away from their academic duties, but also to be with their families. While there are institutions that grant paid sabbatical, some force their employees to take a pay cut if they wish to take a sabbatical. Asked if she had any reserva- tions or regrets in leaving her tenured position, Small said, “I never looked back.” She thoroughly enjoys her current position outside of academia. Where can I find jobs? This question is asked almost every year. Job seekers can visit Chronicle.com and NSF.gov, where both academic and non-academic positions are posted. High- eredjobs.com is another great resource where job seekers can find primarily academia positions. The Biophysical Society also has a job board where biophysics jobs are posted year- round. If you’re a graduate student, plan to attend next year’s session at the 65th BPS Annual Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, February 20–24, 2021.

May 2020

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