Careers Beyond Academia
Graduate students and postdocs interested in exploring career options in industry, government, and nonprofit can learn about opportunities in the Careers Beyond Academia series throughout the 2014-15 academic year. You can find topics relevant to all students as well as specialized panels for two broad disciplinary areas: the humanities and social sciences, and sciences and engineering. This series is offered every two years and is co-sponsored with the Duke Career Center and the Office of Postdoctoral Services. Visit the Careers Beyond Academia webpage for complete details.
Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math Seminars
Finding The Right Fit: Career Exploration and Decision-Making (STEM)
Tues Sept 9, 9:30-11:30 am
The Office of Postdoctoral Services welcomes Dara Wilson-Grant, who will present her workshop on how to choose the right career, helping participans understand what makes a career the right or wrong fit, and provide them with a framework for choosing a rewarding career path.
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How to Identify and Leverage Your Transferable Skills
Tues Sept 23, 9:30-11:30 am
Dara Wilson-Grant will help postdocs and graduate students identify their core strengths and learn specific strategies for communicating their skills and experience to a broad audience via the cover letter and resume. Participants will also gain insight into the skills and personal traits most desired by employers.
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Careers in Medical Writing
Thurs Sept 25, 9-10 am
Rm 143 Jones Bldg
In this panel, PhD scientists will discuss what a medical writer does and who would be a good fit for the job. They will also talk about their job searches, give tips on applying for these types of jobs, and give advice on how to get their foot in the door for medical writing positions.
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Careers in Small- to Mid-Sized Biotech Firms
Thurs Oct 23, 9-10 am
Rm 143 Jones Bldg
While most postdocs and grad students are familiar with large biotech firms like GSK and Syngenta, you may not be aware of smaller firms, which are abundant in the RTP area. Our panelists will discuss how they got their jobs, what a typical day is like, and the pros and cons of working for a smaller company.
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Careers in Science Communication
Tues Oct 28, 9-10 am
Perkins 217
If you enjoy explaining science to audiences beyond the colleagues in your immediate discipline, possess excellent communication skills, and have a drive to share science with the wider world, then you may be interested in a career in science communication. Join our panel discussion to learn how to build a portfolio, gain experience, and sell your science skills to potential employers.
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Research Commercialization and Tech Transfer at Duke
Fri Oct 31, 9:30-10:30 am
Rm 143 Jones Bldg
In this session Judd Staples, the Administrative Director for the Duke Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative, will discuss the research commercialization process, tech transfer policies, and how postdocs and grad students can turn their ideas into action.
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Job Hunting in the Biotech Industry: How to Locate and Apply for Jobs, and How to Land Interviews
Rm 143 Jones Bldg
In this seminar, you will learn how to prepare resumes for your search for research jobs in the biotech industry. Also, you will learn about job search strategies necessary for success on the biotech/pharma job market. After this seminar you will understand how to conduct the four job hunting techniques that comprise a comprehensive job search in the biotech industry.
Careers in Government Research
Mon Nov 17 through Fri Nov 21
(Free online panel discussion hosted by The Versatile PhD)
Free online panel discussion featuring panelists who are PhDs or ABDs in STEM fields, working in agencies such as NASA, EPA, US Air Force, US Geological Survey, California Department of Water and Resources, and Health Canada. Panelists introduce themselves on November 17 and answer questions through Friday; visit the Versatile PhD STEM forum to join the conversation.
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Managing Your Research Career Using an Individual Development Plan (IDP)
Thurs Dec 4, 9-11 am
Rm 143 Jones Bldg
During this program participants will learn how to develop clear and specific goals and objectives in an individual development plan (IDP) along with a plan for executing them.
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Careers in Big Pharma
Thurs Dec 11, 9-10 am
Rm 103 Bryan Research Bldg
The RTP area is a hub for major pharmaceutical companies, including GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Novartis, Pfizer, and Zoetis.Come listen to our panelists, all former postdocs and PhD students, discuss their career paths, how they made the transition from academia to biotech, and how you can make the leap.
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Humanities and Social Sciences Seminars
Finding The Right Fit: Career Exploration and Decision-Making
Fri Sept 26, 12-2 pm
Rm 217 Perkins Library
Dara Wilson-Grant will present her workshop on how to choose the right career. This workshop will help postdocs and graduate students understand what makes a career the right or wrong fit, and provide them with a framework for choosing a rewarding career path.
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Identifying Transferable Skills
Fri Oct 17, 12-2 pm
Rm 217 Perkins Library
Dara Wilson-Grant will help postdocs and students identify their core strengths and learn specific strategies for communicating their skills and experience to a broad audience via the cover letter and resume.
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Careers in University Presses
Thurs Oct 23, 3-4:30 pm
Friedl 225, East Campus
Whether in book acquisitions, journals marketing, or manuscript editorial divisions, university presses can be employers that leverage the transferable skills that graduate students and postdocs have developed in their education. Our panelists will discuss the different roles available in university presses, ways to gain experience and entry into the field, and career advancement opportunities.
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Seminars for All Graduate Students and Postdocs
Interviewing Skills
Thurs Oct 9, 12-1:30 pm
Rm 217 Perkins Library
In this workshop you will learn the various types of interview questions, review a structure for crafting interview responses that illustrate your experiences, practice responding to interview questions in real time, and discuss effective nonverbal communication.
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Converting Your CV to a Resume
Thurs Oct 30, 12-1:30 pm
Rm 217 Perkins Library
In this workshop you will learn how to reformat, reorder, and enrich the content of your CV so that it meets the expectations of employers and makes a compelling case for your candidacy by detailing the knowledge, skills, results, and distinctions that comprise your qualifications.
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How to Use LaTeX to Format Professional-Looking Resumes
Weds Dec 10, 9-10 am
Rm 465 Sands Bldg
Unlike a traditional “what you see is what you get” (WYSIWYG) word processor, LaTeX uses a plain text markup language that is compiled into a PDF document using optimal typographical rules. This results in professional-looking documents that are of a different class to the output from a word processor.
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Core Competencies
Duke Graduate Student Etiquette Dinner
Wednesday, September 3, 5:30–8:30 p.m.
Durham Marriott
The Professional Dining Etiquette Program is designed to enhance students' competence and comfort in professional-social settings.
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Preparing PhD Applications: A Workshop for Master’s Students
Thursday, October 2, 12:00–1:30 p.m.
Room 102, The Graduate School, 2127 Campus Drive
Tips for improving your applications to Ph.D. programs. Open only to current master's students in The Graduate School.
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Competing for NSF Fellowships: A Panel Discussion (Webinar)
Friday, October 3, 12:00–1:00 p.m.
Learn how to craft successful applications for National Science Foundation fellowships.
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Cultivating Communication for Collaboration
Tuesday, October 7, 12:00–2:00 p.m.
Allen 326
Find out what your communication style is and how to use it effectively.
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Adapting Your Research Presentation for US Industry Culture
Thursday, October 16, 3:00–4:30 p.m.
Languages 211
Learn how to present your research in a way that appeals to industry in the United States.
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An Introduction to Your Professional Development at Duke
Monday, October 20, 12:00–1:30 p.m.
Old Chemistry 201
Find out what career and professional development resources are available to you at Duke and beyond.
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Communicating in US Industry Culture
Tuesday, October 21, 12:00–1:30 p.m.
Allen 326
Learn how to communicate effectively within the industry culture of the United States.
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Ph.D. Career Paths
Careers in Subject Matter Consulting
Monday, September 22 through Friday, September 26
(Free online panel discussion hosted by The Versatile PhD)
Join a weeklong online discussion featuring Ph.D.s or A.B.D.s working as subject matter consultants.
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Careers in Higher Ed Development
Monday, October 20 through Friday, October 24
(Free online panel discussion hosted by The Versatile PhD)
Join a weeklong online discussion featuring humanities and social sciences Ph.D.s or A.B.D.s working in university development (sometimes called advancement).
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Careers in Government Research
Monday, November 17 through Friday, November 21
(Free online panel discussion hosted by The Versatile PhD)
Join a weeklong online discussion featuring STEM Ph.D.s or A.B.D.s working in government research.
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