Future of Research - How Can We Improve Career Awareness and Preparedness? A workshop at the NatureJobs Career Expo Boston 2015

Abstract

Current issues surrounding research and funding, in particular questions about training and workforce stability, affect career development amongst graduate students and postdocs.

Enhancing the connections between institutions and organizations to advance postdoctoral training

“…Several of these organizations address postdoctoral issues at national meetings and other forums. Part of the national conversation around postdoctoral training and professional development aims to gain input from the postdoctoral scholars themselves about their career development needs (Goodwin et al 2015;Bankston and McDowell 2017). In addition to national meetings, local meetings provide an opportunity for postdoctoral scholars to discuss the resources needed for career development and additional training areas within a particular geographical region.…”

Future of Research Response to NIGMS Request for Information (RFI): Strategies for Modernizing Biomedical Graduate Education (NOT-GM-16-109)

“…Even if their PI doesn't actively discourage them, cultural norms mean that unless the PI explicitly states their support regardless of career path, students frequently express concern that the PI will de-prioritize mentoring them as soon as that intention is declared. There is a common perception (G. S. McDowell et al 2014;Goodwin et al 2015) that there is a need for students to draw a veil of secrecy around their efforts to advance their careers outside of academia. Cultural attitudes are hard to change, but novel approaches to training could be rewarded in training grant applications.…”

“…S. McDowell et al 2014;J. K. Polka, Krukenberg,\n and McDowell 2015;Goodwin et al 2015), and FoR members have previously posted their responses to RFIs as part of our aim to advocate transparently (J. Polka 2015; V. Pai 2015; G. S. McDowell 2015a, b). Here we record our submission to RFI NOT-GM-16-109 (National Institutes of Health 2016) in full.…”