BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER
4
SEPTEMBER
2014
Careers
The Early Careers Committee hosted a panel discussion at the 58
th
Annual Meeting in San Francisco,
California, focusing on PhD careers beyond the bench. The panel consisted of
Prithwish Pal
, InVivo-
scribe Technologies, Inc.,
Walter Ausserer
, ForteBio, and
Peter Aldhous
, a freelance science journalist.
Below are some of the highlights from the session.
What can I do to prepare for a career
beyond the bench while I am in
graduate school?
When you are working on your PhD, you do not
have much time to volunteer or get an internship.
Writing a blog or writing for your university’s
publications will set you apart and show potential
employers that you can write well and communi-
cate ideas effectively.
Do not just do your work—consciously expand
your network and encourage the success of others.
Explore all of the options available to PhD scien-
tists to figure out where your interests lie. Some
areas you can look into are publishing, consulting
companies, product management, sales, market-
ing, science policy, IT, and science communica-
tion.
Make contact with someone who has a career
you’re interested in, and find out what his/her job
is really like. If that is not possible, become famil-
iar with the work of someone who you admire, so
that you can make a personal connection when
you do start applying for jobs. Target your cover
letter to the company to which you are applying.
Is earning a business degree helpful?
For jobs within large companies, especially bioin-
formatics companies, having a business degree can
be very helpful. If you are looking for a job within
a small company, having a business degree can
work against you.
Do I need to complete a postdoc before
pursuing jobs away from the bench? Do I
need writing samples when applying?
Typically, a postdoc is valued for the new skills
you learn, but is not required. Most companies do
not ask for writing samples, but do not underesti-
mate the importance of being a good writer in any
position away from the bench — especially science
communication.
How will I know if a resume or CV is more
appropriate for a job listing?
For industry jobs, a resume is standard. Any
resume over four pages will not be read, so make
sure you are succinct. Rewrite your resume for
each position you apply for, highlighting what is
relevant to the job. Include keywords, which larger
companies often electronically scan for before your
resume is reviewed by a hiring manager.
Are industry employers concerned with my
publication record?
Industry is far less concerned with an applicant’s
publication record than is academia, but a good
publication record reflects well on you, as it dem-
onstrates your productivity and writing skills.
How can I figure out if a company will be
the right fit for me?
Search online to see what is written about the
company you are interested in. If you can, contact
someone who works there already, so that you
