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ConferenceProceedings
forthe
STEMCareerSymposium
heldonMarch26,2016
Organizedby
UCSanDiegoPostdoctoralAssociationSalkSocietyofResearchFellows
SBPScienceNetworkScrippsSocietyofFellows
2
TableofContents
Acknowledgments……………………………………….………………………………………………………………..………….3Panel1:Research&Development……………..…………………………………………….............................…….4Panel2:Research&Development(Non-Biology)……….……………………………………………………………..5Panel3:Clinical&RegulatoryAffairs……………………………….…………………………………………………………7Panel4:ScientificWriting&Communications………………………………………………………………………….9Panel5:Consulting&Management………………………………………………….…………………………………….12Panel 6: Teaching…………………………………………………………….………………………………………………………14Panel 7: Business& Entrepreneurship……………………………………………………………………………….…..17Panel8:IntellectualProperty&SciencePolicy…………………………………………………….………………….19
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Acknowledgments
OnbehalfofthePostdoctoralAssociationsofUCSanDiego,SalkInstituteforBiologicalStudies,Sanford
BurnhamPrebysMedicalDiscoveryInstitute,andScrippsResearchInstitute,wewouldliketothankall
attendees,panelists,andsponsorsforsupportingthe3rdAnnual“WhatCanYouBewithaPhD?”STEM
CareerSymposium!Thegrowingdifficultiestosecurefundingandtheincreasedscarcityoftenuretrack
faculty positions havemade it imperative to explore other career options. There aremultiple career
pathsoutsideofacademia,someofwhichmanypostdocsmaynotbeawareof.Thiswasthe impetus
behind the creation of this Symposium, to enable interactionwith experienced professionals to help
informandguidefuturecareerdecisions.
Thepreviouseventsorganizedby theUCSanDiegoPostdoctoralAssociation (PDA) in2014and2015
wereverysuccessful.Thisyear,forthefirsttime,wewereabletoorganizethiseventasacollaborative
effortbymultiplePostdoctoralAssociationstoreachouttoevenmoreattendees,morespeakers,and
more sponsors. We hope that by attending the Symposium postdocs and grad students are able to
discovermanynewpossibilitiesforabrightfuture.
The Postdoctoral Associations would especially like to thank all of the speakers for generously
volunteeringtosharetheirstoriesandwisdom.Wealsoextendourdeepestthankstooursponsors.We
aregratefulforyoursupportinourpostdoccareerdevelopmentefforts.Lastly,wealsothankallofthe
Postdoctoral Associations’memberswho volunteered tomake this year’s STEMCareer Symposium a
success.
Sincerely,
UCSDPostdoctoralAssociation
SalkSocietyofResearchFellows
SBPScienceNetwork
ScrippsSocietyofFellows
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Panel1
Research&Development
Moderator:QiangZhu
GuangChen,PhD ScientificDirectoronTranslationalResearchandBehavioralPharmacology,JanssenR&D
KarenGutekunst,PhD VPofDiagnosticDevelopment,Illumina
TusharMenon,PhD Scientist,VertexPharmaceuticals
KarstenSauer,PhD DirectorofCancerImmunology,Pfizer
TomWu,PhD AssociateDirectorofMedicalChemistry,Genomics InstituteoftheNovartisResearchFoundation
(GNF)
Pleaseintroduceyourself,tellusaboutyourbackgroundandcareerpath.All speakers have good records during previous academic training. Two of them actually had facultyappointmentsbefore.Evenyoudecidetomoveintoindustryinthefuture,youstillneedtoperformwellinacademiatoearnyourcredibilityandprepareyourselfwellintermsoftechniqueandsoftskills.Whatmotivated you tomake a transition into industry?Whatwas themost challenging aspect ofyourtransition?Toapplyknowledgeandskillsinashorttimeperiod,makearealproduct,closetoclinic.Learnhowtomanagepeopleandcommunicatewellwithothers.What recommendations do youhave for postdocswho are interested in R&D jobs to best preparethemselves?Thekeyisnetworking.Itisnotaboutwhatcanyoudo,itismoreaboutwhodoyouknow?PayattentiontoyourprofessionalappearancelikeyourLinkedIn.Whatisatypicalworkdaylikeforyou?Mostoftime,alotofmeetingsandinteractionswithcoworkers.Transferrableskills?Problem-solving,analytical,communication,leadership.
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Panel2
Research&Development(Non-Biology)
Moderator:ChristianUrban
FrancescoCarobolante,PhD(C) VPofEngineering,Qualcomm
SupriyaJaiswal,PhD (J) CEO,Astrileux
JorgeA.Martinez,PhD (M) SeniorEngineer,Cymer
MarcelNassar,PhD (N) SeniorResearchEngineer,Samsung
HarveyS.Smallman,PhD (S) Director,VisualAnalytics,PacificScience&EngineeringGroup
Motivationsfortransition,keyfactorsforsuccess,challengesexperienced:
S: I was groomed for academia, and at the bottom of the pecking order when I got a job as a
professor.Flexibility isakeyfactorforsuccess,particularlyformeIwasopentoappliedscience.The
cultureshiftbetweenacademicandcommercialenvironmentswasachallenge.
C:Tangibleskills,communication,andtransferableknowledgearekey
N: The distinction between university and industry environments can be blurry. Inflexible working
hoursandhavingtoalignwiththecompanycanbeachallenge.
J:Theinefficiencyofacademiawasamotivationtostartmyowncompany.Pressureanddeadlinesare
challengingtocopewith.
M:Alsodeadlines
Howdidjobrolesingradschool/postdocexposeyoutoothercareers?
C: Be excited about your career, and have curiosity. Don't limit yourself to what you're taught in
classes.Buildsomething.
N:Expandyourhorizonsandexposeyourselftolotsofdifferenttopics.Itookclassesinmanydifferent
fields.
J:Everyonehasmultiplecareersintheirlife.Physicstaughtmeanethic.
M:Ibecameahandyman/engineerformylab,andthusindispensable.
S:Iliketheproblemsolvingaspectofmywork,andhavinganoutletforcreativity.IusethepedagogyI
developedinacademiatoexplainthingstoengineers.
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Feelingsaboutthetransition,especiallyifyouracademicenvironmentwasunsupportive.
N:Engineeringacademiawasrathersupportive
J:Sendingoutresumesonlinewasineffective.Meetpeopleinpersontogiveoutyourresume.Make
yourresumerelevanttowhatthecompanyneeds.
S.Resume-> Whathave Idone.Companiesare interested inwhatyoucandoforthem.Tailoryour
resumespecificallytothecompany.
Startupvs.largecompany?
J:Smallcompanyhaslotsoflogisticsworkyouwillhavetodealwithyourself.Youneedexperiencein
corporatelifefirst.
M: Big company advantages are that there is always something to do, and lots of
resources.Disadvantagesarelotsofmeetings.
S:Smallcompany->Tolerancetoriskisnecessary.
C:Makemistakestolearnfrom
N:largecompaniescandealwithgreencardrelatedpaperworkeasier?
NotesduringopenQ&A
-Apply theprocessof scienceyouhave learned,notnecessarily theexact scientific knowledgeyou've
acquired.
-Thestructureofresearchisatransferableskill.
-Yourresearch/communicationresponsibilitybalancemaychange.
-Publicationrecorddependsonthefield
-Haveanoutlettorelievepressure(hobbies)
-Documentyourskillsetandprocessesevenforfailedprojects.
-Beflexibleonhowyouphrasethings
-Interview:Thinkonyourownfeetforthatithelpsresearchingproblemsthecompanyisfacing
-Managementleadership/teamskillsareimportantandcancomefrommanyplaces
-Beanactiveparticipantinyourlab/group
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Panel3
ClinicalandRegulatoryAffairs
Moderator:EvelynWalenta
SonjaBilles,PhD Owner,MedicalWriter,AugustScientific
MariaJoseCortes-Mateos,PhDRAC RegulatoryAffairsAssociate,DJOGlobal,LLC
SandraMatsumoto,PhDRAC PresidentofGlobalRegulatoryAffairs,Evofem,Inc.
JoanneMcNelis,PhD Clinical/RegulatoryScientist,CatoResearch
KristinTaylor,PhD HeadofClinicalDevelopment,Zafgen,Inc.
The three major parties involved in clinical trials are Clinical Affairs, Regulatory Affairs, andMedical
Affairs. Their tight collaboration is essential for the success of clinical trials, and their functions often
overlap. Especially small companies might have one person doing all three jobs. Put simply, Clinical
Affairs aremostly involved in the operational part of clinical trials, including design, implementation,
andmanagementofclinicaltrials;RegulatoryAffairsinteractstronglywithregulatoryauthoritieslikethe
FDAandmakesurethattheclinicaltrialsareimplementedincompliancewithlawsandregulations;and
MedicalAffairscommunicatethescienceinvolvedinclinicaltrials.
Themajordifferencesbetweenbeinginacademiaandworkinginanyoftheabovementionedfieldsis
thattherewillbemorethanoneprojecttofocuson.Thereforeitisimportanttobeabletorealizefast
whatisimportantandwhathaslesspriority.Communicationiskey.Clinicaltrialsareateameffort,and
insteadof reportingtooneprofessor it ismore likely toreport to3peopleormore.Relyingonother
membersoftheprojectteam(scientists,marketingetc.)wereexamplesofthemajorchallengesnoted
for these professions. Additionally, due to the tight regulations by the FDA and other regulatory
organizationstheadministrativeeffortisbigger.
The pharmaceutical industry develops fast, as well as the FDA regulations are constantly changing.
Therefore,althoughataskofseveralyears,clinicaltrialsareconductedunderconstanttimepressure.
Beingpartofthegoodaswellasthebadtimesoftheclinicalresearchindustrywasmentionedasoneof
themostpositiveandnegativeaspectofthisfield.Tobesuccessfulinthisindustryyouhavetobeopen
tonewthings,readalot,andconstantlylearn.
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WorkdaysinthisfieldvaryalotdependingonthepositionandstatusoftheClinicalTrial.Workingasan
independent contractor, like Dr. Billes, leads to a high fluctuation ofwork load. There can beweeks
withoutassignments, followedbyweeksof12hoursworkdays.However, it isyourchoicehowmuch
youwant/canaccomplish.Employmentbasedjobshavelessextremefluctuationofworkload,butcome
with less freedomconcerningcorehours.ClinicalTrialassociated jobscanbeveryversatilebut rarely
comeinconstant9to5,40hourworkweeks.
What all fields have in common is lots of writing and reviewing of documents and lots ofmeetings.
Therefore, scientific writing experience, strong analytical skills, effective communicating/negotiating
skills,aswellastimemanagementskillsgainedduringaPhD/postdocaremosttransferrableandshould
be highlighted on your resume when applying for Clinical/Regulatory/Medical Affairs related jobs.
Explain during the interview that you knowwhat you are getting into, and do your research on the
company.
Several certificates/modulesareoffered locallyandonline,whicharegreatways to learnmoreabout
thefieldanddemonstratetoperspectiveemployersthatyouhavemadeaseriouscommitmenttothis
careerpath.
e.g.UCSDextension(http://extension.ucsd.edu/),SanDiegoStateUniversity(SDSU,
https://www.sdsu.edu/),RegulatoryAffairsProfessionalsSociety(RAPS,http://www.raps.org/)
Networkingisvitallyimportanttothejobsearchprocess.Localchaptersofnationalorganizationshave
monthly/bimonthlymeetingsandareagreatwaytonetworkandlearnmoreaboutthesefields.
e.g.SanDiegoRegulatoryAffairsNetwork(SDRAN,http://www.sdran.org/),SanDiegoClinicalResearch
Network(SDCRN,http://sdcrn.net/),AmericanMedicalWritersAssociation–PacificSouthwestChapter
(AMWA-PACSW,http://www.amwa-pacsw.org/)
Itiscommontoenterthesefieldsfromotherdepartmentswithinindustry–mostoftenwithinthesame
company.ItmaybepossibletoworkcloselyorevenworkinRegulatoryorClinicalgroupswhileworking
inR&D for example.Anotherway to startoff a career inClinical/RegulatorAffairs are fellowshipand
developmentprogramsmostlyofferedbybigCROs(ClinicalResearchOrganizations).
e.g.CatoResearch(Fellow,https://workforcenow.adp.com/jobs/apply/posting.html?client=catoresear),
Quintiles(CRADevelopmentProgram,http://www.quintiles.taleo.net).
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Panel4
ScientificWriting&Communications
Moderator:AmandaMoore
HeatherBuschman,PhD SeniorManager,CommunicationsandMedia Relations,UCSanDiegoHealthSciences
NenaChavira,PhD MarketingScienceWriter,Illumina
AmyCullinan,PhD SocialMediaManager,Illumina
TiffanyFox,PhD PublicInformationRepresentative,Qualcomm Institute,UCSanDiego
SharonSchendel,PhD GraduateEducationSpecialist,Sanford-Burnham PrebysGraduateSchool
PeggyVorwald,PhD AccountExecutive,LittleDogCommunications
Thebasic tenetsof the jobdescriptionsofall thepanelistswasverysimilar,which is to takecomplex
scientific advancements,whether it be in theprivateorpublic sector, anddistill themessage intoan
informativeandinterestingmessagecateredtothedesiredaudience.
Asummaryofthepanelists’careerpathstotheircurrentposition:
• 4/5 panelists were PhD graduates and their transition into their current position started in
graduateschool
o soughtoutextrawritingandeditingresponsibilitieswithintheirdepartmentorthrough
independentwork
• While working at Illumina, Amy wanted to focus on Illumina’s communications with social
media,buttherewasnopositionwiththisdefinedrole.Byexpandingherjobresponsibilitiesto
provewhatshecoulddo,shecreatedapositionforherself.
• 1 panelist majored in journalism and was a columnist at the Union Tribune before taking a
positionattheQualcommInstituteatUCSanDiegoasaPublicInformationRepresentative–she
saw that print journalism wasn’t thriving anymore and opted to move into science
communicationsatUCSanDiego
• Thefirst joboutofacademia/school forall thepanelistswasnottheircurrentposition–each
tooka job in sciencecommunications,editing,medicalwriting, journalism,etc.andover time
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discoveredwhat they liked/dislikedabout theirprevious jobs,which led themto theircurrent
position
Whatmotivatedthepanelists totransition intoacareer insciencewritingandwhatwerethemost
challengingaspectsofthistransition?
• The resoundinganswerofwhatattracted thepanelists toacareer inwriting/communications
was that they preferred writing and editing manuscripts, writing their thesis, or making
presentationsoverdoingthebenchscience.Theseactivitiesalsoallowedformorecreativityand
expression.
• The panelists found the transition to be not very challenging sincemost were already doing
extracurricularactivitiesthatpreparedthemfortheirfirstorcurrentjob.
Whatarethemostandleastrewardingaspectsofthepanelists’jobs?
• Themajority lovedtheability to instillpassion inotherpeopleaboutscience.They lovebeing
able to takeacomplex idea,break itdownandshare it inawaythatabroaderaudiencecan
understandandbenefitfrom
• Allthepanelistsenjoyedtheirabilitytobemorecreativeintheircurrentroles
• Theleastrewardingaspectsofthejobinclude:
o WheninPRroles–alackofindependencesinceeverythingmustbecontinuallyedited
orapproved
o Toomanymeetingstoattend,whichcutsintowritingtime
o Whenscientiststrytodotheirroleforthem–sincethemajorityofthepanelistswork
withscientiststohelpthemcommunicatetheirresearchsometimestheirroleinvolves
coaching/convincingscientistshowtowritetheirpressreleases,etc.
Recommendations for current graduate students and postdocs who are interested in a career in
sciencewritingandcommunications
• It’seasytogetsomeexperiencenow!
• Take on some extra work to help other write/edit manuscripts, start a blog, engage other
scientistsontwitter,takesomeextraclasses(TheUCSanDiegoclassbyLynneFriedmannwas
recommended),findfreelancework,volunteerwithascienceoutreachprogram
o Thiswillgiveyoutheopportunitytofigureoutifyoulikewritingorcommunicationsand
itwillalsoaddskillstoyourCV
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• Look out for fellowships or internships to get some experience (one panelist had a health
communicationsinternshipintheNationalCancerInstitute’spressoffice)
Whatdoesatypicalwork-daylooklike?
• Alotofthepanelistsstartearly,especiallyiftheirroleinvolvesinformationorclientsthatarein
aneastcoasttimezone.
• Themost importantpartsof thedayarethecarvedoutandessential timessetasidetowrite
(usuallymultiplearticles/papersatonce)
• Sometimesthedaycanbeunpredictableinlength(ex.ifworkinginPRpositionatabusytime)
• Somepanelistsgettotraveltoattendandreportonconferences
• Mostofthepanelistsdooutreachactivitiestoengagethecommunityinscience–someofthisis
paidandsomeisvolunteer
• Awork-day seems to bemuchmore variable than the predictable work day of an academic
scientist
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Panel5
Consulting&Management
Moderator:DalilaElOuarrat
MattCross,PhD MedicalLiaison,TevaPharmaceuticals
AmyDuncan,PhD Co-Founder&ChiefMarketingConsultant,GoldfishConsulting,Inc.
BeatriceMarturano,PhD AssociateClinicalProjectManagerDirector, Quintiles,Inc.
HopeMirendil,PhD SeniorAnalyst,ICON,PLC
TracyYeo,PhD ManagingDirector,ChinaBioConsulting,LLC
1.Thepanelistshad the transitionatdifferentstages in theiracademiccareer.Oneaftermaster,one
afterPhD, twoafterPostdocandoneafterbeingassociateprofessor.Even though theyhaddifferent
motivation,allofthemwereveryconsciousabouttheirtransitionandeachhadtakenspecificstepsto
makethattransitionpossible.Theysuggestedtoeveryonethatthesooneryoustartpreparingyourself
the better (most of them used their last year in academic job for networking, courses, practicing
interviewskillsetc)
2.Allofthepanelistsmentionedthattheirworkdayvaries.Howevertheyallhadincommonthattheir
typicaldayasconsultant/projectmanagers/liaisonsinvolvedalotofmeeting(between50-80%oftheir
time),andthatstrongcommunicationalskillsareabsolutelyessential.Forsomeoftheconsultantsitwas
importantthattheyhadalsosomemarketingskills,butallagreedthatitwasnotessential.
3. One of the questions was, what the differences working for a life science or smaller consulting
companyversustheBigcompanieslikeMcKinseyetc.Oneofthepanelistansweredthatthosetypeof
jobsaregreatifyoujustwanttogetoutofacademiaanddontreallyknowwhatyouwanttodowith
yourcarreer,However,theyaretypicallynotthetypeofjobsthatpeopledoverylong,andaremainly
usedtosteptowardanotherposition.
4.Thepanelistallseemtoagreetothattheirspecificscienceexpertise,probablydidnotcontributeto
themgetting hired in the position they are now.And also they said that the publications record you
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havedoesnotcountatallforthiscareerpath.Infact,theircompaniesarewaymoreinterestedinthe
typeofacctivitiesyouhaveparticipate/organizeorexperiencedOUTSIDEofacademia.
5. About job prospects, the consultants said that life science consultants are always sought after
especially in San diego. However, the projectmanager PM andmedical science liaisonMSL said that
thereisalotofdemandforthesejobsthesedaysandsaidthisisagoodtimetojumpin.MSLsaidthat
April-Juneisthetimethatalotofcompaniesstarthiringnewpeople.
Resources:Consultingplatforms:http://www.apdconsultinggroup.com/http://www.apdconsultinggroup.com/http://www.scripps.edu/california/scc/http://www.scripps.edu/california/scc/ProjectManagementcertificationprogram(PMP)https://www.pmi.org/https://www.pmi.org/
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Panel6
Teaching
Moderator:CarolinaQuayle
RanitaGhoshDastidar,PhD (RGD) AdjunctProfessor,MiramarCollege&CuyamacaCollege
StarLee,PhD (SL) AcademicCoordinator,UCRiverside
StanleyLo,PhD (SLo) AssistantProfessor,CellandDevelopmental Biology,UCSanDiego
PeterNewbury,PhD (PN) AssociateDirector,CenterforEngagedTeaching,UCSanDiego
SarahStockwell,PhD (SS) AssistantTeachingProfessor,DivisionofBiological Sciences,UCSanDiego
Whatspecificteaching-relatedexperiencesorskillswouldyousayweremosthelpfulintransitioning
from graduate school/postdoc to your current position?Are there resources available for postdocs
interestedinteachingtogainmoreexperience?
SLo: Experiences: summer teaching and guest lectures. To be a good teacher you have to collect
informationonthesuccessofthestudents–“evidence-basedteaching”.
PN:Takinggoodcoursesandbeingaconsciousteachercanbejustaseffectiveasyearsofexperience.
Resources:collegeclassroomatUCSD;commons.com
SS:Combinetheoryandpracticalexperience.Takethoughtfulapproach.
SL:SalkSciencemobilebus.Findoutwhata“goodeducatorlookslike”.Takeateachingpostdoc.Bea
TAanddooutreachprograms.
RGD: Identify what you love. Interact with your students and know their personal needs. College
classroomatUCSD.Centerforintegratedresearch.
Whatdoyoufindmostrewardingandmostchallengingaboutteaching?
SL: Isa coordinator.Perweek:giveassignments forTAsandwalk themthroughonhow to introduce
newconceptstotheirstudents.
SLo:Bereflectiveaboutteaching;beorganizedandontopofthings;developnetworkwithcolleagues.
PN:Communication.
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SS: Enjoy the process of figuring out how to explain things – teaching is like research, plan and try
differentmethodologiestofigureoutwhatworksbetterindifferentcircumstances.Schedulingcanbe
difficult–beontopofthings.
RGD:Alotofpreparationisnecessary.Useactiveteachingtoengagestudents.Modifytoimproveyour
classeseverytimemore.
Howaretheneedsofdifferenttypesofstudentsdifferent(i.e.communitycollegexuniversityxhigh
school…)andhowdoesateacherhastoadjusttheteachingstyletoeachcircumstance?
PN:Thinkofyourexperienceasastudentandthenrealizethatdoesn’tapplytoeveryone.Findoutas
muchasyoucanaboutyourstudentsandthenadapt.
RGD:Everylevelofstudentspresentnewchallenges.Beabletoadapttodifferentbackgroundsandalso
towhateachstudentplanstodowiththeinformationyouaresharingwiththem.
SL:Explaininawaythatyourstudentswillbeabletounderstand–mayhavetoassumestudentshave
limitedknowledge..
SLo:Understandthediversityofstudentsbackgrounds.Rememberthateveryonecanlearn.Remember
thevalueofnon-formaleducation.
Q&A:
Whatinspiredyoutobeateacher?
PN:Familyexperience–“naturalthing”.
SS:Alwaysenjoyedexplainingthingsasfarasshecanremember.
SLo:Itwasalwaysnaturalandhadalotofteachingexperiencesthroughhislife.
SL:TAwasexciting,hadagoodmentor.LearnedmoreandmoreaboutitintheteachingPostdoc.
RGD:Goodteachingpeers.
Whatarethequalitiesofeffectiveteachers?
SLo:Beingabletounderstandhowdifferentpeoplelearn.
PN: Care about your students. “What can I do to engage every student and give the opportunity to
expresstheirstrengths?”.
RGD:Humility.
SL:Empathy.
SS: Remember that is not all abouthaving credentials. “Whatdo you really know?”. Learn fromyour
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studentsandacceptfeedback.
Whatexactlyisateachingpostdoc?
SL:Givesyou lotsof teachingopportunitiesandhelpsyoufigureoutwhat it isall reallyabout.Allows
youtogetinvolvedwiththecommunityofeducators.
Whatopportunitiesareout there forpeople toget involved ineducationand learnmoreand start
teaching?
commons.com
UCSDpostdocassociation
Outreachprogramsatalllevels(Salk,UCSD,museums,privateopportunitiestoo)
Volunteer–alot
TheChronicleofHigherEducation–chronicle.com
SABER–BiologyEducationResearch-https://saber-biologyeducationresearch.wikispaces.com
CenterforIntegratedResearchTeachingandLearning-www.cirtl.net
SummerjobsatUCSD
HigherEducationCommunityonTwitter
JournalClubsonUCSDcampus
Diversityworkshops
Conferences
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Panel7
Business&Entrepreneurship
Moderator:WaseemAkhtar
KaraBortone,PhD (K) HeadofCompanySourcing,JLABSSanDiego
JayBryant (J) DirectorofGraduateRecruitingandAdmissions, RadySchoolofManagement,UCSanDiego
SylviaNorman,PhD (S) Founder,MolecularDiagnosticConsulting
Howard(Hao)Pan,PhD (H) RegionalAccountManager,NanostringTechnologies
JulioUnamuno (JU) CEO,LabFellows
How do grad students/postdocs prepare for Business & Entrepreneurship during their grad
student/postdocyears?
K:Theycanpreparethembyattendingnetworkingeventsandtakingpartinleadershipopportunities.
J:BytakingpartineventssuchasUCSDentrepreneurshipchallenge
S: Theycangetbusiness&entrepreneurshippreparationbynetworkingevents suchasorganizedby
SanDiegoBiotechnologyNetwork.
H: By going out to networking events and network with business companies by highlighting the
importanceofyourwork
JU:Headvisedtotakeadvantageofbusiness&entrepreneurshipresourcesavailableinSanDiegoand
getstartedwithbusinesswithoutwastinganytime.
What kind of resources are available for business& entrepreneurship if a grad student or postdoc
wantstogetstarted?
K:ThereareseveralresourcesavailableinandaroundSanDiegoincludingJLABSincubators,whereby
payinganominalfeepermonth,theycangetaccesstolabspaceandequipment.Theseincubatorsare
excellentresourcesforbusinesstogetstartedinanindustrysetting.GenerallyhavinganapprovedSmall
BusinessInnovationResearch(SBIR)grantisanexcellentstartingpointtogetintoJLABSincubators.
J:SanDiegoentrepreneurchallengeisanimportantresourcetogetstartedwithyourideathatcanbe
expanded with SBIR grants later. Having anMBA degree will tremendously help during the business
startup.
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S:Thereareseveralresourcesavailableincludingherownconsultingagencythathelpacquirefunding
andresourcesforstartupcompanies.Forfemaleentrepreneurs,HeraHubisawonderfulangelinvestor
fundingresource.
H: He suggested to make use of networking opportunities to put out your idea and network with
companies.Inaddition,tomakeuseofavailableopportunitiesintheSanDiegoarea.
JU: Make use of all the wonderful opportunities available in the area including his own company
LabFellowsthatprovidesnecessaryresourcestostartnewbusinessandexpandexistingbusiness.
NotesduringopenQ&A
• Make use of all the available resources and do not get disheartened by the risk involved in
business&entrepreneurship.
• BusinessincubatorwithpotentialcanbelaterfundedbyJLABSwithproperagreementsinplace.
• Networkingeventsarekeytosuccessinindustryincludingbusinessstartups.
• Assoonasyouagreatbusinessidea,startworkingonyourbusinessteame.g,whatcanIdoand
whowilltakecareofresourcesandwhowilltakecareofmarketingetc.
• Convincing investors iskeyforbusinessstartup,therefore, improveyourcommunicationskills.
MBAdegreecanbehandyforthatandalsoforteammanagement.
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Panel8
IntellectualProperty&SciencePolicy
Moderator:ElisaLazzari
GarrettAnderson,PhD,JD Associate,WilsonSonsiniGoodrich&Rosati
MartinEllinger,PhD ScientificAnalyst,Morrison&Foerster
JaneMoores,PhD AssistantViceChancellor,OfficeofInnovation& Commercialization,UCSanDiego
ShannonMuir,PhD SeniorProgramAssociate,CaliforniaCouncilon ScienceandTechnology
This panel featured a variety of professional figures working in intellectual property law, technology
transfer and science policy. Garrett and Martin both work at private law firms in the process of
preparing patent applications, but at different levels. As Scientific Analyst, Martin provides scientific
expertiseandassistsinthepatentprocess,workingwithpatentattorneys.Thisisanentry-levelposition
that does not require a law degree or passing the California Bar exam to start. Garrett works as
Associate (a position that requires a law degree), and is involved in patent drafting, negotiation,
conformity to intellectual property regulations, and he is in direct communication with the clients.
Jane’sprofessionalprofileattheUCSDOfficeofInnovationandCommercializationcanbedescribedasa
mediator, between UCSD research groups, law firms and national and foreign patent offices. She
supports the licensing and transfer of UCSD innovations and knowledge to commercial use while
ensuringproperintellectualprotection.Shannonworksinsciencepolicy,asSeniorProgramAssociateat
the California Council for Science and Technology (CCST), a non-profit corporation that provides
scientificadvice topolicymakers. ShewasaScience&TechnologyFellow inSacramentoduring2014-
2015andworkedwiththeSenateHealthCommittee.Herdutiesincludedthepreparationandanalysis
oflegislationpassingthroughthecommittee,andmeetingwithlegislativestaff,constituents,advocates
andlobbyiststoreviewbillsanddiscusshealth-relatedissues.
ForpostdocsandgraduatestudentsinterestedinIPlaw,panelistssuggestedtofirstconsiderwhattype
oflong-termpositionisdesiredandtoconductresearchonpositionsavailablewithindifferentfirms,as
somepushPhDstoeventuallyobtainalawdegree,whileothershavestableanalysttracks.Speakwith
individualswithin law firms and recruiters about the environmentwithin each firm. A lawdegree (3
20
yearsfull-time,4yearspart-time)isnotrequiredtoenterthefield,butisessentialtoclimbwithinthe
firmhierarchy, inordertoprogress fromentry levelpositions likeScientificAnalyst toanAssociateor
Partner.
Technology transfer positions do not require a law degree but some industry/business experience is
highly appreciated. For more exposure to technology transfer, a limited number of internships are
availableatsomeinstitutions.Ifyouareinterested,inquireatlocalTechnologyTransferofficestosee
whetheran internship ispossible. TheLicensingExecutivesSociety (LES)alsoofferssometraining for
technologytransferprofessionals.
Ifyouwould liketopursueacareer insciencepolicy,availablefellowships includetheAAASandCCST
fellowships, andmanyprofessional societies also sponsor fellowships inWashington. Fellowsserve a
year-long assignment in one of the branches of the government or associated agencies. AAAS
fellowships are restricted to U.S. citizens or green-card holders,while CCST does consider H1/J1 visa
holdersaspotentialcandidates,ifasponsorisavailable. Nopriorexperienceinpolicyisrequired,but
involvement inpostdoc/studentorganizationsoradvocacygroups isbeneficial:youcandemonstrate
thatyouareinterestedinmakingdecisionsforcausesorgroups.
Regarding challenges faced during their careers, panelists in law and tech transfer agreed that the
schedule isverydifferentfromacademia:muchmoreflexibility isrequiredandprioritiesoftenchange
fromdaytoday.Onemustrespondtoneweventsastheyoccur,eventhoughstrictdeadlinesmustbe
followed.Unforgivingenvironmentsforfailureinpatentlaw:ifyouworkwithasmallstart-upcompany
asaclient,mistakescanleadtothefailureofthecompanyandlossofjobs.Onthepositiveside,always
learningandinvolvedinnewandexcitingtechnologies,avarietyandconstantchangeofprojectskeeps
things interesting. In tech transfer, finding an agreement that works for everyone and getting a
successfullicenseinplace,ensuringanideagetstomarket,isverysatisfying.
Insciencepolicy,thepaceoflegislativeactionisoftenfrustratinglyslow,andthefailureofbillscanbe
disheartening. Even with this pace, science policy experts pose an important role in informing
lawmakersaboutscientific issuesanddetermining theappropriate response toandregulationofnew
technologies and events. This is critical not only to the future of scientific research, but also in
determininghowtechnologiesinfluencesociety.
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Future career prospects in patent law include staying within the firm as either a patent scientist /
scientific analyst, or getting a law degree and becoming an associate and potentially a partner. In
addition,analystsandlawyersmayalsoworkdirectlyinpatent/innovationofficesofclientcompanies
toprovidelegalguidance,orworkforauniversity intellectualproperty/techtransferoffice. Venture
capitalistsalsoincreasinglyneedintellectualpropertyexpertsonstaff.
Techtransferprofessionalsmayalsoswitchbetweenacademiaandindustry,andmayconductlicensing
forbusinesses,scoutfortechnologies,ordoconsultingwork.
In science policy, career options are not limited to government entities; professionals frequently find
positionsinnon-profitorganizationsinvolvinggovernmentrelations,sciencediplomacy,fundraisingand
advocacy. Science policy experience is also valuable in lobbyist firms, particularly in the biotech
industry,andmanypolicyexpertsserveasconsultants.
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