Career Planning Resources

Academic Scientist as a Career?

Before you rule out a career as an academic scientist, consider the benefits, as described by Ron Vale, Ph.D., Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, in his inspirational article, "It's a Wonderful Life: A Career as an Academic Scientist," Molecular Biology of the Cell 21(1): 11-14.

AAAS Career Basics Booklet from Science Careers

This 80-page booklet has all the information that you need to get your career on the right track. Articles and resource lists provide information on choosing a career path, marketing yourself, identifying skills needed in different career paths, and understanding diversity issues.

Burroughs Wellcome Fund: Career Development

This web page lists helpful articles, guides, and other resources providing advice on how to achieve scientific independence including postdoctoral training, grant writing, lab management ,and effective communication.

Career Advice for Scientists - American Chemical Society Webinars

American Chemical Society (ACS) archived webinars address a wide variety of career topics for science and engineering professionals.

Career Advice for Life Scientists I and II

The American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) Women in Cell Biology (WICB) career book, (reprinted in 2008 in a combined single volume).

Career Advice for Life Scientists III

The American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) Women in Cell Biology (WICB) career book, 2009

Career Trends Booklet - Careers Away From the Bench

From technology specialists to patent attorneys to policy advisers, in the Career Trends booklet, you can learn more about the sorts of careers that scientists can pursue and the skills you will need to develop in order to succeed in non-research careers.

Conversations with Cell Biologists

If you have ever wondered if you were the only one with a crazy idea for the next experiment, whether prominent Nobel Laureate scientists experience the same challenges that you do and how they have handled it, or what the most productive use of your time may be when all else seems to be failing, you may enjoy watching these “Conversations with Cell Biologists” recorded at the 50th annual meeting of the American Society of Cell Biologists in December 2010. Two Nobel Laureates and the president of the society share a facetious, yet serious dialogue that discusses real life as a scientist.

Guide to Life Science Careers

By Karen Peterson, Ph.D., helps you to explore and choose what career is best for you in this guide.

HHMI Resources for the Development of Early-Career Scientists

The publications and links on this website can help new investigators "make the right moves" and assist those who take on the important task of providing early-career researchers with scientific management training.

National Institution of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) Career Resources

Explore these NIGMS resources.

NIH Trainee Previous Workshop Online Materials

Explore these NIH materials.

PhDs.org

This science, math, and engineering career resource gives information on succeeding in graduate school, postdoctoral life, finding a job, and career guide, plus job openings are posted.

ScienceCareers.org

Scientopia.org

Fumbling toward tenure track: TT Job Search Advice from Around the Blogosphere. Science Careers (formerly NextWave) from the journal, Science.
Open forums on topical issues, feature articles and alternative science careers, site reviews, articles, and nuts-and-bolt science career advice columns. Explore these resources.

Virtual Career Center

This NIH website has information on exploring career options, continuing your education, employment options and opportunities, and the job search process.