Career Planning Resources

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

This 88-page booklet has all the information 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.

This webpage 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.

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

Produced by the Women in Cell Biology Committee of the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB).

From technology specialists to patent attorneys to policy advisers, the Career Trends booklet provides information on careers that scientists can pursue as well as the skills you will need to develop in order to succeed in non-research careers.

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 and how they have handle them, 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.” The conversations were 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 on real life as a scientist.

As part of Science Careers from the journal Science, Brenda Peculis, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in Biochemistry at the University of Missouri, shares her perspective on the many forms of guidance that are necessary during graduate school and professional training in an open letter to science students.

myIDP, developed by fellow scientists, helps students and postdoctoral researchers identify different careers in science that could be right for them.

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

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.

Explore these NIGMS resources.

Explore these NIH materials.

This science, math, and engineering career resource provides information on succeeding in graduate school as well as postdoctoral life and finding a job. A career guide and job postings are also available.

ScienceCareers.org

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