Career Workshop Series

This workshop series is designed to provide updates on current market trends, essential job search skills, various employment opportunities, and insights from Penn postdoc alumni about their career experiences. Offered every other year (*alternating with the Research Success Skills Workshop), this series may include the following sessions:

• Basic Job Search Skills – Participants will hear from Career Services counselors, HR professionals, and academics who have served on hiring committees. Speakers will cover topics such as CV/resume tips, interview strategies, job talks, and essential skills for a successful job search.

• Pursuing an Academic Career – This session offers postdocs a comprehensive look at the academic career path from multiple perspectives, including recently hired professors, individuals who have recently received tenure, and those involved in the hiring, selection, and tenure processes. Topics will include preparing for the academic job market, understanding the tenure track, exploring different types of academic institutions, and what it truly means to pursue a career in academia.

• Career Opportunities in Industry – In this session, BPP invites professionals from various sectors of the industry, including HR and recruitment specialists, startup executives, and directors from large pharmaceutical and smaller biotechnology companies. They will discuss the qualifications needed to enter the field, what to expect, the pros and cons, and potential career growth opportunities.

• Career Paths for Biomedical Scientists – The final session in the series explores diverse career options for biomedical scientists beyond traditional academia and the biotech/pharma industry. Speakers will discuss roles in areas such as technology transfer, grant review, intellectual property, scientific writing, and science policy.