PLOS One GPD Publication!

The program I started in 2012 with Dr. Reithmeier - the graduate professional development (GPD) course, the one that was featured in Science Careers - has come a long way!

Our impact of the curricularly embedded GPD was recently published in PLOS One and in 2 weeks, it has 503 views!

So happy to have our work out there for all to read about and share discussions with. So thankful for all the students and mentees who have made this course possible - you are the superstars that made it happen!!

Instagram Handle

Hello Everyone,

You will be able to find my reels at nanaleepianokeys. See you there, if you have IG!

Hope you are all enjoying the Spring sun!!

Nana

Harvard Week One

September 12, 2022

I have been here for almost 6 days now and I feel peaceful, excited to be part of this community and happy to be living a minimalistic lifestyle in a one bedroom place in Jamaica Plain. It is close to the subway and the commute to 77 Louis Pasteur is short and sweet. 

I am missing the children so much...

But looking forward to this experience. The people here are amazing and I have a beautiful office all to myself! Excited to meet students and other colleagues.

I have a total of 63 items listed here. This should last all Fall. 

The minimalism is bringing the peace, as I have less "things" to take care of.

1. A book
2. A journal
3. An agenda
4. Journal called story of my life
5. Pencil case with pens, pencils and eraser
6. Work notebook
7. Piano book one
8. Piano book two
9. Watch
10. Necklace
11. Bracelet 1
12. Bracelet 2
13. Bracelet 3
14. Lap top and charger
15. Cell phone and charger
16. Shoes
17. Running shoes
18. Suitcase
19. Jacket
20. Umbrella
21. Yoga mat
22. Grocery bag one
23. Grocery bag two
24. Grocery bag three
25. Socks
26. Undergarments
27. Feminine napkins
28. Passport
29. Harvard ID
30. Wallet
31. Eye glasses and case
32. Jeans 1
33. Jeans 2
34. Black pants
35. Black tote
36. Heating pad
37. Jacket2
38. Toiletries
39. Makeup and case
40. Curling Iron
41. Blazer
42. Sweater
43. - 51: 9 dresses and 52-64: 11 tops

More later!

Sabbatical to Harvard University Overview

September-Dec 2022

I arrived into Logan International Airport with two suitcases, a backpack and about 80 items (including my passport) to embrace my sabbatical at Harvard University. I was going to sit in and observe a course and teach a session for their Master's of Medical Sciences in Immunology and learn how professional development is delivered to Harvard's bioscience PhDs and MSc's. I had also set up a professional development monthly workshop series with Tufts University and some work with UMass Medical.

All of these activities were made possible by me building professional relationships with colleagues at Harvard, Tufts and UMassMedical over years of conference attending and speaking.

The first few weeks I stayed at Jamaica Plain, a neighbourhood in Boston, which was right adjacent the Harvard Arboretum, a beautiful place where I thoroughly enjoyed the forest trails for my daily runs or walks. 

The second half of my semester, I moved to Boston Commons, right in the heart of the city, cobblestones and all. 

I worked with creative, intelligent, enthusiastic faculty, staff and students. I attended thought-provoking seminars all over campus. I made new friends and reconnected with old ones. I learned lots about life at Harvard and about myself through the process.  

Harvard definitely has the scholarship vibe. 

I kept notes. I will detail them in the entries to follow!

Solo - original piano and art

A tribute to all those in research driven by curiosity, in the arts driven by the human experience, in service willing to help. Each solo journey is made possible with help from others. Each of these journeys interweave to create our rich tapestry. "Solo" is made possible by a painting I drew in 2014 with a song I wrote in 2011 and a vision which came to me today to join them together with a narrative.

GPD2: Sample Career Stories

Video Number Two: Impact of Graduate Professional Development with Sample Career Stories. These career stories are highlighted pathways of PhD graduates. Names have been changed or modified to protect their privacy. Emil's story is a blend of a few students who are in the academic path.

Launching on Youtube_ GPD Video One: the Why

Will be releasing my course content on youtube - stay tuned!

Video One - GPD1 The Why can be viewed here.

Greener Science

Dear Everyone,
11,000 Scientists warning of a climate emergency. Ninety-eight percent of scientists believe climate change is due to human activities.
https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/advance-article/doi/10.1093/biosci/biz088/5610806

The act of research requires energy and plastic. Let's make greener labs and video stream our conferences. Our kids are depending on us.
https://www.mygreenlab.org/freezer-challenge.html
https://mosaicscience.com/story/science-research-plastic-single-use-sustainability-lab-waste-environment-gloves/

Hot off the press - Tips on finding the supervisor-student match

https://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-advice/graduate-matters/finding-the-right-supervisor-student-match/

GPD Featured as a "Best Practice" by the Conference Board of Canada

http://www.conferenceboard.ca/e-library/abstract.aspx?did=7564

My comments on Dr. Leshner's Science Article on "Rethinking graduate education"

Joined the discussion on this timely topic.
http://comments.sciencemag.org/content/10.1126/science.aac9592#comments

Published in University Affairs Article on "Training the Trainers"

Enjoy!

http://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-advice/career-advice-article/training-the-trainers/

Creating A Job

Many students have asked me about this one.

"How do I take my PhD and make myself a job? That option exists? I thought I just had to sift through and apply to as many job listings as I can."

This might work for some, but it sometimes proves to be an exhaustive, time-consuming exercise with nothing to show for at the end.

"I applied to 20 jobs and nothing! Why did I write up a PhD?!"

Why does this happen? This means you were too broad. You are casting a too wide of a net. You need to find your specialty, focus on your strengths. Market yourself. Effective marketing of your science and soft skills will land you a job, listed, hidden or created.

So, how do you create a job? Such ambition will require at least 2 years so start early! Your 2 options in creating a job are:

1. Starting you own company
2. Creating a position at an existing company or institution

If you are opting for option 1 then you need business skills. An MBA, miniMBA or some sort of business course at the School of Continuing Studies is helpful. If you are aiming for option 2, then you need to find the key players, find possible funding, know the language. Here is a useful article by Chris Gaborit which all PhD students should read, especially points 2 and 3.

Stay tuned for details of option 2.

The Power to Change

After viewing Blackfish and reading up on orca behavior in the wild, I came across Change.org - a forum where one can start a petition and though the power on the internet, thousands can sign and changes are made. Victories are listed, and the effects are inspirational. I know my writings are usually not about social causes; but as a scientist, one should be involved with correcting the wrongs of the world. Find those that move you, and contribute to change. Propose a change that could satisfy all parties involved. Who knows? Perhaps one of your causes will become your career.

Published in Science Careers!

Enjoy!
http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2013_10_01/caredit.a1300216

Top Seven Secrets

Here are some secrets (my opinion only) summarized on one page based on a more than a decade of experience with scientific colleagues in and out of academia. You may read more about each in detail on my other posts.

1. To save a few years in the academic track, use your PhD as a base when deciding on the postdoc. Either stay with the same technology and apply it to a different model OR stay in your area of research and learn a new technology to expand it. For example, my PhD was in the genomic mapping of a pediatric illness. A good postdoc geared towards an academic career would have been to expand my genomic mapping skills to another illness OR performed proteomics (next step) for the same illness. Some postdocs do change everything in it entirety - but then be prepared to spend more time as a PDF. Remember however, if you take some part of your PhD with you, find an agreement with your advisor so you are not competing with each other in future work. 

2. Optimize your PhD - try to make it the best in science and collaborations so that you might even start an innovation, patent, or company from it.

3. Find mentors 5-10 years your senior so they can tell you which grants to apply for as a postdoc and a young professor or which biotech companies have good science and good people.

4. Read everything so you know what is going on in this world. Figure out the need, combine your passion and scientific background and CREATE something good. Talk to the right people who can advise you on the marketability. Communications is key. Here is an inspirational example of baby Embrace started by Stanford grad students which I have spoken about: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWaifO274UQ 

Everyone of you have this potential.

5. If you are pursuing an academic postdoc and you realize you are off to industry, publish more collaborative papers. Industry looks for collaborative, excellent scientists.

6. Maintain research integrity, know the legal issues which revolve around science patents and company partnerships.

7. Creativity again is essential in integrating the rest of life, especially when having children. Create and propose a shift in your career that works for both you and the company/institution. 

Finding the Confidence to "Be the Change"

Fabulous!

I recently spoke at a career symposium for grad students and PDFs and the lead coordinator for the event was one of my students from the course I taught last fall. She mentioned she was always a shy person, and never imagined she could do something like this.

I hope my motivational talks helped her out of her shell.
Congratulations I say!

As I say in my talks, "You are a PhD! You are smart and can move the world in your own way. Seize the opportunity!"

It's lovely to see young scientists, especially women, find their worldly confidence!

"Be the change you want to see in the world." - Ghandi

Biomedical Career Development Workshop 2013

Here are the sessions for the Career Development Workshop coming in June, 2013. Open to 200 graduate students, PDFs and professionals, it will address the transitions of the life science career path while integrating the rest of life. Proposal was sent to American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and was awarded! Other sponsors include CSMB, Depts of Biochemistry, Immunology, U of Toronto. Thank you to the sponsors and the students who are helping me organize the logistics.

Plenary
9-10 How to Succeed in Academia
10-11 How to Optimize your Scientific Career
11-12 Successful Careers outside of Academia

Networking Lunch
1:30 - 3 Concurrent sessionals
    Intellectual Property and Ethics
    Mentorship
    Global Trends / Innovation
    Choosing the Best PostDoc and Preparing for the Job After

3:15 - 4:30 Afternoon Plenary
Career Transitions Throughout Life

4:30 - 5 Keynote Speaker Matt Buist, Director of Life Science Ontario
Networking

Free Bio Careers Webinars!

Here are some helpful webinars you can check out that was passed onto me by BioCareers. Enjoy!

1. Presenter: Samantha Zhang, PhD

Topic: Career Path: "Graduate fast with a Ph.D!"

Wed, 2012-07-11, 1-2PM EST

Register to this webinar: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/935153178

2. Presenter: Bob Kilcullen

Topic: BioAnimator - Scientific Presentation Tool

Wed, 2012-07-18, 1-2PM EST

Register to this webinar: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/514426290

3. Presenter: Jennifer Reineke Pohlhaus, PhD

Topic: Career Path: "Science Policy: Making the Switch"

Wed, 2012-07-25, 1-2PM EST 

Register to this webinar: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/985066226

4. Presenter: Matthew Seavey, MD

Topic: Job Search: "Applying and Interviewing for Industry Science Jobs"

Wed, 2012-08-22, 1-2PM EST 

Register to this webinar: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/699719562

More details about each webinar can be found by clicking on the registration links. 

The webinar recording will be given to anyone who attends.

 

If anyone attend, please comment any feedback - thanks!

 

Recent Articles on Improving Graduate Education

Hi Grad Students and Educators,

Here's a 2011 article about recommendations how to improve bioscience graduate education - things we all knew, but validated with stats. Now, let us implement.

http://www.lifescied.org/content/10/3/239.full.pdf

Also in the Journal of Faculty Development (May 2012, Vol. 26, No. 2) Matt Helm et al write about nine recommendations for graduate school administrators. I will summarize them here:

1. Provide tailored career services through a collaborative effort with the department and career centres.
2. Aid students in exploring potential career options.
3. Encourage internships, job-shadowing for nonacademic careers.
4. Assess PhD program for all types of careers.
5. Expose students to various career paths by internships, alumni speakers, networking.
6. Aid students in helping them understand the roles they will have as faculty and how to best be prepared for employment.
7. Provide professional development workshops.
8. Adapt faculty reward structures so that they are rewarded for whichever career pathway their students choose.
9. Develop a public PhD career destination database to track career destinations of PhDs to provide faculty and students the realistic job market.

His article is a good read, so please log on via your e-journal provided by your institution.