Boston Symposium on Careers and Collaboration in Science (2018)

Browse past event programs to discover speakers and professionals who have supported the postdoctoral community. These connections can be a valuable starting point for reaching out with questions, seeking advice, and building relationships with people who understand and support postdocs’ professional growth.

Keynote Speaker

“Making the Most of Your Postdoctoral Experience: How You Can Make It the Best of Times!”: Heather S. Duffy, scientific consultant at Shire Therapeutics

Plenary Speaker

“Making the Most of Your Postdoctoral Experience: How You Can Make It the Best of Times!”: Heather S. Duffy, scientific consultant at Shire Therapeutics

Panel Overview

An overview of what was offered at this BPDA event.

A Day in the Life of an Industry Scientist

Panelists shared their perspectives on transitioning from academia to industry. Contributors: Lara Czabaniuk (Amgen), Rebecca Leary (Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research), Darrin Stuart (Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research), and Jessica M. Wilson (iMotions).

Academic/Industry Collaboration Panel

Panelists shared their secrets for mutually beneficial collaborative research between academic and industry partners. Contributors: Jonathan Rothblatt (Sanofi), Janet Buhlmann (Pfizer), Weining Lu (Boston University School of Medicine), and Gauri Nair (Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research).

Academic Interview Prep

Panelists discussed how to prepare for on-campus faculty interviews at research-intensive and teaching-focused institutions. Contributors: Natalie Karagodsky (Emmanuel College), Ethan Meyers (Hampshire College and MIT), and Lauren Nolfo-Clements (Suffolk University).

Drug Development Panel

Panelists discussed the realities of drug development via academic and industry research. Contributors: Alokesh Duttaroy (Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research), Xiaoshu Dai Gurov (Boston Biomedical), Petra Oliva (Sanofi Genzyme), Jonathan Rothblatt (Sanofi), Daniela Vecchio (Boston Biomedical), and Xiaoxiang Zhu (Amgen).

Communication Panel

Speakers shared strategies for communicating scientific research clearly and effectively to diverse audiences. Contributors: Leah G. Lindsay (Seeding Labs) and Eric Tytell (Tufts University).

Data Science Panel

Panelists explored the technical skills and practical experiences required for careers in data science. Contributors: Ram Barankin (Liberty Mutual Insurance), Amir Handzel (Pangea Diagnostics), Francesca Lazzeri (Microsoft), Lorena Pantano (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health), Ethan Xu (Sanofi Genzyme), and Ran Xue (Amazon).

Entrepreneurship Panel

Panelists discussed the transition from academic research to scientific entrepreneurship. Contributors: Jasdave Chahal (Tiba Biotech and Revela Biotech), Omar F. Khan (Tiba Biotech), Kevin Kung (Takachar), Jason Ruth (5AM Ventures), Don Shobrys (MIT Ventureship Mentor Service), and Avi Spier (Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research).

Finding Funding

Panelists shared practical strategies for identifying funding opportunities and developing competitive grant applications by positioning projects as worthwhile investments. Contributors: Katharine Canfield (Boston University School of Medicine), Andrew Henderson (Boston University School of Medicine), Roslyn W. Orkin (Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School), and Tracy E. Schmidt (Tufts University).

How to Find Your Niche

Panelists shared their experiences navigating nontraditional career paths, discussing how to market diverse skill sets and find professional niches. Contributors: Richard W. Cho (Cell Signaling Technology), Mary Gearing (Foundation Medicine), John Koschwanez (Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research), and Brendan Murray (iMotions A/S).

Leading a team and collaborating between teams

Panelists discussed strategies for developing effective working relationships across academic and industry settings. Contributors: Steve Canham (Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research), Michelle Lyles (Thermo Fisher Scientific), Carol Manahan (Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research), and Roxana Salim (iMotions A/S).

Transitioning to Academic Independence

Panelists discussed the transition from postdoctoral training to faculty positions. Contributors: Cristina Aguayo-Mazzucato (Joslin Diabetes Center and Harvard Medical School), Edward Chouchani (Harvard Medical School), Genevieve Kozak (University of Massachusetts Dartmouth), and Ethan Meyers (Hampshire College and MIT).

Writing a Strategic Research Plan

Panelists covered strategies for developing a compelling research agenda and translating it into competitive grant applications. Contributors: Micah Altman (MIT), Andrew Henderson (Boston University School of Medicine), Sonal Jhaveri (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute), and Roslyn W. Orkin (Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School).