Boston Symposium on Careers and Collaboration in Science (2019)

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.

Opening Talk

“Take the Bull by the Horns: Steps to a Fulfilling Career in Science”: Joanne Kamens, Executive Director of Addgene

Keynote Speaker

“How to Build a Scientific Life”: Rita Balice-Gordon, Global Head of the Rare and Neurologic Diseases Research Therapeutic Area at Sanofi, Inc.

Plenary Speaker

“The Simple Rules for Success That No One Tells You”: David Sinclair, Professor in the Department of Genetics and co-Director of the Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging at Harvard Medical School

Invited Speakers

Geraldine Paulus (Associate at The Engine, independent venture fund), Giacomo Mancini (Customer Consultant at Elsevier), and Alexandra Freeman (Director of the Winton Centre for Risk & Evidence Communication) presented resources to support scientific career development: venture capital opportunities, online tools for reference management and research visibility, and Octopus, an alternative scientific publishing platform designed to promote open research practices.

Panel Overview

An overview of what was offered at this BPDA event.

Presenting Yourself on Social Media

Panelists discussed how researchers in academic and industry careers can use social media platforms to support career development. Contributors: Sarah McAnulty (University of Connecticut), Erin Kane (Boston University), Mootaz Salman (Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital), and Jordan Harrod (Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology).

A Day in the Life of Various Industry Scientists

Panelists shared their experiences transitioning from academic research to industry, focusing on day-to-day life. Contributors: Silva Krause (Vertex Pharmaceuticals), Melissa Bonner (bluebird bio), Rishab Shyam (PureTech Health), Robin Kleiman (Biogen), and Ronald Dorenbos (Takeda).

Beyond the Impact Factor - Communicate Science

Panelists discussed careers in science communication and journalism. Contributors: Jennifer Tsang (Addgene), John Huth (Harvard University), Alexandra Freeman (Winton Centre for Risk & Evidence Communication), and Jeff Hecht (Science and Technology Writer).

Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

Panelists discussed individual and institutional approaches to building diverse research teams and fostering inclusive workplace cultures. Contributors: Babak Momeni (Boston College), Claudia Astorino (Graduate Center, City University of New York), Sanae Elshourbagy (Boston University), Tyrone Porter (Boston University), and Shana Rochester (Boston University Wheelock College of Education and Human Development).

Building a Team

Panelists discussed effective leadership strategies for building and managing successful research teams. Contributors: Serena Silver (Fulcrum Therapeutics), Alexander McCampbell (Biogen), Richard Ransohoff (Third Rock Ventures), and Meena Subramanyam (Takeda Pharmaceuticals).

Between you and Evil Reviewer #2: Being an Editor

Editors from scientific journals and active research faculty shared insights into careers in scientific publishing. Contributors: Jiaying Tan (Cell), Pengfei Kong (Cell Press), Angela Eggleston (Nature), and Richard Primack (Boston University and Biological Conservation).

Thriving as an International Postdoc

Panelists shared practical advice and resources to help international researchers, drawing on their experiences transitioning between countries and career stages. Contributors: Lu-Ann Pozzi (Boston Children’s Hospital), Lucie Rochard (Massachusetts Biotechnology Council), Niya Sa (University of Massachusetts Boston), and José Manuel Baizabal Carballo (Harvard Medical School).

Fresh Hires

Newly appointed faculty shared practical advice on preparing for academic careers. Contributors: Jeffrey Moffitt (Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School), Lauren Orefice (Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School), Ankur Jain (MIT and Whitehead Institute), and Emrah Altindis (Boston College).

Becoming an Industry PI

Panelists shared insights into transitioning from academic research to industry leadership. Contributors: Matthieu Delincé (HiFiBiO Therapeutics), Isaac Stoner (Octagon Therapeutics), Magdalena Kasendra (Emulate), and Mariela Jaskelioff (Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research).

Work-Life Balance and Mental Health

This session explored strategies for balancing research responsibilities with personal well-being, managing stress, and incorporating mindfulness and other practical approaches into daily life to support mental health and a sustainable research career. Contributors: Douglas Baker (Licensed Therapist, Author, and Kripalu Yoga Teacher).

Chalk Talks

Newly hired faculty and an experienced academic administrator shared practical advice for preparing and delivering effective chalk talks during faculty interviews, covering essential best practices, common pitfalls, and strategies for presenting research plans to hiring committees. Contributors: Madeleine Oudin (Tufts University), Athma Pai (University of Massachusetts Medical School), and Polina Kehayova (Harvard University).

Workshops

Workshops offered included: (1) Transforming Science into Speaking; (2) Consulting; (3) Academic Websites. See this page for links to each workshop description.

B-SoCCS Team

Meet the team that organized this event!