Boston Symposium on Careers and Collaboration in Science (2017)

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

“The Science of Therapeutics: Life in Translation”: James E. Bradner, President of the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research.

Plenary Speaker

“The Origin and Future of Biotech”: Phillip A. Sharp, MIT Institute Professor and Nobel Prize laureate

Panel Overview

An overview of what was offered at this BPDA event.

Fostering Collaborations Between Academia and Industry

Panelists discussed strategies for building successful academic-industry research partnerships. Contributors: Kenneth Anderson (Harvard Medical School and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute), Brian Bates (Pfizer), Weining Lu (Boston University School of Medicine), Raunaq Malhotra (Seven Bridges Genomics), and Ann Schlesinger (Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research).

Grant Writing Panel

This interactive workshop covered major funding sources and practical strategies for developing competitive grant proposals. Contributors: Micah Altman (MIT), Susan Gomes (Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences), Sarah McMenamin (Boston College), and Roslyn Orkin (Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School).

Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship

Panelists discussed how researchers can merge scientific discovery with business ventures. Contributors: Stuart Chaffee (Atlas Venture), Dev K. Dutta (University of New Hampshire), Laura Indolfi (Panther Therapeutics and MGH Cancer Center), Avi Spier (Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research), and Steven Munevar (Munevar & Associates, Inc.).

Understanding the Drug Development Process

Panelists discussed the realities of drug development via academic and industry research. Contributors: Cynthia Barber (Vertex Pharmaceuticals), Dawn Cohen (Amgen), Zaven Kaprielian (Amgen), Chantal Kuhn (VL37 Inc.), Lyndon J. Mitnaul (Regeneron Pharmaceuticals), and Sanjeev Thohan (Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research).

Lessons From a Life Science Recruiter

Panelists gave insider tips for future job applicants in life sciences fields. Contributors: Tom Hamilton (Talent Acquisition Professional), Ashley R. Jones (SQZ Biotechnologies), Samantha Luo (Regeneron Pharmaceuticals), and Erik Rocheford (Stratacuity).

Preparing for Your Academic Interview

Panelists discussed how to prepare for faculty interviews across research-intensive universities, medical schools, and teaching-focused institutions. Contributors: Todd Anthony (Boston Children’s Hospital), Natalie Karagodsky (Fitchburg State University), and Charles Mace (Tufts University).

Technology Transfer: Engine of Innovation

Panelists discussed how technology transfer offices support the commercialization of academic discoveries. Contributors: Alexander D. Augst (Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP), Lauren Foster (MIT Technology Licensing Office and Koch Institute), Kathryn McCabe (Eli Lilly), and Adam Poulin-Kerstein (Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research).

Setting up your Lab

Panelists discussed practical considerations for establishing and managing a new research laboratory. Contributors: Todd Anthony (Boston Children’s Hospital), Megan Hoban (Magenta Therapeutics), Nicolai Konow (University of Massachusetts Lowell), and Damien Wilpitz (Experimental Designs Consulting, Inc.).

How to Network for Success in Science

This session explored the value of networking at scientific conferences and strategies for doing so effectively. Contributors: Daniel Jay (Tufts University), Jennifer Elliott (SGI-DNA), Isaac Houston (QIAGEN), Aron Jaffe (Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research), and Ania Wronski (Thermo Fisher Scientific).

Oral and Poster Presentations

77 postdoctoral researchers presented their work through oral talks and poster sessions, showcasing a broad range of research across biomedical science, neuroscience, genetics, engineering, biotechnology, and beyond.

Workshops

Workshops offered included: (1) Drug Discovery Bootcamp by the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research; (2) Grant Writing: Writing Your Specific Aims; (3) Leadership Skills for Scientists; and (4) Honing Your Message: How to Communicate Your Research. See this page for links to each workshop description.

Photo Gallery

Look through some photos of the event!