Biological Sciences Career Initiative
The Biological Sciences Career Initiative (BSCI) is a group run by graduate students for graduate students. It aims to provide career resources for Biological Sciences PhD students interested in diverse fields, as well as to foster a strong alumni network. BSCI was founded by 2 students, Jennifer D’Arcangelo and Chinweike Okegbe, in 2014. With the support of the Biological Sciences department, it has successfully hosted career panels, info sessions, and networking events to better prepare students for a diverse array of careers after graduation.
Self-Exploration
- From the Columbia University Center for Career Education (CCE): Identify Your Skills, Interests, Values, and Personality Traits
- From the AAAS: myIDP
Career Exploration
- WetFeet has great introductions to industries including consulting, pharmaceuticals, and non-profits. It also has some useful resources for consulting especially. The resources are free for Columbia students, but you need to sign in with your UNI through the CCE website to download them: WetFeet portal
- Vault is another website that gives very broad overviews of different industries. Access Vault for free from the CCE website here.
Learn about the career path:
- How to choose a postdoc: Science
- How to get a job in academic science: Science
- Insight from Martin Chalfie: Secret to Getting the Postdoc you want
Apply:
- Job postings on Nature: here
Learn about the career path:
- From ManagementConsulted.com: here
- From Oystir (also includes advice about how to break into consulting): here
Get experience:
- Volunteer for The Solution Lab
- Summer programs:
- McKinsey’s Insight
- Bridge to BCG
- Connect to Clearview
- AIC Bain
- Columbia Technology Ventures’ Fellows Program (not consulting, but develops skills useful for consulting)
Prepare to apply:
- Columbia Graduate Consulting Club has many case books and preparatory materials
- CaseInterview.com and ManagementConsulted.com have preparation advice for fit/case interviews, resume/cover letter writing, networking, etc.
- From CaseInterview.com:
- Example frameworks
- Case interview workshop videos
- PrepLounge.com has cases, math practice, a job board, and more
- Oystir.com has interview and McKinsey application tips
- Books: Case In Point, Case Interview Secrets
Learn about the career path:
Get experience:
Learn about the career path:
- From Oystir: here
Learn about the career path:
- From Council for the Advancement of Science Writing: here
- From Nature: here
- From The Open Notebook: here
Get experience:
- Apply to join the Biology Department's Newsletter & Website Team
- Apply to join NeuWrite
- Apply for the AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellowship
- Build your portfolio with this advice
Get experience:
- Columbia University Neuroscience Outreach
- Columbia Engineering Outreach Programs
- Other STEM outreach programs at Columbia: here
- Volunteer on the BioBus
Learn about the career path:
Get experience:
Get experience:
- The Center for Teaching and Learning at Columbia has great resources available to graduate students including consultations, evaluations, and project development. They also host awesome events!
- Apply to be a Lead Teaching Fellow
- Apply to be a Teaching Observation Fellow
- Apply to attend the Innovative Teaching Summer Institute
- Cover Letter workshop
- Tips on navigating the terrain from job posting to job offer
- From the Columbia University Center for Career Education (CCE):
Have a resource you want to share? Let us know!
Fellowship Opportunities
All Students and Postdoctoral Researchers:
For more information on fellowships and grants, including how to find grants, how to apply, and who to contact with questions, see the Biology Department's guide to External Fellowships and Grants.
International Students:
- HHMI - Learn about and apply (must be nominated by department/university): http://www.hhmi.org/programs/international-student-research-fellowships
US Citizens:
- NSF GRFP
- Learn about and apply: https://www.nsfgrfp.org
- NIH F31 Training Grant “Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award”
- Learn about and apply: https://researchtraining.nih.gov/programs/fellowships/F31
- Internal NIH training grants
- Biological Sciences Training Grant (2 year)
- Cancer Training Grant (1 year)
- Fulbright Scholarship Open Study and Research Award
- Learn more about and apply:
- http://us.fulbrightonline.org/about/types-of-grants/study-research
- http://www.cies.org
- Gates Millennium Scholars
- Learn more about and apply: http://www.gmsp.org/
- Hertz Foundation Fellowship
- Learn more about and apply: http://hertzfoundation.org/dx/fellowships/fellowshipaward.aspx
Upcoming Events
Spring schedule TBA
Yearly Event Schedule
Fall Semester
Career Panels:
Data Science/Computational
Business
Academia
Biotech/Pharma
Diverse
Writing
Spring Semester
Workshops:
CV & Resume
Cover letter
"How to get a postdoc" Info Session
Biological Sciences Alumni Reception
Board Members
Current:
Nooriel Banayan
Sergio Bernal-Garcia
Aaron Limoges
Hannah Munby
Alison Ross
Will Milligan
Former:
Yinglu Zhang, Tong lab, President
Lyudmila Kovalchuke, Lloyd Greene lab
Lisa Kahl, Dietrich lab
Noopur Khobrekar, Vallee lab
Jessica Chan, Greenwald lab
James Martin, Palmer lab
Former:
Nicole Benvin, Yang lab
Soyeon Park, Lloyd Greene lab
Niyo Kato, Gautier lab
Danyi Wu, Prives lab
Yuting Deng, Greenwald lab
Chinweike Okegbe, Dietrich lab (founder)
Jennifer Stahmer (nee D’Arcangelo), Miller lab (founder)
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