Career Development

National and university-based resources are available for postdoctoral trainees to enhance their research experiences and to foster advancement in their careers. The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies is a sustaining member of the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA). As a supporting member, RFUMS postdocs are able to join the NPA as affiliate members for free and take advantage of career development resources offered only to member institutions. Resources available through the NPA include job postings, webinar notices, etc.

AAAS offers an interactive online IDP career assessment tool for postdocs to explore and develop their plan in a variety of career paths. MyIDP allows you to:

• Examine your skills, interests, and values with online assessments
• Explore scientific career paths that align with your skills & interests
• Set strategic goals for the coming year, with optional reminders to keep you on track
• Find articles and resources to guide you through the process

Other self-assessment tools such as the UCSF Academic Career Readiness Assessment (ACRA) assist in planning for academic careers.

Other Online Career Development Resources:

• Career Toolkit
• iBiology
• InterSECT Job Simulations
• “Making the Right Moves: A Practical Guide to Scientific Management for Postdocs and New Faculty” Published by HHMI, this downloadable book is a collection of practical advice and experiences from seasoned biomedical investigators.
• ScienceCareers
• Sloan Career Cornerstone: A non-profit resource center for those exploring career paths in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
• VersatilePhD: Helping to envision, prepare for, and excel in non-academic careers

Job Search Sites:

• Biocareers
• Biospace
• Burroughs Wellcome Fund
• Cancer Careers
• Cell magazine
• Chronicle of Higher Education
• HERC
• HigherEdJobs
• LinkedIn Jobs
• Medical Science Liaison Jobs
• National Postdoctoral Association Career Center
• Nature magazine Jobs
• Neurojobs
• New Scientist magazine
• North American Vascular Biology
• Pathways to Science Postdoc Portal
• Science Careers by AAAS
• Science Careers Now
• SciPhD Virtual Career Center
• USA Jobs

Teaching Scholar Program - SGPS has partnered with Lake Forest College in offering an opportunity for postdocs who are interested in careers that include teaching. This program is a mentored teaching development opportunity in which a RFUMS postdoc learns to teach effectively at a liberal arts college. Faculty members at Lake Forest College provide mentorship, advice, and direction in facilitating development of effective teaching skills. Please contact the SGPS Dean's Office for further information.

Other teaching opportunities throughout the greater Chicago area include:

• Society for Neuroscience - Several public outreach events including brain awareness days and working with local teachers to volunteer.
• Mad Science of Chicago: Part time job teaching K-6 kids around the city and suburbs at after school science enrichment programs.
• Project Exploration is a nonprofit science education organization that works to ensure communities traditionally overlooked by science—particularly minority youth and girls—have access to personalized experiences with science and scientists.
• The Curiosity Machine is an online community of scientists, engineers and children creating together to solve Engineering Design Challenges.
• Dream On Education provides the brightest 6-8th graders in at-risk communities with tutoring, mentoring, and cultural and professional exposure.
• Artifice is a community tech center in the Woodlawn neighborhood that teaches youth how to build website, make video games, build robots, repair computers, and more.
• Tutoring Chicago offers free one to one tutoring services to economically disadvantaged children in grades 1-6.