Explore Career Options and Strategize your Career Transition

PhDs have transitioned into and have had fulfilling careers in a wide range of sectors (academia, private sector, non-profits, government) and job functions (research, business, administration, communication, teaching, marketing, fundraising, policy, law…).

To support you in your career exploration journey, we have compiled PhD career stories, articles and videos, job simulations, as well as career transition resources on 18 career areas biomedical PhDs can transition into. The goal of these resources is to help you learn about different career options, make choices of the career option(s) you would like to pursue, and initiate your transition:

• Academic careers – Postdoc-ing and Professor-ing.
• Academic careers beyond the Professoriate.
• Clinical Research Associate.
• Consulting.
• Data Science/Analyst.
• Entrepreneurship.
• Intellectual Property and Patent Law.
• Medical Science Liaison.
• Medical/Technical Writing and Communications.
• Product Management.
• Project Management.
• Regulatory Affairs, Ethics, and Compliance.
• Research and Development (R&D).
• Sales and Marketing.
• Science Communication & Journalism.
• Science Policy and Advocacy.
• Teaching, Education, and Training.
• Venture Capital.

Please note that these resources are updated regularly – feel free to check the webpages linked above out from time to time, and share any resources you come across to help keep these career area resources up-to-date for your fellow student and postdoc colleagues.

More coming up soon! Please email Bene (she/her) if you would like to share any upcoming events with your peers!

The Professional Development & Postdoc Affairs office (PDPA) provides self-paced online resources through PhD Progression, their digital badging professional development program for PhD Students. Modules from the Career Development Pathways 1 and 2 are especially helpful for career exploration and transition purposes.

The Center for Career Development (CCD) provides resources on How To Interview, as well as VMock, an AI-powered tool to help craft and refine CVs and resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, and prepare for job interviews (refine an elevator pitch, do mock interviews). You can also request feedback or specific interview questions from mentors and career advisors directly from VMock. Get started with VMock!

Lauren Celano, CEO and co-founder of Propel Careers, offers personalized one-on-one virtual career advising to GMS students. You can meet with Lauren to review your CV/resume and cover letters, prepare for interviews, discuss networking skills, learn social media tools for job searching and more. Reserve a free, 30-minute one-on-one coaching session with Lauren.

Founded in 2009, Boston-based Propel Careers is a life sciences search and career development firm with the unique distinction of being dedicated to networking, mentoring, and career development. Lauren is a BU alumna who has worked with thousands of students, postdocs, medical residents and professionals to advance their careers and with > 50 companies to help them hire talent. She has a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Gettysburg College and an MBA with a focus in the health sector and entrepreneurship from Boston University.

Learn more about one-on-one coaching with Propel Careers here.

The Director of Professional Development at GMS offers office hours for all GMS graduate students in need of discussing career exploration, job search, networking, and more… topics, and to review Individual Development Plans (IDPs) or job application documents. Please book a 30-min appointment with Béné here, and email her any documents that you would like her to review 24 hours before the appointment at the latest.

The BU Office of Postdoc Affairs provides professional development support to all postdoctoral scholars. Virtual one-on-one meetings can be booked to discuss or review an IDP, a CV or Resume, prepare for job interviews, or discuss any other postdoc life matter. Check out the Professional Development Events page to learn about upcoming office hours, or email postdocs@bu.edu to request an appointment.