Professional Life
GMS is dedicated to the professional development, career exploration, and mentorship of our students and postdoctoral trainees. Our goal is to ensure that you’re trained for both jobs that are open now and future careers that might not even exist today.
Learn more about our professional development programs and job offerings below.
Professional Development Centers
Educational Resource Center
Center for Career Development
The Boston University Center for Career Development empowers students and alumni to make intentional decisions about their professional futures. The CCD offers a variety of services, including:
- Workshops on career-related topics
- Resume and cover letter reviews
- Mock interviews
- Individual career counseling sessions
- Internship or job search strategies
- Career-related events
Check the CCD Event Calendar for upcoming events.
Check out the CCD “BU + Beyond” blog for tips and advice on all aspects of career development.
Professional Development & Postdoctoral Affairs Office
The Boston University Professional Development & Postdoctoral Affairs office (PDPA) offers information, support, community and professional development to postdocs, and informs related BU policies to continue to improve the postdoc experience. Learn more here.
Are you interested in developing your teaching skills? The Inclusive STEM Teaching Project is designed to advance the awareness, self-efficacy, and ability of STEM instructors to cultivate inclusive learning environments and develop themselves as reflective, inclusive practitioners. Completers of the course will even receive a certificate from the Inclusive STEM Teaching Project.
This Spring, BU will also run an in-person Learning Community associated with the project for PhDs and Postdocs. The Learning Community will be located on the CRC campus and serves as space for institution-specific discussion and community building. If you are interested, feel free to sign up for the Inclusive STEM Teaching edX course and our Learning Community!
Job, Networking & Enrichment Opportunities
NIH National Biosafety and Biocontainment Training Program (NBBTP)
The National Institutes of Health will offer a National National Biosafety and Biocontainment Training Program (NBBTP)/Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) fellowship in 2024.
This two-year Fellowship is designed to train the next leaders in biological risk management. The program also specializes in training to support high and maximum containment (biosafety level 3 and 4 respectively) research environments by acquiring knowledge and skills necessary to meet the scientific, regulatory, biocontainment, biosafety, engineering, communications, management, and public relations challenges associated with the conduct of research in these facilities. The application period is open until March 1, 2024 for Fellows starting August 1, 2024.
NBBTP is offering 1:1 virtual meet-and-greet sessions with program leaders and current Fellows for those who wish to learn more. Please check their Microsoft Bookings page for upcoming sessions.
Upcoming Professional Life Events
Check out a full calendar of upcoming events here.
Open Positions
- Open post-doctoral position at the Boston College Department of Biology: The Altindis Lab is currently seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow for a translational research project that focuses on studying the role of viral insulins in the insulin/IGF-1 signaling system, growth, and cancer progression. The Altindis Lab at the Boston College Biology Department received its first NIH R01 grant and the postdoc will be supported with this mechanism. Learn more here.
- Open student employment positions at the BU Fitness & Recreation Center (FitRec). More information here.
- Open Postdoctoral positions at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. More information here.
- The BU CTSI is committed to increasing our institution’s biomedical researcher diversity by connecting eligible early career scientists with Principal Investigators who have grants eligible for Diversity Supplements. NIH funding is available for supplements to enhance diversity of the research workforce by recruiting and supporting students, pre-doctorates, post-doctorates, fellows, and junior faculty from groups that have been underrepresented in health care research. Learn more about eligible grants here.
- One-on-One Career Coaching with Propel Careers
Courses & Conferences
We will post information here as it becomes available.
On-Campus Job & Internship Opportunities
Click here for more information on on-campus jobs, assistantships and work study opportunities.
Personalized Mentoring for All Students
Mentoring for Master's Candidates
Each of our master’s programs have individual faculty mentoring in place, as well as peer-to-peer and near-peer mentoring. Our professional preparation master’s programs, such as Medical and Oral Health Sciences, offer strong support during the medical and dental school admissions processes.
Check your individual program website for program-specific mentoring opportunities, in addition to the GMS-wide opportunities listed on this page.
Mentoring for Doctoral Candidates
Doctoral candidates have opportunities to train in both theoretical and practical training for future careers in various scientific sectors. The activities include seminars, panels and workshops, and programming develops over time depending on our trainees’ unique interests and needs.
Most PhD programs have integrated professional development courses and curriculum woven into their programs. Check your individual program website for program-specific mentoring opportunities
Additionally, the Charles River Campus Professional Development & Postdoctoral Affairs office provides professional development skills through their Core Capacities programming. Students learn these capacities through the PDPA PhD Progression, an online micro-credentialing platform that allows students to explore and build the recommended PhD Core Capacities.
GMS does not require PhD students to participate in this curriculum; however, we encourage you to join any workshops, activities, and events that you feel will support your professional development.
Career Coaching
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 via Calendly.
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.
Find an Alumni Mentor
GMS has a wide database of alumni mentors who can provide valuable advice and connections to inform career opportunities for students and post-doctoral fellows.
Please visit our Alumni Networking site to view alumni who have agreed to serve as a mentor to our trainees as they consider future career moves. Trainees should feel free to contact anyone on the list to get additional information or advice.
Student Resources
Advanced Responsible Conduct of Research Training Workshops
We will post information here as it becomes available.
GMS Conference Support for PhD Students
Travel Awards
GMS doctoral students who have completed their first year of study are eligible to apply for the GMS Travel Award. This $250 award is made to help financially support graduate students who are giving a presentation or presenting a poster at a scientific meeting. Learn more here.
Training Opportunities to Augment Learning (TOTAL) App
Training Opportunities to Augment Learning (TOTAL) is a digital app that allows biomedical trainees to attend career and professional development events held at Boston University and eight Boston-based partner institutions.
Access the TOTAL App on your:
- Android: Visit https://mytotalcareer.org on your phone. There will be a popup giving you the option to add the App to your Home Screen (with the option after to receive notifications).
- iOS: Visit https://mytotalcareer.org in Safari (this does not work in Chrome). Click the share button in the bottom middle of the Safari screen and click “Add to Home Screen.”
- Computer: https://mytotalcareer.org
Find step-by-step instructions for accessing the TOTAL App here, or check out this video:
Handshake
Handshake is BU’s online hub for career resources, including internship and job listing, in the U.S. as well as around the world. It offers 24/7 access to on-campus event registration, career counseling appointments, and portals to upload resumes, cover letters and other employment-related documents.
Handshake is available to students and alumni. Learn how to register here.
ARROWS: Advance, Recruit, Retain & Organize Women in STEM
ARROWS aims to facilitate the advancement and success of Boston University’s women in STEM. Learn more here.
International Student and Scholars Office (ISSO)
Innovate@BU
Innovate@BU provides a number of signature programs that foster entrepreneurship and help students turn their ideas into something that can create a meaningful impact on their careers and communities. Learn more here.
Check out a list of upcoming Innovate@BU events here.
Outcomes: Biomedical Workforce Data
Find biomedical job market reports since 2015 that are generated from Labor Insight™ software.
Training Programs
Broadening Experience in Scientific Training (BEST) Program
Boston University is one of 17 Broadening Experience in Scientific Training (BEST) schools chosen by the National Institutes of Health.
The BU BEST program was developed to enhance biomedical career development curricula for PhD and postdoctoral trainees in a way that explored careers both inside and outside standard academic research.
GMS has now institutionalized this support and the Professional and Career Development Office will continue to expand on the successes of the BEST program.
Information for Alumni
GMS Alumni Mentoring Network
The GMS Alumni Network provides students with the knowledge and tools required to navigate the career decisions they will encounter down the road. By participating in the network, you can provide valuable advice and connections to inform career opportunities for our students and post-doctoral fellows.
If you are an alumnus/a interested in participating, please complete this brief form.
Stay in Touch with GMS
Are you a GMS alumnus/a? Stay in touch!
We are building an alumni network to maintain our relationship, allow current students to interact with alumni and to help graduates find each other.
So, let us know: Where are you now? Where has your degree taken you since your time with us? We’d love to hear from you!