Careers

How to Convert Your CV into a Résumé

Speaker

• Derek J. Haseltine, Hertz Fndn.

For anyone seeking a job outside of academe, how you present yourself on paper is critical. A well-prepared résumé can make all the difference in securing that interview. The focus of this session will be on the important elements of a résumé, the differences between a résumé and the standard academic curriculum vitae, and the information needed to make a good impression. In this special career development session, attendees will be instructed in how to transform their CVs into professional résumés. Small breakout sessions for individual consulting will follow. Bring your CV!

Immunology Teaching Interest Group: Enhancing Your Immunology Teaching

Sponsored by the AAI Education Committee

Chairs

• Sumali Pandey, Minnesota State Univ., Moorhead
• Damian L. Turner, Williams Col.

Speakers

• Viviane Boaventura, Oswaldo Cruz Fndn., Fed. Univ. of Bahia, Brazil, ImmunoAlvo board game for dynamic teaching of immunology
• William H. Carr, Medgar Evers Col., CUNY, Easing the pain of group work with an ice-breaker activity: "a case in point: from active learning to the job market"
• Nadeem Fazal, Chicago State Univ. Col. of Phrm., A case for teaching basic immunology through scientific journalism: lesson taught by a coronavirus went viral!
• Lindsey D. Hughes, Yale Sch. of Med., A perfect fit: 3D-printed kit to teach students principles of antigen-antibody recognition and herd immunity

Breakout Session Leaders

• Vitaly V. Ganusov, Univ. of Tennessee, and Edith Porter, California State Univ., Los Angeles, Use of the AAI curriculum recommendations in an undergraduate immunology course
• Tomas Helikar, Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln, Louis B. Justement, Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham, Sumali Pandey, Minnesota State Univ., Moorhead, and Rebekah T. Taylor, Frostburg State Univ., Modeling immunological networks in an educational setting using Cell Collective*
• Aimee Pugh-Bernard, Univ. of Colorado Anschutz Med. Campus, The use and creation of analogies as a teaching tool for understanding immunology
• Rebecca Rivard, Gwynedd Mercy Univ., Immune Battle: use of a board game to help improve student understanding of immune function

Are you looking for new ideas or strategies to enliven and improve your teaching? If so, please join us for this special interest group, which will focus on strategies that instructors can use to successfully convey immunology concepts to students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. This session will explore teaching strategies through talks and structured breakout discussion groups. Current educators, new faculty, and trainees with an interest in teaching are welcome.

*Bring your laptop to get the most out of this breakout session!

Careers Roundtables and Speed Networking Session

Sponsored by the AAI Minority Affairs Committee
Generously supported by the Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine

Chair

• Tonya J. Webb, Univ. of Maryland Sch. of Med., AAI Minority Affairs Committee Chair

Networking skills have never been more crucial to ensure success for early/mid-career scientists, including those traditionally underrepresented in biomedical research. At the session, take advantage of the opportunity to meet in small-group format with accomplished, senior immunologists and others to hear how they have handled the career challenges you now face and learn what they believe will work for you today. Then practice networking in a relaxed environment offering a structured networking exercise and personalized feedback on communicating your scientific interests/objectives most effectively. Scientists and trainees of all backgrounds are encouraged to attend!

Registration Fee: $30 (includes lunch)

Discussion Topics

• Grad Student: Finding a Mentor, Setting Sights on Postdoc Training
• Navigating Challenges Unique to International Graduate Students and Postdocs
• Postdoc: Finding a Mentor, Setting Sights on a Faculty Position
• Junior Faculty: Preparing for Promotion and Tenure
• Maintaining Research Productivity at a Primarily Undergraduate Teaching Institution
• Academia or Industry: How to Decide (or Switch Sides)
• Government Agency Careers
• Non-Bench Research Careers:
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Nonprofits/Foundations
  • Research Technology
  • Science Policy
  • Scientific Patent/Trademark Law
  • Scientific Publishing

Interviewing for a Job

Speaker

• Derek J. Haseltine, Hertz Fndn.

This session will focus on tips and techniques to help you successfully navigate the interview process. Emphasis will be on how you can present yourself in the best possible light. You will also learn how to respond to unexpected questions. This session is open to anyone but is especially intended for student and postdoctoral attendees.

Careers in Science Lecture and Roundtables

Sponsored by the AAI Education Committee and AAI Committee on the Status of Women

Chair

• Dorina Avram, Moffitt Cancer Ctr., Committee on the Status of Women Chair

Speaker

• Gwendalyn J. Randolph, Washington Univ. Sch. of Med. in St. Louis, Avoiding tokenism—choosing your seat at the table

At this popular session, attendees will have the opportunity to meet with experienced scientists to explore specific career issues important to today's scientists. Gain insights into issues you are confronting in your own career. Topics include international opportunities in science, succeeding in graduate school, tips on grant writing, considerations for scientists in M.D.-Ph.D. careers, and exciting careers beyond the bench. Topics include building productive mentor/mentee relationships; overcoming self-doubt; and tackling gender biases in recruitment, research, and leadership; and navigating work/life issues, such as balancing careers with family and transitioning from specific career stages, which may be relevant to any work environment (academic research, biotech industry, governmental agencies, nonprofit). Don’t miss this great opportunity!

Registration Fee: $30 (includes lunch)

Discussion Topics

• A Conversation about Bystander Intervention
• New PI (mentoring effectively, recruiting students and postdocs, preparing for promotion, early career self-promotion)
• Succeeding in Graduate School
• Graduate Student to Postdoc
• Postdoc to PI
• Work/Life Balance
• Building Networking Skills
• Biotech and Industry
• Tackling Gender Biases in Recruitment, Research, and Leadership
• Careers in Government Agencies
• Scientific Publishing
• Opportunities for Scientists in Non-Profits/Foundations
• Careers in Science Policy
• Grant Writing for PIs
• Grant Writing for Fellowships
• Research from the M.D., Ph.D. Perspective/The Physician Scientist
• Careers in Veterinary Immunology
• International Opportunities
• How to Build Productive Mentor/Mentee Relationships
• Balancing Teaching Responsibilities with Research
• How to Negotiate for Better Self-Promotion
• NEW! Science Communication, Popular Science Writing, Editing
• Challenges for Women Mentors and PIs
• Academia versus Industry
• Alternative Careers

NIH Grants Workshop: Demystifying the Grant Application Submission, Review, and Funding Processes

Chair

• Alok Mulky, CSR, NIH

Panelists

• Timothy Gondre-Lewis, NIAID, NIH
• Lillian Kuo, NCI, NIH
• Xinrui Li, CSR, NIH

This workshop will provide participants with an overview of NIH grant submission, assignment, review, and funding opportunities. Emphasis will be on discussing funding mechanisms and opportunities available through NIH, how to make an application “reviewer friendly,” and other strategies that contribute to applications that succeed in obtaining research funding, with a focus on RPG and training grant mechanisms.

The workshop will also provide information on how to understand the peer review system, which is essential to competing successfully for funding, with a focus on recent changes to the review process. NIH review and program staff will provide a broad array of expertise and encourage questions from seminar participants. This workshop is open to anyone interested in learning more about preparing an NIH grant application and obtaining NIH funding. Trainees and independent investigators are welcome.

Sip and Learn: Speed Networking with Immunology Educators

Sponsored by the AAI Education Committee and ImmunoHorizons

Chairs

• Nicholas A. Pullen, Univ. of Northern Colorado, AAI Education Committee Chair
• Heather A. Bruns, Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham, ImmunoHorizons Editor

Are you interested in immunology education? Join the editors of ImmunoHorizons and the AAI Education Committee for a networking event for current and future immunology educators! The first part of this session will be short one-on-one meetings, where you’ll have the opportunity to meet others with an interest in immunology education. Then attendees can continue their conversations in a relaxed setting over coffee. All are welcome! Scientists and trainees of all backgrounds are encouraged to attend.

Registration Fee: $15 (includes coffee)

Careers in Biotech: Panel Discussion and Networking

Sponsored by the AAI Education Committee
Generously supported by BD Biosciences

Chair

• Kiyomi Komori, Kinevant

Panelists

• Agata Bartczak, Horizon Therapeut.
• Louise M. D'Cruz, BD Biosci.
• Ian T. Saunders, Janssen Res. and Development
• Thomas A. Wynn, Pfizer

Many opportunities exist in industry for scientists with advanced degrees. There are positions in laboratory research, program management, business development, regulatory affairs, clinical trials oversight, medical liaison, and more. This panel features scientists employed in a variety of positions in industry discussing their career paths and the skills required for success in each. Following the panel discussion, enjoy casual conversation with the speakers and other scientists from industry at a networking reception.

How to Have a Successful Postdoctoral Experience

Speaker

• Lori Conlan, OITE, NIH

A postdoctoral fellowship is the time to develop research skills you will need to succeed as an independent scientist. It is, however, just as important to realize that you need to prepare for a career path at the same time. This session will highlight ways of getting the most out of your postdoctoral fellowship, relating successfully with your mentor, and understanding how to use the resources available to you to ensure that your training prepares you adequately for a seamless transition into the next phase of your career.