WIST 2009: Workshops

Advances in biotechnology are bringing us closer to realizing the dream of petroleum independence as the need for affordable and cleaner fuels pushes the private sector to develop low-carbon alternatives to conventional fossil fuels. Biofuels provide benefits to the environment, economy and national security. The market opportunity is big, but what is the status of our technology and the government policy regarding renewable fuel? Come and learn the latest developments on the science and technology of biofuels from experts in academia and local biofuel companies.

Teaching As A Career Back to schedule

Qualified science teachers are needed at all educational levels including K-12, community colleges, primarily undergraduate institutes and research universities. How do I prepare to apply for a professorship? What are the differences between teaching at a primarily undergraduate institution and a research university? Come learn about qualification requirements, application process, salaries, the significance of titles and the joys and pitfalls of teaching at each of these levels.

Time To Move On Back to schedule

After years in your current position, you are doing well but are not learning or growing. How do you move up the “ladder”? Do you need a career change? Is it possible to explore options without burning bridges? Career transitions require courage, planning and a strong support system. In this session you will learn how to evaluate your current position and future opportunities to decide whether it’s time to make the leap. The speakers will discuss her career transition experiences and will outline essential tools to effectively manage your career.

Bridging the Gap Career Roundtables Back to schedule

San Diego is host to over one thousand PhD and MS graduates who are seeking their first step into a career. The biotech hub of San Diego is also home to many early- and mid-career scientists looking for advancement or career change. The Career Roundtable provides an opportunity for you to explore various careers within industry and academia. Conference attendees will meet and talk with experts and peers from nine (9) different careers. Topics include: Application Specialist, Business Development, Clinical Operations, Consulting, Intellectual Property, Project Management, Regulatory Affairs, Technical Writing, and Technology Transfer.

Four topics will be covered during each of the three workshop sessions and you will spend 25 minutes for each of two topics.

11:10 - 12:10 Workshop II

Frontiers in Technology: Nanotechnology Back to schedule

Nanotechnology is a diverse field with many medical and technological applications. What has developed since the discoveries of fullerenes? What can quantum dots do for us? Why are these technologies and approaches taking so long to get to market? Learn how bioscience and technology meet at this unique crossroad and how applications of nanotechnologies are being developed for diagnostics, cancer, diabetes and other medical applications.

Continuing Education and Your Market Value Back to schedule

Are you interested in increasing your professional skill set or contemplating a career change? Are you motivated to enrich your education but unsure where to find the resources to get started? Continuing your education by enrolling in courses for advanced degrees or participating in certification programs can open new doors. Come and learn from our panel of continuing education experts.

Our panel of career advisers will discuss available opportunities to continue your education and increase your market value.

How to Maximize Your Postdoc Training Back to schedule

You’ve finished your Ph.D. and are currently in a postdoctoral research position, the stepping-stone to your future career. Whether you wish to pursue a career in academia or industry, what skills you should develop to launch a successful career? How do you make yourself stand out as a job candidate? Two speakers will share how they maximized their postdoc training to make the transition to their current positions in academia and industry.

2:50 - 3:50 Workshop III

Frontiers in Medicine: Personalized Medicine Back to schedule

Ever wondered what your genetic code reads like? Could your saliva hold the secret to managing your health? Come and find out why a retail DNA test was rated as the Invention of the Year 2008 by Time magazine and how it works. Our speaker will throw light on the emerging personal genomics revolution and its implications to medicine.

Finding The Entrepreneur In You Back to schedule

Do you have a great business idea that you are eager to pursue? Having the entrepreneurial spirit not only means possessing unique ideas, but also believing in your ability to forge a path to success. Our speaker will describe the reality of being an entrepreneur in San Diego and review practical skills to sell your ideas, find funding and succeed as an entrepreneur.

Work-Life Balance Back to schedule

Do you find it challenging to balance your career ambitions and personal obligations? Are you so focused on your work that you tend to ignore your well-being and other activities you love? In any stage of our life, we carry different responsibilities and may feel pressured to compromise by giving up something important. Setting priorities, controlling stress, and managing time can be overwhelming. Come and learn from our speakers/couples about their experiences and perspectives and how they balance their career in order to take control of their lives.

4:00 - 5:00 Workshop IV

Networking Strategies and Online Resources Back to schedule

According to leading outplacement firm Lee Hecht Harrison, most jobs are found through networking. Networking is the most important component to any job search and can be a daunting task. How do you gauge the value of online resources such as LinkedIn, Meetup, Facebook, BioSpace, and Nature Network, and use them to advance your career? This session will reveal networking strategies and using online resources to help you find or develop a great position.

Developing Your Own Board of Directors Back to schedule

Mentors play an important role in career development by providing experienced advice and guidance and can be instrumental in facilitating introductions to other community members. Mentoring can be formal such as the assignment of a senior faculty member to a new assistant professor, employee mentoring programs, and national programs such as MentorNet or as informal as water-cooler discussions with co-workers. The decision of who to ask and how many mentors to have is personal and individual; the composition of your mentors may change over time based on your needs. Cultivating a network of trusted advisers and supporters who have a genuine interest in your personal and professional development is key to a successful mentor relationship. Our speaker will discuss the value of mentors, how to build your own board of directors, and ways to nurture the relationship for success.

Opportunities in Today’s Global Economy Back to schedule

Modern technology has led to an ever-shrinking world. The current international workplace presents us with great opportunities in technology and biosciences. How can we make the most of these prospects and what specific skills are required to function in a challenging global setting? In this session two speakers with extensive experience in the international workplace will share with us how to identify these opportunities. They will also discuss the aptitude needed to succeed and how to leverage the knowledge gained from these experiences to advance your career.