The ASCB|EMBO Meeting is just around the corner, and the program is filled with a variety of great events focused on scientific research, networking, and professional development! We’ve put together a guide to help trainees navigate events focused on career exploration, professional development, and science outreach and communication sponsored by COMPASS. Whether you have defined a career goal or are still finding your path, COMPASS has planned several panels and speakers that will explore different career opportunities and provide helpful advice on pursuing these careers. If you are interested in a career in academia, these sessions may be useful:
Mental Health & Managing Stress in Academia
12:00 pm Monday, Dec. 9
Theater 4, Exhibit Hall B
How to Give a Chalk Talk
9:00 am Tuesday, Dec. 10
Theater 4, Exhibit Hall B
Searching for a Faculty Position and Starting a Lab at a Primarily Undergraduate Institution
10:00 am Tuesday, Dec. 10
Theater 3, Exhibit Hall B
Preparing your Academic Application Materials
12:00 pm Tuesday, Dec. 10
Theater 4, Exhibit Hall B
Finding and Starting a Lab at an R1 University
12:00 pm Tuesday, Dec. 10
Theater 3, Exhibit Hall B
If a career outside academia is appealing to you we have several sessions centered on careers in industry, biotech, government, and non-profits:
Translational Research: From Bench to Bedside
12:00 pm Sunday, Dec. 8
Theater 3, Exhibit Hall B
Bench-based Research Careers in Industry
10:00 am Monday, Dec. 9
Theater 3, Exhibit Hall B
Careers in Non-Profits, Science Advocacy, and Science Outreach
12:00 pm Monday, Dec. 9
Theater 3, Exhibit Hall B
Careers in Industry: Beyond the Bench in Biotech
9:00 am Tuesday, Dec. 10
Theater 3, Exhibit Hall B
Careers in Science Policy
1:00 pm Tuesday, Dec. 10
Theater 3, Exhibit Hall B
Careers Beyond the Bench outside Biotech- Science Infrastructure, Management, and Development
2:00 pm Tuesday, Dec. 10
Theater 3, Exhibit Hall B
For individualized one-on-one sessions, meet with professional career coaches in the career center in the Exhibit Hall to get feedback on application materials or explore career options and strategies.
Career Coaching
9:00 am-12:00 pm and 1:00-4:00 pm Sunday, Dec. 8-Tuesday, Dec. 10
Career Center, Exhibit Hall B
COMPASS also highly values science communication and outreach to share our science and engage with the public. Learn skills and strategies to discuss your research with the public through your writing by attending our science writing workshop “Writing your science story.” This session will feature a panel discussion as well as exercises to practice your written communication skills. Are you interested in conducting an outreach activity in your local community but unsure how to start? Attend our panel on effectively organizing outreach activities to learn how to get started and ideas on how to improve your existing projects. Put both your communication and outreach skills to work and engage with the D.C. community by participating in our 3rd annual Ask a Scientist Bar Night. Small groups of attendees will head out to local bars to informally discuss their science with the public. This event is a great way to connect with the public while networking with other ASCB attendees.
Ask a Scientist Bar Night
8:15 pm Sunday, Dec. 8
Meet at the registration area
Effectively Organizing Science Outreach Events
2:00 pm Monday, Dec. 9
Theater 3, Exhibit Hall B
Writing Your Science Story: How to Get Everyone Else Excited about Your Work
2:00 pm Tuesday, Dec. 10
Theater 4, Exhibit Hall B
COMPASS represents the needs of trainees to ASCB and believes all trainees should have the skills and confidence to advocate for themselves. This year for our open forum we are pleased to have Dr. Sharon Milgram, Director of the Office of Intramural Training & Education (OITE) at NIH, come speak about self-empowerment for trainees. Join us for this interactive session to learn self-advocacy skills and strategies and to meet the members of COMPASS. Continue the discussion on self-advocacy by attending the panel “The Art of Self-Advocacy” followed by a networking reception hosted by the Women in Cell Biology (WICB) Committee and COMPASS.
COMPASS Open Forum: Self-Empowerment for Trainees
10:00 am Monday, Dec. 9
Room 204AB
The Art of Self-Advocacy: A Panel and Networking Reception from WICB and COMPASS
7:00 pm Monday, Dec. 9
Room 140AB
We hope you enjoy the variety of COMPASS-sponsored events at this year’s meeting! Event descriptions can be found in the meeting program and be sure to follow @ASCBiology and #ascbembo19 on twitter to get updates and live tweets from COMPASS members attending these sessions. To learn more about the committee’s activities and projects or how to join the committee, visit COMPASS leadership at ASCB Booth 612 in the Exhibit Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 1:15-1:45 pm.
About the Author:
Alyssa Lesko is a postdoctoral research associate in Dr. Ann Sutherland's lab at the University of Virginia. She is interested in cell polarity and cell behavior in the neural epithelium during embryonic development. Alyssa earned her PhD in 2018 from the University of Notre Dame in Dr. Jenifer Prosperi's lab. Her graduate work focused on cell polarity and migration during tumor initiation and progression. Twitter: @lysslesko and Email: alesko1@nd.alumni.edu