Future of Research Vancouver Symposium, SFU Harbour Centre
- Honoured to be here today at the Future of Research Vancouver symposium.
- Asked to speak about how universities and how can you better prepare for careers in science.
- But before I do so, I would like to congratulate you all for what you have achieved so far.
- Speaking from personal experience, I can say that to get as far as you have in graduate and post-graduate studies in science is quite an accomplishment. It requires hard work, dedication and discipline. You have much to be proud of, and I’m sure you will all go on to amazing accomplishments in your scientific careers
- Certainly, when I was growing up I never thought – and my parents never thought – that I would have a career in science
- And yet, here I am, a professor in the Faculty of Medicine and the president and vice-chancellor of this amazing institution.
- My career as a scientist came about through several things – serendipity, hard work, encouragement of supervisors and other professors, support of family, friends and other students
- Also came about through gaining experience working in labs
- Learned the importance of work-life balance
- networking, going to conferences – even when not presenting a paper, meeting other students and postdocs, and other researchers
- one thing I learned: think outside your comfort zone – collaborate or at the very least connect with researchers in other areas
- of course, that was many years ago that I embarked on my journey towards a career in science
- goes without saying that the world has greatly changed since then
- back then, it was assumed by most people that if you were in graduate school, that you were aiming for a career in academia
- definitely not the case today
- fewer than 30 percent of PhDs end up in tenure-track positions
- other choices include industry, government, hospitals
- and many PhD and postdocs end up starting their own companies, becoming entrepreneurs – just look at Sergei Brin and Larry Page for example!
- Of course, not every grad student or postdoc is going to go on to found Google, but increasingly, science careers outside academia are not seen as fall-back, plan B positions, but active choices
- more and more, graduate students and postdocs are setting out on their own or partnering with other students and founding or joining start-ups
- how do you prepare for this choice of futures? How do you know which road to choose?
- Both the individual – you – and the institution have a role to play
- Others play their part of course – for example, graduate supervisors, senior researchers, principal investigators, colleagues
- universities have to provide access to a range of skill and professional building workshops
- skills beyond the lab are essential for a career in science: skills such as leadership and management, communication & relationship building, personal and professional management, entrepreneurial and business management skills
- of course, technical and scientific skills as well – software development and much more
- The key is that skills need to be transferrable because, of course, you cannot expect to be doing the same thing for your entire career
- These skills will serve you well in any research discipline or career – whether within or outside the academy
- your university should help you develop these skills – for example, UBC’s School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies offers workshops and courses in such areas as graduate school success, self-management, professional effectiveness, leadership and career building
- other skill-building opportunities are available elsewhere through your university or outside the academy – for example, software, business training, etc.
- at UBC we offer workshops for graduate students through the Graduate Pathways to Success program and for postdocs through the Postdoctoral Fellows Office.
- Workshops include grant writing, team building, entrepreneurship, financial and project management, intellectual property management, interviewing and many more
- you, your supervisor and your university need to work together to find these opportunities and decide which ones are relevant
- the institution can and should help you – but, in the words of UBC’s motto, Tuum Est – it is yours – it’s up to you as well
- your supervisor plays a part as well, of course
- but keep in mind that sometimes supervisors are unable to provide the best advice because they may not be familiar with what it takes to land a non-academic position
- you need to be strategic about your career planning
- one tool is a career development plan
- career development plans have been used in organizations for a long time and are now being used to help grad students and postdocs map their programs and plan their careers.
- These plans allow you and your supervisor to assess current research responsibilities and skills, and develop a plan for future training and experience.
- Since development plans are living documents, you will need to revisit it constantly.
- Besides developing a career development plan, I encourage you to present your work whenever and wherever you can – at conferences and in journals – it’s important to be noticed and to network.
- And don’t forget to use non-traditional channels as well – such as social media – not only a great way to get your work out, but to connect with others
- Can personally attest to value of social media
- All of this can seem daunting. Especially on top of other responsibilities – studies, research, dissertation, research papers and earning a living and having a life outside the academy – it can sometimes seem overwhelming.
- But it’s worth it. A career in science can be fulfilling and rewarding on many levels – spiritually, emotionally, financially.
- As I said at the start, you have much to be proud of. Just getting this far is an accomplishment. And I’m sure you will go much further, and that your science career paths will take you to places that I cannot even imagine.
- I wish you the best on the journey.
- Tuum Est – it is yours.
- Thank you. I hope you have a productive and enjoyable symposium.