Fostering collaborations between Academia and Industry
Saturday, June 17, 2017 | 10:15am - 11:10am | Broad Institute Auditorium
An increasing number of academic researchers are collaborating with industry in many scientific areas, from patenting their findings and commercializing new technologies, to setting up companies based on novel discoveries and developing new products; however, collaborations with a goal of generating peer-reviewed publications remain an area of untapped possibility. This panel will focus on developing mutually beneficial, successful collaborations between industry and academic researchers to drive shared research interests and increase the scientific knowledge base. Panelists will talk about their own experiences, obstacles that they may have faced and the strategies they implemented to get mutually beneficial outcomes.
GRANT Writing pAnel
Saturday, June 17, 2017 | 10:15am - 11:30am | Monadnock Room - 2nd floor
Many early career researchers are highly motivated to obtain fellowships, grants and other types of funding to establish a strong track record of external support prior to going on the job market. In this interactive workshop, panelists will provide a 45 minute interactive overview of common funding sources (NIH, NSF, DARPA, DoD) followed by a series of short breakout sessions to discuss 1) organizing and writing specific aims, 2) incorporating preliminary data, 3) preparing a budget, and 4) avoiding common pitfalls and errors. This workshop will help postdocs start thinking about how to plan a program of research that is original and long-term. Panelists will be invited to provide insights from their own experience, as well as from reviewing grants which have been successfully funded.
Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship
Saturday, June 17, 2017 | 11:10am - 12:05pm | Broad Institute Auditorium
Boston area institutions are among the major innovation centers for the life sciences, chemistry and engineering. As highly motivated and independent subject matter experts, postdocs are drivers of much of this innovation and are well-positioned to be entrepreneurs. While many postdocs consider entrepreneurship as a career track, they may lack the background to successfully commercialize their discoveries. This panel aims to inform postdocs on the skills required to become successful entrepreneurs. The panel will also address questions on how research fellows can be a successful part of a team in this space.
Additionally, in this panel discussion, we will examine the key factors researchers should consider in deciding to commercialize their research. The discussion will include: 1) deciding what discoveries and inventions may make a viable commercial product, 2) using best practices in engaging and collaborating with institutional tech transfer offices and lab incubators, 3) obtaining seed funding and pitching investors, and 4) examining characteristics of successful entrepreneurs and startups.
Understanding the drug development process
Saturday, June 17, 2017 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm | Broad Institute Auditorium
Many postdocs plan to enter industry R&D in Biotech/Pharma, but lack a thorough understanding of the drug development process. In this panel, speakers will discuss the cultural and scientific differences between Academic research and research in Biotech and Pharma. The phases of drug development including discovery, pre-clinical, formulation/CMC, clinical, regulatory, sales and marketing will be discussed with a focus on the common roles that postdoctoral scholars pursue upon exiting their postdocs. Learn how your postdoctoral training may prepare you for a career in industry R&D. Speakers will include scientists and senior management from small startups through large biotech/pharma.
Lessons from a life science recruiter
Saturday, June 17, 2017 | 4:15pm - 5:15pm | Broad Institute Auditorium
For many job candidates, their first contact in the hiring process is with an internal (company-based) or external independently-contracted recruiter. These individuals are responsible for identifying and acquiring talented researchers and initiating preliminary conversations prior to a formal interview. As this process often begins with a very brief résumé review, many potentially skilled candidates are disqualified based on the poor organization or content of their résumé. In this interactive panel, speakers will review common mistakes they find in résumés and critique attendee résumés to provide them with feedback and guidance on how to pass a preliminary screen when applying for industry positions. Attendees will be encouraged to submit their resume for review during this panel.
Preparing for your Academic Interview
Saturday, June 17, 2017 | 4:15pm - 5:15pm | Yellowstone Room - 2nd Floor
Many trainees aspire to be future faculty members; however most job candidates aren’t familiar with the structure of the academic interview. Academic interviews are different from other job interviews in many ways, requiring preparation on not just your own research, but also into the hiring department and the institutional program of research. This panel will help postdocs strategically prepare for academic interviews. This panel will outline the structure of the in-person academic interview in R1, medical schools and teaching-intensive institutions with respect to job talks, chalk talks, faculty visits and dinners. Panelists will also discuss characteristics that are common to successful interviewees and the skills they exhibit. This panel explains the pitfalls and common mistakes of first time academic job candidates.
Technology transfer: Engine of innovation
Saturday, June 17, 2017 | 5:30pm - 6:30pm | Broad Institute Lobby
Innovations developed at research institutions lead to significant revenue generation through patenting of novel technologies, out-licensing, royalties and university-backed start ups. However, many postdocs are unfamiliar with the role that their institution’s tech transfer office plays in the potential commercialization of academic research. This panel will discuss the roles that a technology transfer office plays in identifying commercializable technologies, patenting, in- and out-licensing, and business development. Best practices during the commercialization process will also be discussed.
Setting up your lab
Saturday, June 17, 2017 | 5:30p - 6:30pm | Monadnock Room - 2nd floor
Setting up a new lab can be a time-consuming and often technically involved task. While most labs start with the budget and space being known ahead of time, it can be a daunting task to allocate the available resources effectively. Whether it is setting up a lab in an academic setting, or for a new start-up, similar questions emerge. How should you prioritize equipment purchases? How do you select your first hire and decide when to expand your lab group? Is the provided lab space suitable for experiments immediately, or are structural changes necessary? What institutional facilities can you access? The panel will address these concerns, and many more.