Professional Development
Professional Development Support Funds
The Laney Graduate School supports and encourages students who need to acquire specialized research skills by traveling to other locations, and who seek to present their research at significant professional conferences. Students are eligible for $2,500 in the three categories of training, research, and conferences. Funds are not guaranteed, but are subject to application and review. Additionally, for training and research, students may also apply for more than the $2,500 through a competitive process that, like many grants and fellowships, involves committee review. Learn more at https://www.gs.emory.edu/professional-development/pds/index.html.
Mentoring and Networking Opportunities
Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD)
The NIH-funded IMSD program is a reflection of our commitment to increase the diversity and equity within the scientific workforce. The program focuses on multi- level mentoring, research integrity, and career preparation and planning to foster competitive graduate school and postdoctoral applications. Fellows are appointed to the grant, but all students are welcome to attend program events and workshops. Additional information can be found on the IMSD website at http://imsd.emory.edu.
Mentoring Resources
The GDBBS maintains a list of mentoring resources for graduate students in both the early and later stages of their PhD. There are links to individual development plans and e-Portfolios, and a long list of national resources. Visit http://www.biomed.emory.edu/academics/mentoring.html to learn more.
Atlanta Society of Mentors
The Atlanta Society of Mentors (ASOM) coordinates the efforts of autonomous local institutional chapters to evaluate, implement, and foster modern and innovative mentoring practices in STEM disciplines. Areas of focus include monthly meetings, mentor assessment, awareness of resources, a mentoring workshop series, and a mentor-certification program. Both faculty and graduate students are welcome to participate. Visit http://www.atlantamentors.org to learn more.
MentorNet
We encourage all students to develop a network of mentors over their graduate career. The GDBBS provides this service to students who wish to find an e-mentor in academic and non-academic careers on the MentorNet website. Visit http://mentornet.org to learn more.
EmoryConnects
This is a professional networking platform, like LinkedIn, created specifically for the Emory community. This tool is a great way to start building a professional network. EmoryConnects users can connect with Emory alumni by searching degree, location, industry, company, and availability. Users can offer and receive career guidance, find nearby professionals in fields of interest, and join exclusive industry-based networking groups. Visit https://connects.emory.edu to learn more.
Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL)
Graduate students interested in teaching are invited to participate in trainings through the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL). CIRTL teaching workshops seek to improve graduate students’ teaching skills and increase the diversity of future university faculty in STEM fields. Information can be found at http://www.gs.emory.edu/professional-development/cirtl/about.html.
Teaching Opportunities
Graduate Fellows are a vital component of Undergraduate Research Programs (URP). Fellows work to support undergraduate students in the Scholarly-Inquiry and Research Experience (SIRE) Program and the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE). Information can be found at http://college.emory.edu/undergraduate-research/opportunity/graduate-fellows.html.
Ask an Emory Alum
This tool that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to match questions from students/alumni with alumni who have relevant experience. Users can submit a question via a short form (no profile needed), and will be matched with the most appropriate, available alums who can give you an answer that will come straight to your inbox. Visit https://www.gs.emory.edu/professional-development/career-exploration/alumni/index.html to learn more.
InterSECT Job Simulations
InterSECT (Interactive Simulation Exercises for Career Transitions) is an online platform that enables graduate students to explore future career options.
InterSECT's goal is to provide true-to-life job simulation exercises by engaging with an individual’s interests and extrapolating these interests to positions in actual professional settings. Visit (https://www.gs.emory.edu/professional-development/career-exploration/intersect.html to learn more.
Pathways Beyond the Professoriate (PBP)
In this Laney Graduate School program, alumni from a variety of fields return to Emory to network with our students to help them identify positions they may not have considered. They discuss their own career paths and the unique ways that they have used their Master’s or PhD degrees, and they discuss the skills they developed during their time as graduate students at Emory and how using those skills has translated into professional success. More information is available on the PBP website: http://www.gs.emory.edu/professional-development/career-exploration/alumni/pbp.html.
The Versatile PhD
The mission of the Versatile PhD is to help graduate students identify and prepare for possible non-academic careers. The Versatile PhD will help to demystify non- academic careers, revealing many interesting professions that can utilize the skills students are developing in graduate school. The Versatile PhD is a free community for all graduate students. Visit https://www.gs.emory.edu/professional-development/career-exploration/vphd.html to learn more.
Career Coaching
The Laney Graduate School offers Career Coaching appointments year-round for graduate students. In coaching appointments, you may discuss career planning, communicating your strengths, tailoring your CV and resume, and other important career topics. See (https://www.gs.emory.edu/professional-development/job-search/career-coaching.html to learn more.
Bio Career Center
The GDBBS provides this as a resource for students who want advice on career management and access to a jobs board on the Bio Career Center website: http://emory.biocareers.com.
Georgia Bio
Georgia Bio is a non-profit, membership-based organization that promotes the interests and growth of the life sciences industry. Members include companies, universities, research institutions, government groups and other industry associations. Information can be found at http://gabio.org.
Laney Graduate School Resources
For additional information on Laney Graduate School career development programs please visit their website at http://www.gs.emory.edu/professional-development/career-exploration/index.html.
Emory Career Services information can be found at http://www.gs.emory.edu/professional-development/career-exploration/career-services.html.
Creating an Individual Development Plan (IDP) will help students explore career possibilities and set career goals. Information can be found at http://myidp.sciencecareers.org.
Dual/Joint Degrees, Certificates and Course Work
Grants Writing Course
All students have access to a grants writing course that will help prepare them to apply to the NIH or other organizations for predoctoral fellowships. Emory ranks as one of the top institutions for students with NIH predoctoral fellowships, and a large part of that success can be attributed to the resources provided in these grants writing courses.
Master of Science in Clinical Research
Students pursuing a dissertation topic with strong clinical and translational emphasis may want to consider a joint Master of Science in Clinical Research. An additional year of course work is required. The degree will prepare students to participate in large clinical studies and to engage in research that will translate the findings of research laboratory to the patient’s bedside. Stipend support for the additional year may be available. Learn more about the program on MSCR program website: http://www.actsi.org/training/ms-in-clinical-research/how-to-apply.html.
Certificate Program in Clinical and Translational Research
The Certificate Program in Translational Research is a multidisciplinary program of the Emory Laney Graduate School for PhD students, Emory postdocs and faculty members who seek to conduct research at the interface between basic science and clinical medicine. Learn more about the program on the Certificate Program in Translational Research website: http://www.gs.emory.edu/sites/translational/.
Master of Arts in Bioethics
The Master of Arts in Bioethics program in the Center for Ethics provides rigorous, advanced, and interdisciplinary training for professionals and students interested in social and ethical challenges in health care and the life sciences. Students in the program are connected with a dynamic network of experts, like-minded professionals, scholars, and resources in order to prepare themselves professionally to address ethical considerations in biomedicine. Learn more about the program on the MA in Bioethics website at http://ethics.emory.edu/mabioethics/.