Please join Duke Postdoctoral Services, the Graduate School, and Graduate Career Services for a series of short, focused career conversations with former Duke postdocs and PhD students.
We will ask each Alum 5 questions:
- Could you tell us about your background?
- How did you get your job at your organization?
- What’s a typical day like at your organization (pre- and post-COVID)?
- What can postdocs and students who would like to work in this field (or explore it further) do to prepare?
- What is the employment outlook for this field, given the COVID crisis? (please note that the answer to this question may be “We don’t know yet.”)
We will ask each HR Manager 5 questions:
- Can you tell us about your organization, and describe a typical day for a PhD hire?
- What does the hiring process look like at your organization? What areas do you look at from the resume/CV and cover letter? (for example, are publications important? Do you need to do a postdoc?)
- Besides being a good scientist/researcher, what other skills, experience and/or training are important?
- What can postdocs and students who would like to work in this field (or explore it further) do to prepare?
- What is the employment outlook for this field, given the COVID crisis? (please note that the answer to this question may be “We don’t know yet.”)
Weds Feb 3, 11-11:30 am
WHAT: Alum Zoom with Shweta Krishnan, PhD, Assistant Director of Life Sciences, Duke Office of Licensing & Ventures
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0f7CIxsg2pumHfn
On Feb 3, our guest is Shweta Krishnan, PhD. Shweta joined Duke’s Office of Licensing and Ventures in 2016. As Assistant Director of Life Sciences, Shweta works with Duke innovators to evaluate the market opportunity, competitive and patent landscape of Duke technologies in the therapeutics, diagnostics and devices space, negotiates licensing deals with industry partners, and catalyzes the formation of Duke start-ups.
Shweta comes to the OLV with a strong background in life sciences research, and over 5 years of experience in technology transfer at Johns Hopkins and Duke. Prior to joining the OLV, she was a post-doctoral fellow at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Shweta received her PhD in Pharmacology and Cancer Biology from Duke University, where her work focused on elucidating the actions of the progesterone receptor in breast cancer pathogenesis, with the goal of developing therapeutic interventions for the clinic.
Fri Feb 5, 11-11:30 am
WHAT: Alum Zoom with Anh Do, PhD, Data Scientist, Nielsen
REGISTER: https://gradschool.duke.edu/student-life/events/alum-zoom-five-career-questions-anh-do-phd-19-data-scientist-nielsen
As part of a series of short, focused career conversations with former Duke PhD students and postdocs, we’ll feature Anh Do, PhD ’19 (Political Science), Data Scientist with Nielsen. Nielsen is a global measurement and data analytics company that provides the most complete and trusted view available of consumers and markets worldwide. Dr. Do participated in an Insight Data Science fellowship following completion of her PhD and began working for Nielsen in 2019.
Weds Feb 10, 11-11:30 am
REGISTER: https://gradschool.duke.edu/student-life/events/alum-zoom-five-career-questions-devin-bridgen-phd-15-associate-director
As part of a series of short, focused career conversations with former Duke PhD students and postdocs, we’ll feature Devin Bridgen, PhD’15 (Biomedical Engineering), Associate Director, Exploratory Research at SQZ Biotechnologies. SQZ Biotech is working to create a new generation of cell therapies, with a current focus on modulating specific immune responses for oncology, infectious diseases, and autoimmune diseases. Dr. Bridgen began his career at SQZ as a Scientist after completing his PhD and has been steadily promoted through roles in Exploratory Research and Strategy & Corporate Development.
Weds Feb 17, 11-11:30 am
WHAT: Alum Zoom with Dan Ruccia, PhD, Marketing Designer at Duke University Press
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1A23LhQxZKznZzw
On Feb 17, our guest is Dan Ruccia, PhD, Marketing Designer at Duke University Press. Dan received his PhD in Music Composition from Duke, and is a composer and violinist.
Watch on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
Tues Feb 23, 11-11:30 am
WHAT: Alum Zoom with Kelly Lindblom, PhD, RAC, Duke Office of Regulatory Affairs and Quality (ORAQ)
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8cbk34CtG6lHSZv
On Feb 23, our guest is Kelly Lindblom, PhD, RAC. Kelly is a Senior Regulatory Affairs Scientist in the Office of Regulatory Affairs and Quality (ORAQ) within the Duke University School of Medicine. In this role, Dr. Lindblom is responsible for providing support and guidance to investigators and regulatory study coordinators regarding the regulatory requirements relevant to their research study activities. She performs a variety of services including regulatory education, regulatory consultation, and support for regulatory submissions. Dr. Lindblom is also involved in the implementation of educational initiatives within ORAQ, and will discuss the Duke Regulatory Affairs Training Program.
Dr. Lindblom received her undergraduate degree in chemistry from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. She conducted her graduate research at Duke University, where she earned her PhD in Pharmacology with a certificate in Cell and Molecular Biology. Her research focused on the regulation of cell death in the context of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis and different types of cancer. During her graduate training, Dr. Lindblom was the recipient of a Ruth L. Kirschstein-NRSA Predoctoral Fellowship and a Robert J. Fitzgerald Scholar Award. Dr. Lindblom was the Assistant Director of Research Initiatives in the Office of the Vice Provost for Research at Duke University before joining ORAQ. Dr. Lindblom holds the Regulatory Affairs Certification (RAC) from the Regulatory Affairs Professional Society.
Tues Mar 2, 11-11:30 am
WHAT: Alum/HR Zoom with Maria Kousi, PhD Senior Associate, Third Rock Ventures, and Ali Baker, Director, Talent & Portfolio Recruiting, Third Rock Ventures
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3W8C2xwRNMS46km
On Mar 2, our guests are Maria Kousi, PhD Senior Associate, Third Rock Ventures, and Ali Baker, Director, Talent & Portfolio Recruiting, Third Rock Ventures.
Third Rock Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Boston which invests in biotechnology startups. Third Rock works with scientific founders and expert advisors to develop a vision and strategy for a company. Once the company concept has been refined and optimized, the firm launches the company with the necessary resources to enable it to reach critical milestones.Third Rock has invested in 53 companies; these companies are now bringing products to patients. The firm’s portfolio of companies has launched 10 products, including five therapeutics, three diagnostics and two devices.
Maria Kousi, PhD, is Senior Associate at Third Rock Ventures. Third Rock discovers, launches and builds companies based on bold ideas that meet at the intersection of science, strategy, business and medicine. Maria is a human geneticist and molecular neuroscientist with an extensive academic record focusing on the elucidation of genetic etiologies underlying pediatric neurological disorders. Maria was a Duke Postdoctoral Associate in the Duke Center for Human Disease Modeling.
As Director of Talent & Portfolio Recruitment at Third Rock Venture, Ali Baker hires amazing people at the firm, and then serves as interim team member at new companies as they launch.Ali has also been a talent acquisition leader at SAGE Therapeutics, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, and MOMA Therapeutics.
Weds Mar 17, 11:30 am – 12 pm
WHAT: Alum Zoom with Sarah Crittenden Fuller, Research Associate Professor, UNC Education Policy Initiative
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5sQ4v4K6LIdohTw
On Mar 17, our guest is Sarah Crittenden Fuller, Research Associate Professor at the UNC Education Policy Initiative.
Sarah Crittenden Fuller holds a PhD in public policy from the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University. Fuller’s work uses primarily quantitative methods to address research questions surrounding schools and students focusing on questions that have the potential to inform policy decisions. She currently serves as Principal Investigator for the multi-year evaluation of the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) North Carolina intervention. Fuller is also leading projects examining the impacts of natural disasters on educational outcomes nationwide and the impacts of remote learning due to COVID-19 on schools in North Carolina. Other areas of ongoing research include high school reform models, the impacts of school nutrition on academic outcomes, and the influence of hurricanes in North Carolina on childhood outcomes.
Tues Apr 6, 11-11:30 am
WHAT: Alum Zoom with Zehra Parlak, PhD, Founder and Acting CEO at QATCH Technologies
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aXW0oFzYzNM90Me
On Apr 6, our guest is Zehra Parlak, PhD, Founder and Acting CEO at QATCH Technologies.
QATCH Technologies is founded upon a technology developed at Duke University by Dr. Stefan Zauscher, Professor of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, and Dr. Zehra Parlak, a postdoctoral researcher at Zauscher Lab. Upon realizing the potential of the invention, Dr. Parlak founded QATCH Technologies in 2016. QATCH Technologies is developing a pre-screening tool for biopharmaceutical drug discovery. The proprietary technology can determine if a formulation is injectable or if there will be viscosity related manufacturing problem at very early stages.
Zehra received her PhD in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and her BSEE from Bilkent University in Turkey.
Weds Apr 14, 1-1:30 pm
WHAT: Alum Zoom with Jillian Powers, PhD, Responsible AI Lead at Idea Couture
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dhQgay6Nf3IHClg
Jillian Powers is an applied sociologist, educator, and general rabble rouser who cut her teeth in the undercommons of elite universities. After receiving her BA from Dartmouth College, she earned her PhD from Duke University in Sociology. She has held postdoctoral positions in American Studies and Sociology at Washington University in Saint Louis and Brandeis University, and has taught civics and American Democracy at Democracy Prep in Harlem NY. In 2016, after another disappointing year on the academic job market, she went rogue. She now works in the private sector as the Lead for Responsible AI for Idea Couture, a multinational digital and professional services company. She has lots of strong opinions and has been regularly called a “difficult” woman. She has worked in industry supporting digital transformation and innovation for clients across a range of industries and verticals at ReD Associates, Gemic, Narativ, and Idea Couture.
Watch on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
Mon Apr 19, 12-12:30 pm
WHAT: Alum Zoom with Rachel (Xiaoyu) Tian, PhD (BME), Machine Learning Engineer at Twitter
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bg8gC2uAbcZmyxw
Our guest this week will be Rachel (Xiaoyu) Tian, PhD (BME, ’16), Machine Learning Engineer at Twitter. Rachel’s prior experience includes Starbucks and GE Healthcare. She received her PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Duke in 2016 and has a BS in Electrical Engineering from Beijing Jiaotong University. She will discuss her background, career path, current job and experience searching for jobs in the US as an international candidate.
Watch on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
Weds May 5, 11-11:30 am
WHAT: Alum Zoom with Anh Le, PhD, Research Scientist in Marketing Research and Development at Facebook
REGISTER: https://gradschool.duke.edu/student-life/events/alum-zoom-five-career-questions-anh-le-phd-research-scientist-marketing-research
This week we’ll feature Anh Le, PhD ’18 (Political Science), Research Scientist in Marketing Science Research & Development at Facebook. Anh is trained as a political economist and now works on causal Inference, experimentation, and ads measurement research. To learn more about his expertise, visit his Github profile and blog.
Watch on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
Weds May 12, 11-11:30 am
WHAT: Alum Zoom with Nathan Rudemiller, PhD, Manager II (Principal Scientist), Bioagilytix
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eg4kpgNOVcQEPqK
On May 12, our guest is Nathan Rudemiller, PhD, Manager II (Principal Scientist), Bioagilytix.
Nathan has worked in the field of immunology since beginning his PhD training in 2010. Nathan spent his PhD training and postdoctoral fellowship elucidating immunological drivers of complex disease using in vivo models, ex vivo primary cell systems, and in vitro immortalized cell lines. Consequently, he has much experience with and a proclivity for developing cell-based assays, including assays with flow cytometric outputs. Following a postdoctoral fellowship at Duke University, Nathan joined BioAgilytix Labs in 2017. At BioAgilytix Labs, Nathan oversees development and validation of PK, PD/Biomarker, ADA, NAb, and Potency assays using a variety of bioanalytical platforms under GxP regulations. Notably, he oversees all flow cytometric assays at the Durham, NC headquarters. Nathan’s team leverages flow cytometry to address emerging bioanalytical challenges for large molecule and cellular therapeutics. Nathan received his PhD in Physiology from the Medical College of Wisconsin.
In addition to discussing his work, Nathan will tell us about the open PhD-level positions at Bioagilytix!
Weds May 19, 11-11:30 am
WHAT: Alum Zoom with with Mike Jenista, PhD, Senior Analytics Software Tester, SAS
REGISTER: https://gradschool.duke.edu/student-life/events/alum-zoom-five-career-questions-mike-jenista-phd-10-senior-analytics-software
This week, our guest is Mike Jenista, PhD ’10 (Mathematics), Senior Analytics Software Tester at SAS Institute. He began his career at SAS as a Junior Software Tester and was promoted to his current position in 2018.
Watch on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
Tues May 25, 11-11:30 am
WHAT: Alum Zoom with Davide Carozza, PhD, Director of Federal Grants, After-School All-Stars
REGISTER: https://gradschool.duke.edu/student-life/events/alum-zoom-five-career-questions-davide-carozza-phd-20-director-federal-grants
This week, our guest is Davide Carozza, PhD (English), Director of Federal Grants for the national nonprofit organization After-School All-Stars. Since starting at the organization in April 2020 as a Grant Writer and Development Coordinator, he has secured over $2 million in grants, and David was recently promoted to his current role. Davide will share his insights into how grad students and postdocs can prepare to sell themselves to interviewers who may not immediately grasp the relevance of graduate training for the professional environment as well as strategies for succeeding in a job search in Washington, DC.
