Business Basics for Scientists

Duration: 1:30 pm - 3 pm | Cost: $25
Lead Convener:  Anne Thessen

The academic job market is rapidly filling with low-wage, low-security positions. According to the Department of Education, more than 40% of teaching staff at universities are part-time faculty without tenure or adjunct faculty. This has left an entire generation of talented scientists with poor academic employment prospects. Students and post-docs who want to prepare for a career in industry must pursue those skills independently. To the recent graduate who has spent the past 10 years thinking about an academic career, the prospect of retraining for the private sector may seem daunting.

We aim to provide students and scientists information about 1) What they can do now to prepare for a career in the private sector, 2) How to start their own science-based company, and 3) The many misconceptions about industry. This workshop will focus on resources and best practices for transitioning from academia to industry including, but not limited to 1) Interview and resume skills, 2) Differences and similarities between academia and industry, 3) Discovering your value proposition, 4) Navigating SBIR and STTR, and 5) Finding resources for starting your own company.