Biennial Alumni Career Symposium Focuses on Early Career Journeys

The career development  team organized an intriguing line-up of guest speakers who shared their professional advice and experiences for this year’s Graduate School Alumni Career Symposium, Forging your Path: Navigating the Early Career Landscape. Alumni from across the country and students attended Zoom sessions Tuesday and Wednesday, November 5-6, and in-person alumni spotlights and the keynote address, kicked off by Dean Alejandro Aballay, PhD, on Thursday, November 7. Panelist and speaker discussions spanned business relationship-building, navigating early career challenges, and insights into careers in biotech and pharma.

Recent alumni led the first session on Tuesday, The Transition: Young Alumni on Entering the Workforce, moderated by GSBS student Rene Girard. Each speaker shared valuable insights on how to leverage training and navigate early career challenges.

• Riya Thomas, PhD discussed her choice to step out of her comfort zone for her postdoc to expand her portfolio of work and network.
• Alec Santiago, PhD encouraged everyone to “never tell ourselves no.” He emphasized the importance of developing as a human when it comes to soft skills.
• Maria Monberg, PhD shared that choosing activities in grad school with a greater purpose in mind can make all the difference.
• Jennifer Hurtig, PhD, advised students to network more and highlighted the importance of building practical skills like coding or bioinformatics to stay competitive.

At Wednesday’s session: Breaking Into the Biotech and Pharma Industry, panelists shared powerful insights on the motivations and skills that drive success in biotech and pharma, all agreeing that networking is essential for career development.

• Avinash Venkatanarayan emphasized the importance of translating complex science into real-world treatments for patients. He highlighted that success in pharma is highly collaborative and depends on being results-driven, adaptable, and maintaining a learning mindset.
• Kristen Holmes, PhD, shared that biotech is incredibly fast-paced and team-oriented, where effective communication is key. She advised aligning on messaging when presenting data to leadership, emphasizing the role of team science in working toward shared goals.
• Aurora Seminara, PhD, encouraged everyone to take responsibility for their own career development and learning, practice self-advocacy without fear of speaking to your manager about growth opportunities. She noted that strong people and team skills are invaluable and can open doors to new roles and leadership opportunities.

Student Llaran Turner moderated the discussion.

"Thursday’s Spotlights session was an incredible showcase of insights and inspiration,” said Raquel Salinas, PhD, director of student affairs and career development. “Our four accomplished alumni shared their unique career journeys and invaluable advice, offering diverse perspectives on thriving in science.”

• Caitlin Creasy, MS, PhD, gave attendees a look into her role as a Medical Science Liaison (MSL), emphasizing how communication and networking are essential. She shared how talking to different types of people has been invaluable in building relationships and navigating her fast-paced role.
• Aundrietta Duncan, PhD, took the audience into the dynamic field of biotech, where she’s worn many hats in strategy, discovery, assay development, and more. She encouraged everyone to step out of our comfort zones and embrace learning at every stage.
• Rob Burgess PhD, shared his insights from business development, highlighting the importance of balance between career ambitions and personal life. As he wisely noted, “The only people who will remember you worked late and on weekends will be your family.”
• Suzanne Fuqua, PhD, shared her career journey as a professor in breast cancer research, who has had continuous funding throughout her career. Her keys to success? Positivity, integrity, competitive spirit, perseverance, and a commitment to lifelong learning.

A common theme among all our speakers was the power of continual learning—no matter the field or career stage, there’s always room to grow and evolve.

Special thanks to Kara Hood, PhD, Research Associate at Houston Methodist Research Institute, who introduced Thursday evening’s keynote speaker, John R. Harper, PhD, our 2024 Distinguished Alumnus. Hood received the inaugural GSBS John and Rebekah Harper Fellowship in 2018.

Harper took us through his pioneering work in wound repair and regenerative medicine, shedding light on the science behind innovations that improve tissue reconstruction and replacement. During his presentation, Healing with Science: A Journey in Tissue Repair and Innovation, Harper shared how his work is aimed at promoting tissue regeneration over scarring, making a tangible difference for patients.

In addition to his scientific contributions, he shared a powerful message on the importance of giving back. His career in biotech has not only advanced scientific knowledge and patient care but has also allowed him to support the aspirations of the next generation of scientists. Harper continues to publish and contribute to science in a multitude of ways, showing us the true reach of a meaningful career in biotech.

Adding to the success of the symposium, the career development team organized a first-time networking dinner following Thursday’s sessions, which boosted attendee numbers and interactions with alumni and students.

“Thank you to everyone who spoke and shared their career journeys, attended, and worked behind the scenes to create a memorable experience at this year’s symposium,” said Cherilynn Shadding, PhD, associate dean of graduate education.