Biotechnology PhD Training Program

UVa

 
 

Communication Skills
See our Communication Skills page


Company Tours and Externships
Merck warmly hosted BTPers on June 11, 2018.  Past tours have been to the FDA, Hemoshear, MedImmune, Abbott Nutrition, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, Merck, ATCC, J Craig Ventor Institute, Va Biotech Research Park, BD Diagnostics, Upstate Biotech, Adenosine Therapeutics, MDS Proteomics.

- Over 47 different companies have hosted BTP trainee externships


Individual Development Plan
- each trainee develops an Individual Development Plan (IDP) using the myIDP template and supporting materials provided by AAAS

  1. -career development needs crystallized by this process should be discussed with at least one of your mentors

  2. -we hold a yearly myIDP workshop in the Fall with Amy Clobes (Director of Professional Development, Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs)


Leadership Skills
- trainees assume a leadership role (organization of an annual community service event, seminars, symposia, newsletter editor, company tour, industrial Q&A panel)


Mentoring Institute
- the Institute is a formalized mentoring program through which STEM faculty and doctoral student are paired based on a number of variables reported through an application process.

- Eligible trainees will be strongly encouraged to apply and will benefit from interactions with faculty mentors from other disciplines


Mentoring Team
Having a team on your side is important.  Comprising the core team is your ‘major mentor’ and dissertation committee.  Other mentoring is provided by:

  1. -a BTP mentor in another field (‘minor mentor’)

  2. -the PI of the BTP

  3. -some trainees may benefit from supplemental mentoring by a faculty member outside the BTP and field (‘Mentoring Institute’)


Networking and Career Mentoring with BTP Grads
- the BTP is fortunate to have a cadre of graduates who remain engaged in the activities and progress of the BTP

  1. -many have participated in career panels, or otherwise provided some tangible benefit to current trainees

  2. -BTP graduates are available for advice

  3. -Check out the Nature piece on peer support: ‘Strength in Numbers’


UVa ‘PhDPlus’
- A new ‘university-wide initiative to prepare students across all disciplines for long-term career success. Core Modules include: PhD + Foundation Series, PhD + Career Design, Communicating Research, Consulting, Data Literacy, Praxis Program, Science Policy, PhD+ Startup Series: Entrepreneurship & Commercialization, Tomorrow’s Professor Today


Resources:
- The Mentoring Institute
- Career Development, Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs
- Alumni Career Services - UVa


Video - iBiology:
- The SARcode Story: How to build a biotech company

Suggested Reading:
- ‘Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In’ by Roger Fisher, William Ury, Bruce Paton






 

Professional Development Offerings