The Next Step: Career and Grad School Advice from Our Alumni

We're excited to welcome 2021 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology graduate Nazish Jeffery, PhD to the podcast! Nazish is currently a Bioeconomy Policy Manager with the Federation of American Scientists. She talks about what a career in science policy looks like and how she broke into the space. Nazish on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nazish-jeffery/ Federation of American Scientists: ht...

Kicking off season two of The Next Step is 2022 Toxicology grad Ian Krout, PhD! Ian joins us to talk life as a postdoc at Emory University School of Medicine, why he chose to pursue a postdoc, what were some of the key steps he took before identifying the right opportunity, and more. Ian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ikrout/ Ian on X: https://twitter.com/ADME_Ian If you're intereste...

Kaisha Gonzalez, Ph. D., a 2012 graduate of our Microbiology and Immunology program, joins us to discuss the world of scientific affairs. What does a typical day look like for a senior principal scientist at DiaSorin Molecular LLC? What skills are needed to break into the field? How much communication is involved? She also encourages graduate trainees to be multidisciplinary thinkers and constantl...

David Simon, PhD joins us for this episode The Next Step podcast. He received his doctorate in 2007 from our Microbiology and Immunology program. He went on to work in infectious diseases, eventually receiving a Presidential Commendation in 2021 for his work on Operation Warp Speed, leading a team in charge of shipments of the COVID-19 vaccine all around the world. He talks to us about the importa...

Monique Mendes, Ph. D., postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University and 2020 neuroscience program graduate joins us for the latest episode of The Next Step. She talks about her journey from Jamaica to Rochester, the rewards and challenges that come with being the first black woman to earn a Ph. D. from the Neuroscience Graduate Program here at UofR, the importance of advocating for yourself, her c...

Carissa Childs, PhD, JD is an '05 alum of our Toxicology program. She currently works as senior IP counsel at Amgen, a biotechnology research company. She joins us on the latest episode of The Next Step to discuss her work at Amgen, how her Toxicology Ph. D. prepared her for a career in legal, what resources she took advantage of in graduate school that made her want to pursue law, why it'...

Cassandra Houser, Ph. D., 2022 graduate of our Microbiology and Immunology program, joins us to chat the importance of informational interviews and how they helped her find the right fit, salary negotiation, what she might do differently if she could go back to grad school, and more. Cassandra brings a fresh perspective on the current job market for someone with a specialty in immunotoxicology. If...

On this special episode of The Next Step, several members of the University of Rochester Postdoctoral Association join the podcast to discuss why each of them decided to pursue postdoc opportunities, what exactly the PDA is and how they create a better experience for postdocs at the institution. For more on our trainee groups, writing services, alumni mentorship, events, fellowships and grants, an...

Yin-Yin Wang, a 2015 alum of our microbiology and immunology graduate program, joins us to chat about her journey from grad student to now chief of staff at Viridian Therapeutics, Inc. We also discuss some atypical lessons she learned during the job hunt, as well as some things she might do differently if she could go back to grad school. She talks about the importance of being clear about what yo...

Louben Dorval, Ph. D., a 2021 graduate of our Cellular Molecular and Pharmacology program, joins us to discuss how he built a LinkedIn profile that got recruiters' attention when he was looking for a job. Hear about how he used private messaging and informational interviewing to land his first job out of grad school. He's currently a preclinical scientist at Akero Therapeutics. If you'...

Eric Schott, Ph. D., a 2017 graduate of SMD's Cell Biology of Disease program, joins the podcast to discuss his experience starting a company while finishing up grad school. He also shares some things he would do differently if he could be a grad student again, as well as some of the resources he utilized along the way to help him network and learn the ins and outs of entrepreneurship. If you&...

E'Lissa Flores, Ph. D., a 2018 graduate of SMD's Translational Biomedical Science program, talks about her career journey to working in the non-profit sector, her transition out of graduate school, imposter syndrome, the importance of being your authentic self, and much more. If you're interested in writing services, alumni mentorship, events, fellowships and grants, research ethics, g...