Spring 2021
Thursday, April 22, 2021
1-2 pm ET, Zoom
Promoting STEM Equity and Inclusion through Engagement in Penn-West Philadelphia Partnerships
Richard Carter, EdD and Rita Hodges, MSEd
Netter Center for Community Partnerships, University of Pennsylvania
In this session, representatives from Penn’s Netter Center for Community Partnerships will present opportunities for STEM graduate students to engage meaningfully with the West Philadelphia community. In particular, the Netter Center’s Moelis Access Science program supports partnerships that improve science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education in K12 classrooms, as well as undergraduate and graduate STEM education at Penn. The program’s curriculum approach focuses on facilitating hands-on and inquiry-based science education in public school classrooms, as well as incorporating community-based, problem-solving learning. The classrooms are based in West Philadelphia schools with which the Netter Center has long-standing organizational relationships. In addition, the Educational Pipeline Program, operated by the Perelman School of Medicine in partnership with the Netter Center, Penn’s School of Veterinary Medicine, and 4 public high schools, works to provide mentorship and hands-on education for local high school students while exposing them to a variety of careers in medicine and healthcare. This session will underscore the critical role of higher education partnerships with local K12 schools and communities in helping to realize STEM equity and inclusion.
Tuesday, April 6, 2021
10 – 11 ET, Zoom
Special: Student Highlight
My Journey from Fossil Fuels to Resilience
Robert Fetell
Class of ’21, Earth Science and Class of ’22, Engineering Geology
Earth & Environmental Science, University of Pennsylvania
A presentation on resilience and climate adaptation solutions, viewed through the lens of Robert’s journey that started at Shell International, B.V. in the Netherlands and led him to follow an inner calling to mitigate the consequences of climate change on his hometown of Miami Beach, FL. Robert’s experiences with the City of Miami Beach on resilience improvements taught him engineering solutions to safeguard the existing built environment, and led him to found a nonprofit, the Resilience Youth Network, to unite young people behind climate adaptation. Discussion of these topics will follow with participants.
Friday, March 19, 2021
11 – noon ET, Zoom
The Benefits of an Advanced Science Degree in Business Development
Francisco Buitrago, PhD
Scientist, Arkema Inc.
The job market for scientists and engineers in industry is very broad. From R&D to process development, there are a variety of positions in which a scientific background is essential. Regardless of the industry, all companies have the goal to create new business opportunities by nurturing excellent relationships with customers. Please join me to learn about my experience along the fine line between R&D and Business Development.
Thursday, February 25, 2021
1-2 pm, ET Zoom
Engineering at Penn: A Local History of Materials Science & Contemporary Approaches to STEM Ethics
Brit Shields, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer, Bioengineering Department, School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, University of Pennsylvania
Brit Shields has training as a sociologist and historian of science and currently teaches the undergraduate engineering ethics curriculum at Penn. Her scholarship focuses on the reciprocal relationship between technology and society. This talk will include an overview of the local history of material science at Penn as well as contemporary approaches to STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) ethics education today.
Fall 2020
Friday, December 11, 2020
2-3 pm ET, Zoom
Global Scientific Collaborations: A Key to Scientific Success
Joseph S. Francisco, PhD
President’s Distinguished Professor of Earth and Environmental Science and of Chemistry
University of Pennsylvania
Today, more than ever, research is of an international character, and “globalization” of science research is proceeding rapidly. This has important implications for the sciences. The conditions for science research around the world are continually improving, and thus global collaborations and partnerships can provide rich opportunities to enhance research and training. Diverse views and experiences give internationally connected research groups a significant competitive advantage over geographically limited ones; this is because the integration of different approaches enables much more creativity. Many of the world’s most pressing problems call for global cooperation, such as climate change, food security, public health, infectious diseases ( e.g. COVID-19), or resource conservation and environmental sustainability. Research collaborations across borders will become natural for the next generation of academics, as sharing of facilities will make it easier for them to be more productive. My talk will focus on the benefits of global collaborations and on students preparing for this future.
Wednesday, November 11, 2020
3-4 pm ET, Zoom
Tools for the 21st Century: science policy and diplomacy
Mahlet Mesfin, PhD
Visiting Scholar (2019-2020), Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement
Consultant, National Academy of Science’s Policy and Global Affairs Division
Mahlet Mesfin transitioned from being a PhD student in bioengineering at Penn examining chemical signaling pathways in brain cells after a mechanical injury to working in and representing the U.S. government to address how science and technology can strengthen ties between countries and impact international affairs and foreign policy. Dr. Mesfin will discuss experiences along her career path in science policy and science diplomacy and the ways in which science and scientists will increasingly have a role to play in the challenges that the United States and the world will face in the 21st century.
Wednesday, October 14, 2020
10:30-11:30 am, Zoom
Select materials from this session are linked below.
Intellectual Property and Innovation
Tomás Isakowitz, PhD, Manager, Penn I-Corps and PCI Fellows Program
Pamela Beatrice, Ph.D., Director, PCI Licensing Group
Penn Center for Innovation
This session will provide an overview of intellectual property and its role in technology transfer and of programs for helping the creation of startups based on Penn research. A brief overview of patents and their importance will be provided. Opportunities for Penn graduate students and postdocs to participate in the PCI Fellows Program and Penn I-Corps will be discussed.
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
3:30-4:30 pm EDT, Presentation available here
Applying a technical degree to a career in innovation
Hannah Murnen, PhD, Chief Technology Officer, Compact Membrane Systems
Dr. Murnen has held both technical and business positions across multiple chemical manufacturers, as
well as having served large chemical multinationals in her capacity as an Engagement Manager in
McKinsey’s Chemicals practice. Dr. Murnen will be talking about the different decision points in her
career, how they have led her to where she is now and what she has learned from each of them.
Spring 2020
Thursday, April 23, 2020
3:30-4:30 pm, Zoom delivery
Starting-Up: Technology Innovation and Company Formation
Bhavana Mohanraj, PhD, Assistant Director, PCI Ventures
Dr. Mohanraj will discuss commercialization of novel technologies and the creation of companies. She will share some of the resources of Penn’s PCI Ventures program, as well as insights from her own career path.
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
3:30-4:30 pm
Edited recording here
Your online toolkit for exploring careers and applying for positions as a STEM graduate student or postdoc
Joseph Barber, PhD, Senior Associate Director, Graduate Student/Postdoctoral Fellow Career Advisor, Career Services, University of Pennsylvania
Have you been using CareerShift to identify possible employers in locations and industries that interest you? Are you an expert in navigating the alumni tool on LinkedIn, and then popping over to QuakerNet to find easily accessible contact information? Do you know how to find workplace emails for networking contacts at companies who try their hardest not to share their emails? Have you checked to see if your resume will get passed Applicant Tracking Software at companies using Targeted Resume? Have you given yourself a practice mock interview using InterviewStream and then shared your video with other to get their feedback? If you haven’t heard of these tools, or haven’t yet used them to help support your career exploration and job/internship search, then join us for this to learn about these tools and a few more provided by Career Services.
Thursday, February 27, 2020
3:30-4:30 pm
Reading Room, LRSM Bldg
How to communicate to get what you need (from faculty members and supervisors)
Pablo Cerdera, Associate Director of Restorative Practices, Penn
Marcia Glickman, Deputy Director Office of Student Conduct, Penn
In this workshop, we will practice communication techniques and strategies that you can use to enhance your relationship with mentors, instructors and/or supervisors. Learn how to get what you need and how to better understand what your mentors, instructors, and supervisors need from you using open communication and listening skills.
Thursday, January 30, 2020
3:30-4:30 pm
Reading Room, LRSM Bldg
Science Policy – Opportunities for STEM students and researchers
This session will share information about some of the opportunities for Penn STEM graduate students and postdocs to learn about and/or become involved in science policy in ways that complement or expand their STEM technical training. The Kleinman Center for Energy Policy will share information about its programs and resources. Graduate Students, Zakaria H’sain (Mechanical Engineering) and Steven Neuhaus (Materials Science), will talk about the Penn Science Policy and Diplomacy Group and their experiences with the NSF-funded Science Outside the Lab program. There will be time for discussion—session participants are encouraged to bring questions about science policy and opportunities for broader impact and insights from their own experiences.
Fall 2019
Thursday, December 5, 2019
3:00-4:00 pm
Academics to Industry: Similarities, Differences, and Leveraging Skills to Succeed
Sarah Hann, Ph.D., R&D Specialist
Dow Chemical
I will share my experience in the Chemical Industry and compare it with the general experience of graduate school. The goal of this talk is to help set some expectations for what life can be after graduate school and provide some tips for using your academic experience to succeed in industry. I will speak to my journey in industry so far and give some insight into how different functions within a company can provide very different opportunities depending on your strengths.
Thursday, November 14, 2019
3-4 pm, LRSM Reading Room, 3231 Walnut Street
Intellectual Property and Innovation
Pamela Beatrice, Ph.D., Director, PCI Licensing Group
Tomás Isakowitz, PhD, Manager, Penn I-Corps and PCI Fellows Program
Penn Center for Innovation
This session will provide an overview of intellectual property and its role in technology transfer and of programs for helping the creation of startups based on Penn research. A brief overview of patents and their importance will be provided. Opportunities for Penn graduate students and postdocs to participate in the PCI Fellows Program and Penn I-Corps will be discussed.
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
3-4 pm, LRSM Reading Room, 3231 Walnut Street
Management in a Scientific Career – From people, to projects, to yourself
Jonathan Kiel, Ph.D.
Managing Scientist, Exponent
A career in science will involve managing people (both groups and individuals), projects, and yourself. However, management skills and practices are rarely, if ever, taught or even discussed. This talk will focus on my experiences in learning how to manage from both good and bad managers, and my attempts to put those skills into practice.
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
3-4 pm, Glandt Forum, Singh Center for Nanotechnology
A Perspective on Life After Grad School and Beyond
Gerald Lopez, Ph.D.
Director of Business Development, Singh Center for Nanotechnology
Life after grad school isn’t captured in a singular equation and not should be decided by anyone but yourself. Should I get a job? Pursue a PhD? Become faculty? How can I get from point A to point B? In this open discussion, I’ll speak from my life experience thus far and will openly welcome questions that so many have in common when pursuing advanced degrees and beyond.
Spring 2019
Monday, April 29, 2019Fall 2018
Wednesday, December 5, 2018Spring 2018
Thursday, April 26, 20182-3 pm, Singh Center – Room 035
1:00-2:00 pm, Singh Center – Glandt Forum
1:00 – 2:00 pm, Singh 035
12-1 pm, Room TBA
Kristin Field, Education and Professional Development for the Singh Center and REACT project
Michaile Rainey, Director, Advancing Women in Engineering
Fall 2017
Monday, December 4, 201712:30-1:30 pm, Singh Center, Room 035
Cherie Kagan, PhD Stephen J. Angello Professor, University of Pennsylvania
12:30-1:30 pm, Singh Center, Room 035
Pamela Beatrice, PhD Director, PCI Licensing Group and Tomás Isakowitz, PhD PCI Fellows Program Director
12:30-1:30 pm, Singh Center, Room 035
Sam Nicaise, PhD Postdoctoral Researcher, Bargatin Lab, University of Pennsylvania
Spring 2017
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
1-2 pm, Singh Center, Room 221
The intersection of Science and Policy
Vijay Kumar, PhD Nemirovsky Family Dean of Penn Engineering, University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Kumar is the Nemirovsky Family Dean of Penn Engineering with appointments in the Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Computer and Info Roomation Science, and Electrical and Systems Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. Since joining the faculty in 1987 he has served Penn Engineering in many capacities, including Deputy Dean for Research, Deputy Dean for Education, Chai Rooman of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics and Director of the GRASP Laboratory, a multidisciplinary robotics and perception laboratory. Dr. Kumar has served as the assistant director of robotics and cyber physical systems at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (2012 – 2013). At this Singh Center Professional Development session, he will discuss how science and policy influence each other, how scientists can affect policy and whether or not they should become involved with the political process.
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
1-2 pm, Singh Center, Room 313
Publish or Perish
Georgia C. Papaefthymiou, PhD Professor of Physics, Villanova University
Publication of research results is the main vehicle of communicating and sharing new scientific knowledge and is fundamental for the advancement of Science. In academia, it has become the litmus test of a scientist’s productivity and worth for professional advancement and tenure. Thus, it must be taken very seriously by those who aspire to a career in Academia. In this presentation we will discuss the various stages in the process of manuscript submission and ultimate publication of research results and the roles that authors, reviewers and editors play in this highly interactive process. We will discuss various issues that dete Roomine a successful submission from choosing the appropriate journal to responding to reviewers’ comments and utilizing their valuable input to revise and improve the quality of your original submission.
Thursday, February 23, 2017
1-2 pm, Singh Center, Room 035
From Nonlinear Optics to Watching Paint Dry: How What You Learn in Grad School Can Be Applied in Industry
Heather Eckenrode-Stiffler, PhD Technical Service Manager, Dow Coating Materials, Dow Chemical Company
For many, the graduate school experience gives students a chance to learn about careers in academics. This discussion will focus on giving students some insight into what an industrial career looks like and the skills that are learned in graduate school that are valuable for a career in industry. Dr. Eckenrode-Stiffler will share her experience going from working in the L.R.S.M. on nonlinear optics to working in industry as a technical service manager in coatings. She graduated from UPenn with a PhD in Physical Chemistry. She joined Rohm and Haas Company (now part of the Dow Chemical Company) in 2005 as part of a rotational PhD program. Her roles at Dow have ranged from R&D to her current customer facing role as a technical service manager.
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
1-2 pm, Singh Center, Room 313
How to and why you would ever want to run a technical conference
George Patrick Watson, PhD Director of User Programs, Singh Center for Nanotechnology, University of Pennsylvania
There may be a point in your career where you are asked, or you volunteer, to put together a research conference. This can consume a large part of your life for several months, but it can be incredibly rewarding. I will discuss my experience as the Program Chair of the 2016 EIPBN, a nanotechnology meeting of 400 researchers, why I am glad I did such a crazy thing, and why you should consider running one too.
Fall 2016
Friday, December 9, 2016
12:30-1:30 pm, Singh Center, Room 035
Engineering Consulting as a Career Option
MariAnne Sullivan, PhD Associate, Mechanical Engineering Practice Exponent, Inc.
A possible career path that may be less explored after graduate research is consulting. It is a great way to apply your new PhD knowledge into true engineering applications. MariAnne Sullivan is a recent PhD graduate, and has Materials Engineering degrees from Lehigh University and Auburn University. She is an Associate at Exponent, Inc., located in Philadelphia. Exponent is a multi-disciplinary engineering and scientific consulting fi Room that brings together more than 90 different disciplines to solve important engineering, science, regulatory, and business issues facing our clients. MariAnne will talk about her experience finding a career after graduate school, and will also talk about Exponent as a consulting company.
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
12:30-1:30 pm, Singh Center, Room 221
Intellectual Property and Innovation
Pamela Beatrice, PhD Director, Physical Sciences Licensing, Penn Center for Innovation Tomás Isakowitz, PhD Director, PCI Fellows Program, Penn Center for Innovation, University of Pennsylvania
This session will provide an overview of intellectual property and its role in technology transfer. A brief overview of patents and their importance will be provided. Opportunities for Penn graduate students and postdocs to participate in the PCI Fellows Program will be described.
Thursday, October 20, 2016
12:30-1:30 pm, Singh Building, Room 035
Career Evolution: Turning Change into Opportunity
Lou Graziano, PhD Associate Director of Corporate Outreach for Physical Sciences, Penn Center for Innovation
Setting a career path is smart. But rarely does the path we plan match the road taken. I will give some perspective on my career path and the surprises that came along the way, with an emphasis on embracing the unexpected to create new opportunities.
Thursday, September 29, 2016
12:30-1:30, Singh Center, Room 035
Networking: Tips and Resources
Rosanne Lurie and Rosette Pyne Senior Associate Directors, Career Services, University of Pennsylvania
Networking is frequently listed as one of the most important tools for career building. Why is it so important? Does it really work? What are best practices for successful networking? Career Services’ Senior Associate Directors Rosanne Lurie and Rosette Pyne discuss effective strategies for networking and resources available to build your network and improve your skills.
Spring 2016
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Noon – 1 pm, Singh Center, Room 035
Team Dynamics and Multicultural Communication
Alan M. Barstow, PhD Director and Senior Scholar, Organizational Dynamics Programs, University of Pennsylvania
Science and technology today is perfo Roomed in a global context – from collaborating with international partners to working intimately at the bench with researchers from different countries. How do teams function best when they consist of members from a diversity of nations, backgrounds and/or cultures? How can you have the most impact when you join a professional environment in a foreign culture or country? How can you make your team more productive when you host professionals from other cultures? This session will discuss the intersection of team dynamics and multicultural communication and provide tools for understanding and navigating these environments.
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Noon-1 pm, Singh Center, Room 035
Communicating Science to the Public
Evan Lerner Science News Officer, University of Pennsylvania
Public polls repeatedly show that “scientist” ranks amongst the professions most worthy of respect, so how can we reconcile that fact with the misunderstanding and distrust that seem so pervasive within the scientific issues of the day? More important, how can we remedy this situation? As scientists, you’ve been trained to communicate your work in a very specific way to a very specific audience: your peers and colleagues. In this talk, you’ll learn about ways to translate that kind of communication into language and concepts non-scientists will better understand and appreciate.
Thursday, February 18, 2016
Noon-1 pm, Singh Center, Room 313
This session is co-sponsored by the Institute for Biomedical Info Roomatics
Give me the money: Communicating science to non-academic bosses and funders
Marc Rigas, PhD Managing Director, Penn Institute for Biomedical Info Roomatics
Many Ph.D. scientists go on to non-academic careers in private industry, government, or non-profit foundations. Those who do stay in academic careers must constantly sell their ideas to people at Federal agencies that fund research. These audiences are often knowledgeable and may have a scientific background, but their motivations and interests will be different than academic colleagues from your discipline. In this short session, we will begin to think about how you craft your message about complex research or scientific topics so that others will support what you want to do in your professional career. Dr. Rigas will share insights drawn from his experience as a researcher and from 13 years in research program administration at NIH, NSF and at Penn.
Friday, January 22, 2016
Noon – 1 pm, Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter, Reading Room
Innovation: the intersection of technology and the zeitgeist: A view from a Research Fellow in a consumer product company
Russel M. Walters, PhD Research Associate Director, Fellow, Johnson & Johnson
This session will share the career path and new skills gained by a research fellow in a personal products company. Dr. Walters, a University of Pennsylvania Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department alumnus, will give an evolutionary perspective on technology change and the development and launching of new products for consumers.