Propel Careers

May 21st FILS Event: Overview of Clinical Development, Regulatory, and Medical Affairs Career Paths

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:43:00 -0400

On May 21st 2013 from 5:30-8:00pm, we will hold the 5th event of the 2013 FILS series. This event will focus on life sciences career paths in Clinical Development, Regulatory and Medical affairs for individuals with graduate degrees. Panel members from Evidence Scientific Solutions, Halloran Consulting Group, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals will join us. During this event, the panel members will share their experiences across clinical development, regulatory and medical affairs and they will provide tips for individuals looking to develop their careers in these areas and they will discuss the skills and competencies needed to thrive in this sector. We have a wonderful panel assembled to share insights. This event will be held at the MassBio Offices, 300 Tech Square, 8th Floor, and Cambridge, MA from 5:30-8:00pm. To register for this event, click here: http://fils52013-eorg.eventfizz.com The FILS Event Series is open to current graduate student (MBA, MPH, JD, Eng, Ph.D., MD etc,), postdoctoral fellow, or medical resident, interested in learning about the variety of career paths in the industry. Together, Propel Careers, MassBio, and MassBioEd are committed to fostering the next generation of industry leaders in the life sciences. We look forward to seeing you there! Meeting Agenda: 5:30pm-6:00pm: Registration and Open Networking; 6:00pm-6:10pm: Introductions, Overview, and Recognition of Sponsors; 6:10pm-7:30pm: Panel Discussion, 7:30pm-8:00pm: Open Networking. The Futures in Life Science (FILS) Seminar Series is a year-long event series, created in 2011 by Propel Careers, MassBio, and the MassBioEd, to promote the variety of career paths ranging from research and development to marketing and commercialization that exist in the Massachusetts Life Science Industry for individuals with graduate degrees. We believe that the career paths that exist in the Massachusetts Life Science Industry are numerous, exciting, and rewarding and that it is imperative that students considering these careers be well informed regarding the areas that their education and training are relevant. The year-long program provides in-depth overviews of specific careers in the life science industry that often require advanced degrees. We have focused on covering the various functional areas in the life sciences sector including, R&D, consulting, product management, business development, marketing, clinical, regulatory, medical affairs, bioinformatics, systems biology, modeling, pharmacoeconomics, reimbursement, patient advocacy, market access, finance, legal, and operations. Most graduate students and post-docs are well prepared to take numerous directions in their careers, and it is our intent to provide a comprehensive understanding of the aptitudes and work environments that are associated with specific career paths, so that the individuals who attend these events can make more informed career decisions. We are also big believers in the power of connections and networking, so each seminar will have specific time set aside to meet the presenters and the attendees and to develop relationships that will be an asset to those in attendance. The program has an average attendance of 80 individuals per event. Each event has a panel discussion comprised of industry leaders who provide an overview of the life sciences landscape and various career opportunities, which exist in the industry. The individual seminars are scheduled to accommodate the academic school year with a focus on the technical or scientific expertise that is relevant to each area and the typical work environment associated with common roles. For more details on the series, visit the Propel Careers Website, click here: http://www.propelcareers.com/index.cfm/events Full FILS 2013 Series Event Schedule. January 15th, 2013. Futures in Life Sciences Program ? Overview of Life Sciences Career Paths. To read the event blog: http://www.propelcareers.com/blog/index.cfm/2013/1/7/Jan-15th-2013-FILS-Event-Overview-of-Life-Sciences-Career-Paths February 19th, 2013. Futures in Life Science Series - Consulting Career Paths in the Life Science Industry. To read the event blog: http://www.propelcareers.com/blog/index.cfm/2013/2/4/Feb-19th-FILS-Event--Overview-of-Consulting-Career-Paths-in-the-Life-Science-Industry March 19th, 2013. Futures in Life Science Series -Commercialization 1 (Marketing, Product Management, Business Development) Career Paths. To Read the event blog: http://www.propelcareers.com/blog/index.cfm/2013/4/2/March-19-FILS-Blog-writeup-Marketing-Product-Management-Business-Development-Careers-By-Ana-Bozas April 16th, 2013. Futures in Life Sciences Program ? Research and Development. May 21st, 2013 Futures in Life Sciences Program ? Clinical Development, Regulatory, and Medical Affairs. To Register: http://fils52013-eorg.eventfizz.com/ September 17th, 2013. Bio-Informatics, Modeling and Systems Biology Career Paths. To Register: http://fils92013-eorg.eventfizz.com/ October 15th, 2013. Commercialization 2 (Reimbursement, Pharmacoeconomics, Patient Advocacy, and Market Access) Career Paths. To Register: http://fils102013-eorg.eventfizz.com/ November 12th, 2013. Finance, Legal, Operations Career Paths. To Register: http://fils112013-eorg.eventfizz.com/

March 19 FILS Blog writeup: Marketing, Product Management, Business Development Careers By Ana Bozas

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:59:00 -0400

Below is the Blog write-up from the March 19th Futures in Life Sciences Event focused on Commercial Career Paths in the life sciences sector (Marketing, Product Management, and Business Development). On March 19, 2013 Propel Careers, MassBio, and the MassBioEd presented the third installment for 2013 in the Futures in Life Sciences career exploration seminars targeted at the graduate degree holders in life sciences (and related or intersecting fields). The seminar's topic was commercialization, encompassing the business development, product management and marketing career paths for life sciences graduates. A picture video of the event is at the following link: http://video214.com/play/33el4xoPcdN2eh4zUrI0Kw/s/dark . To register for the upcoming event focusing on life sciences career paths in Research and Development (in an industrial setting), on April 16th 2013, click here: http://fils42013-eorg.eventfizz.com/ The companies represented by the panel speakers were smaller and mid-sized companies, Pronota, a Belgian biomarker discovery and development company; SciFluor Life Sciences, a company focusing on fluorine chemistry technology to generate small molecule drugs with improved pharmacological profiles; the T1D Exchange, a nonprofit hub of industry, medical and patient resources for people touched by type 1 diabetes; and ARIAD, a local mid-size oncology biotech company. Many of the panelists previously worked at larger companies so they were able to share their insight and experiences working in this environment also. The moderator for the event was Lauren Celano, CEO of Propel Careers, and the speaker panel consisted of Tiffany Burt, Associate Director at ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Arthur Hiller, CEO of SciFluor Life Sciences, LLC; Carol Greve-Philips, Chief Business Officer at Pronota; and Imran Nasrullah, Head of Strategic Alliances at the T1D Exchange. A common characteristic of this seminar's panel is that the majority of speakers were seasoned veterans of the industry, possessing, on average, over 20 years in the industry, and an impressive set of credentials, through numerous senior roles in the biotechnology and pharmaceuticals space. Below is a summary of the topics that were discussed and the speakers' thoughts and advice for the audience. Question: What do you typically do at work on a daily basis? All panelists described their work activities as containing an element of business development (find business partners, find interesting technologies, connect with people relevant to business interests), strategic planning (analyze your position versus the competitors' in the field, think about how your company's products meet the target market's needs, devise agreements needed to support partnerships with other companies or organizations) and commercial perspective analysis (think about future trends in the industry, create platforms to support either the disease or the company's product as a long-term approach, think about your brand in the marketplace). Ultimately, all these activities involve a lot of research of the current market status, a strong element of connecting with your target audience (patients and/or the research community) and constant thinking about future trends and possibilities for your company and your brand. Question: How do you build your contact network? All panelists agree that networking is crucial to the business world, and particularly to commercialization roles. As you embark upon a life sciences career, it is important to start building relationships with the industry: join professional organizations, meet peers and senior people in the target field at conferences and seminars, develop a professional social networking profile, starting with LinkedIn , keep in touch with industry news, and pass on relevant information to the people in your virtual network. Some useful tips about maintaining good networking habits are to periodically devote a specific amount of time for networking (for example, 1h per week), to update your LinkedIn profile regularly, and to participate in industry group discussions and forums. Question: What are the top three skills you need to be successful in your role? The speakers stressed the importance of excellent communication skills, emotional intelligence and being able to see the big picture to perceive industry or future technology trends, as three crucial abilities for people interested in commercialization. Communication skills do not just include the ability to reach others, interact, listen and explain various facets of industry work, but also the ability to write well, clearly, succinctly and grammatically correct. Emotional intelligence is important in understanding the intentions, motivations and desires of other people, to enable effective management and to successfully interact with them (persuade or negotiate). The ability to build trust in all your interactions with your connections is an important emotional intelligence skill. Finally, seeing the big picture is important for the strategic aspect of commercialization. This helps to be able to see opportunities the competition is missing, and also to make the needed investments in technology and/or human capital for tomorrow's success. Question: What are the differences and similarities between working at small versus large companies? Large companies offer huge resources, lots of expertise, experience and opportunities, while small companies offer versatility, nimbleness in adjusting to market changes, and the opportunity to try a lot of things in a short amount of time. A large company can easily maintain course and growth without having to take additional risks, but a small company must take risks in order to move forward and grow. If you want to work for a small company, you have to be comfortable with the idea of risk, and to be able to juggle many responsibilities. On the other hand, if you are just starting your career in business and want to first test the waters, joining a larger company can provide an opportunity to learn about a specific functional area and build experience, through a more formal training process. Question: What top three things should you look for when considering a fit with a role or company? The top three considerations when analyzing your fit with a new role or company are: (1) the company/team's culture ? how well does the work environment mesh with your personality?; (2) the technology, the skills, the mission ? are you interested in what the company does and why? Is the job description appealing to you in terms of the skills you'd be developing?; and (3) the opportunity to grow and to learn new skills ? are you going to develop a career from this initial starting point? Question: What important trends do you see happening in the near future in the life sciences field? The panelists indicate that the important trends in the field point to bigger patient involvement in product development and treatment options, a move towards even more personalized medicine, and an increase in the use of evidence-based medicine to choose a drug for a particular disease. Finally, there will be an increased reliance on "Big Data" and the analysis of patterns of use and success can lead to new breakthroughs in disease management and better drug development. From the audience: How do you stay competitive in a field that changes fast (even before you graduate out of school)? Polish your transferable skills (in commercialization, those are the three skills needed to succeed discussed previously), and learn how to recognize an opportunity to develop a career. Take risks, stay open to possibilities, and know when you need to evolve (before your job becomes obsolete). Remain adaptable. Question: How do you transition from academia to a sales and marketing / business development role? There are many roads to business development, but most panelists have had some experience with sales. If you want to start in a commercialization role directly from a PhD, ask managers interested in hiring PhDs what they find valuable in such a background, and then highlight those strengths on your resume and cover letter. Conduct lots of informational interviews to build your resume in the desired direction/format, and learn to market yourself.

April 16th FILS Event: Overview of Research and Development Career Paths Event

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:11:00 -0400

On April 16th 2013 from 5:30-8:00pm, we will hold the 4th event of the 2013 FILS series. This event will focus on life sciences career paths in Research and Development for individuals with graduate degrees. Panel members from Synta Pharmaceuticals, Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Satori Pharmaceuticals and Novartis will join us. During this event, the panel members will share their experiences across research and development, they will provide tips for individuals looking to develop their careers in these areas and they will discuss the skills and competencies needed to thrive in this sector. We have a wonderful panel assembled to share insights. All events in this series will be held at the MassBio Offices, 300 Tech Square, 8th Floor, and Cambridge, MA from 5:30-8:00pm. To register for this event, click here: http://fils42013-eorg.eventfizz.com/. The FILS Event Series is open to current graduate student (MBA, MPH, JD, Eng, Ph.D., MD etc,), postdoctoral fellow, or medical resident, interested in learning about the variety of career paths in the industry. Together, Propel Careers, MassBio, and MassBioEd are committed to fostering the next generation of industry leaders in the life sciences. We look forward to seeing you there! Meeting Agenda 5:30pm-6:00pm: Registration and Open Networking; 6:00pm-6:10pm: Introductions, Overview, and Recognition of Sponsors; 6:10pm-7:30pm: Panel Discussion, 7:30pm-8:00pm: Open Networking. The Futures in Life Science (FILS) Seminar Series is a year-long event series, created in 2011 by Propel Careers, MassBio, and the MassBioEd, to promote the variety of career paths ranging from research and development to marketing and commercialization that exist in the Massachusetts Life Science Industry for individuals with graduate degrees. We believe that the career paths that exist in the Massachusetts Life Science Industry are numerous, exciting, and rewarding and that it is imperative that students considering these careers be well informed regarding the areas that their education and training are relevant. The year-long program provides in-depth overviews of specific careers in the life science industry that often require advanced degrees. We have focused on covering the various functional areas in the life sciences sector including, R&D, consulting, product management, business development, marketing, clinical, regulatory, medical affairs, bioinformatics, systems biology, modeling, pharmacoeconomics, reimbursement, patient advocacy, market access, finance, legal, and operations. Most graduate students and post-docs are well prepared to take numerous directions in their careers, and it is our intent to provide a comprehensive understanding of the aptitudes and work environments that are associated with specific career paths, so that the individuals who attend these events can make more informed career decisions. We are also big believers in the power of connections and networking, so each seminar will have specific time set aside to meet the presenters and the attendees and to develop relationships that will be an asset to those in attendance. The program has an average attendance of 80 individuals per event. Each event has a panel discussion comprised of industry leaders who provide an overview of the life sciences landscape and various career opportunities which exist in the industry. The individual seminars are scheduled to accommodate the academic school year with a focus on the technical or scientific expertise that is relevant to each area and the typical work environment associated with common roles. For more details on the series, visit the Propel Careers Website, click here: http://www.propelcareers.com/index.cfm/events/ Full FILS 2013 Series Event Schedule. All events are held from 5:30-8pm at MassBio offices in Kendall Sq. January 15th, 2013. Futures in Life Sciences Program ? Overview of Life Sciences Career Paths. To read the event blog: http://www.propelcareers.com/blog/index.cfm/2013/1/7/Jan-15th-2013-FILS-Event-Overview-of-Life-Sciences-Career-Paths February 19th, 2013. Futures in Life Science Series - Consulting Career Paths in the Life Science Industry. To read the event blog: http://www.propelcareers.com/blog/index.cfm/2013/2/4/Feb-19th-FILS-Event--Overview-of-Consulting-Career-Paths-in-the-Life-Science-Industry March 19th, 2013. Futures in Life Science Series -Commercialization 1 (Marketing, Product Management, Business Development) Career Paths. To Register: http://fils32013-eorg.eventfizz.com/ April 16th, 2013. Futures in Life Sciences Program ? Research and Development. To Register: http://fils42013-eorg.eventfizz.com/ May 21st, 2013. Futures in Life Sciences Program ? Clinical Development, Regulatory, and Medical Affairs. To Register: http://fils52013-eorg.eventfizz.com/ September 17th, 2013. Bio-Informatics, Modeling and Systems Biology Career Paths. Registration Details will be available shortly October 15th, 2013. Commercialization 2 (Reimbursement, Pharmacoeconomics, Patient Advocacy, and Market Access) Career Paths. Registration Details will be available shortly. November 12th, 2013. Finance, Legal, Operations Career Paths. Registration Details will be available shortly.

Event Writeup: February 19, 2013 Futures in Life Sciences:Consulting Career Paths Event by Ana Bozas

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 09:19:00 -0400

Each month Propel Careers, MassBio, and the MassBioEd organize a networking event and panel presentation to discuss a specific subset of potential careers for graduate students, medical residents, and postdoctoral fellows in the life sciences field. To see the event schedule, click here: http://www.propelcareers.com/index.cfm/events/ The topic of this month's panel talk, sponsored by MASS AWIS, was the pursuit of a career in the field of consulting. To see a picture video of the event, click here: http://video214.com/play/OcK31rstrEGGukNbgjPA9w/s/dark. To register for the upcoming event focusing on business development, product management and marketing roles in life sciences, click here: http://fils32013-eorg.eventfizz.com/ The firms represented a broad spectrum of the consulting field: they ranged from small, specialized boutique life sciences-oriented firms to megalithic, large conglomerate consulting entities. The panel moderator was Rob Lowrance, Sr. Consultant/Sr. Business Analyst at Collaborative Consulting. Panel speakers included Matthew Winton, Engagement Manager at the Campbell Alliance, Emily Walsh, Principal Consultant at the Halloran Consulting Group, Inc., Jessica Yecies, Consultant at ClearView Healthcare Partners, and Bill Chiodetti, Senior Consultant at Deloitte Consulting. For the most part, this seminar series' speakers were professionals in the early phase of their careers. The consulting profession tends to bracket a life science professional's career; there are two typical tracks: one for associates/junior consultants just starting a professional career, and one for partners/principal consultants, capping a long and successful industry career with a consultant role. For the early career immersion track, candidates start at the level of junior consultant right after a PhD/MBA or postdoctoral training period (people without graduate degrees may start at the associate level, and are usually recruited at career fairs on campus.) Though this wasn't discussed during the seminar, early career consultants typically stay in their first job for 2-5 years, and then move up the career ladder at their firm or into managerial roles within companies in the industry. For some of the insights on the consulting profession that FILS invitees have shared with the audience, please see the Question & Answer session below. 1. What is the focus of your firm? The Halloran Consulting Group and ClearView Healthcare Partners are boutique life sciences-oriented firms, located in Boston. The Halloran Consulting Group typically focuses on client companies that are developing novel therapeutics or devices and they support clients with project management, developing quality systems and helping with the efficient running of clinical trials. ClearView Healthcare Partners is mostly a life sciences (pharmaceutical, biotechnology, some medical device industry involvement) and strategy-focused boutique firm; it provides a full spectrum of services, from due diligence to launch strategy to indication prioritization. The Campbell Alliance and Collaborative Consulting are mid-size companies, with offices in multiple locations across the US (and Europe for Campbell Alliance.) While Campbell Alliance specializes exclusively in the life sciences sector, providing a continuum of services for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries, Collaborative Consulting specializes in management and Informational Technology consulting services, providing not only engineering and software expertise, but also focused services targeted at the life sciences sector, such as commercial analytics and data management services. Consultants working for this firm are technologists, with deep industry knowledge. Finally, Deloitte Consulting is the second biggest consulting firm (after IBM) at 193,000 people (and first among the Big Four Accounting firms), with offices all over the world. Deloitte is known for its human capital, strategy & operations, technology and financial consulting service offerings, but it presents many other specialized industry services, including for the life sciences sector. In recent "local" news, Deloitte has just acquired the strategy consulting firm Monitor Group's holdings (whose headquarters were located in Cambridge.) Deloitte is a highly matrixed organization, arranged in industry verticals - consumer industrial products, healthcare and life sciences, Department of Defense contract work - and across those verticals they have specific service lines: strategy, service operations, supply chain and logistics, technology consulting and large HR management. 2. What does your day-to-day work look like? The consulting experience is different at each company: while some consultants rarely leave the home office and only deal with clients remotely (teleconferencing) or in rare on-site visits , others spend 4 out of 5 working days traveling to the client's site , with the fifth day devoted to corporate responsibility and leadership projects (volunteering, teaching, serving on committees and networking.) Yet others manage a combination of both: i.e. embedding a senior member of their team into the client's site, so they can better observe local operations and help fine-tune the process. When candidates consider firms, they should consider what type of client engagement / working relationship the firm has, to ensure this aligns with their expectations and preferences. 3. Was there a defining moment that brought this field to your mind as a good fit for you? Most of the panelists found their passion for consulting early in their careers: some had a PI that founded biotechnology start-ups or recommended consulting based on the student's proven ability in class, another speaker participated in consulting seminars and case study training sessions on campus, and finally another panelist discovered that she liked managing multiple projects and lab agendas during her postdoctoral training period. 4. Aside from a specific functional skill or expertise, what skills help you succeed in the consulting world? Regardless of the company's size, the skills required to be a great consultant are the ability to communicate effectively, to mange projects and time efficiently, to have a service oriented personality, ability e network well and often and to show flexibility. Also, an important skill is the ability to take in large amounts of information in a short amount of time and to be able to distill that information to a few key points. (The famous 80/20 rule of consulting states that you need to focus on the 20% that's the most important part of your information intake and be able to skip or let go of the other "irrelevant" 80%.) 5. Give us an example of a good and a bad experience on the job Though the life experiences and the consulting companies' focuses were different, the good versus bad project experiences were surprisingly similar for most of the panel speakers: a good project was one where the client had realistic expectations of a consultant's role in their business and could openly discuss the issues to be tackled, while a bad project usually became so only when a client proved difficult in the sense that the consultant had to justify the need to be brought in at all, or where the consultant was caught between warring factions at the client site. In terms of technical difficulty, a good project was one where it addressed the consultant's area of expertise or personal passion, while a worse-off project would be one where the general background was in a completely unfamiliar field and it happened to be one which was of no great interest to the consultant. 6. What would your advice be to people interested in joining the consulting field? There were two types of advice for newcomers to the field: prior to choosing a future employer and career trajectory, do your research! Graduate students are very good at researching their thesis thoroughly ? do the same for a potential employer: look up details on the company (company's focus and scope, size, employee types, degrees, pay, culture, business news, history, clients of the firm, interesting cases, areas of expansion for the company, areas of strength.) Figure out where you'd fit in this scheme. Here comes in handy the second type of advice: know who you are, what your "brand" is and what strong assets you bring to a potential employer. This is something you should keep an eye on not just at the beginning of a career, but throughout, as you add new skills and build an expert persona. Maximize the opportunities that come along, focus on building your career, and always have a good reason for doing projects and making decisions - build a narrative of your career. Practice your pitch and your accomplishments narrative. 7. How important has networking been to your career trajectory? All panelists agree: networking is critical to your job and your career. Three out of four panelists got their jobs through networking. Here are a few tips they shared with the audience regarding how to network effectively: Don't just network generically, i.e. passing business cards to as many people as you can meet. Rather, make genuine connections with people; talk to them, learn about their company and job needs and think about what value you can add for those connections... In the small-world life sciences community of Boston, people move around in the same circles, paths will cross again, future clients may be job seekers today etc. Treat everybody with courtesy and generosity. Always use the opportunity to meet somebody new and build bridges: never ignore potential connections, even people you met on interviews for jobs you didn't take... 8. From the audience - about your company: How do PhD's fit in? Do MBA's need a life sciences background? All five companies hire PhDs, though some will provide a training period to acquaint them with the company's policies and business models, while others expect them to hit the ground running. For MBA graduates without a life sciences background, a larger firm can be a better fit because the majority of their operations are in other fields. The boutique consulting companies either hire only life sciences graduates because that's the focus of the company and a background understanding of the material is crucial to the day-to-day work, or they hire mostly industry experts, at which point possessing an MBA straight out of school is insufficient to perform the job adequately. Is the business jargon necessary for hiring and can it be easily acquired after joining the company? Mastering the business language is not necessary for being offered the job, but it does help both in making the points more clearly across a broad audience, as well as establishing credibility in the business world. For those who do not have some level of familiarity with common business terms, the learning curve is reasonable; specific terms get picked up quickly during the course of the first couple of months. The panelists suggest that the candidates familiarize themselves with business terminology before applying to the job, not to impress potential interviewers, but in order to gain a better understanding of the business world and the company they're targeting for employment. An effective way of accomplishing this strategy is by taking short seminars on consulting or business, and by participating in case study workshops on campus and online. How much travel is required/expected in your area? While larger global firms tend to expect their consultants to travel quite a lot during the course of the job (an average of 4 days per week), other companies, such as the boutique life sciences consulting firms , are mostly home office-based, and a consultant can expect to travel 1-2 days per month. Some companies do not have a clearly spelled out statement on the issue of travel, as it happens on a case-by-case basis, so there it's important to either show a lot of flexibility in your scheduling needs and expectations, or to thoroughly discuss both the company's and the candidate's travel prospects during the interview process. What the take-home message for an aspiring consultant? Do your homework before the job interview ? methodically research the company's culture and needs, as well as its expectations of the candidate for the role - and, on the job, be a good communicator and very adaptable to new and unexpected situations.

March 19th FILS Event: Overview of Career Paths in BD, Product Management and Marketing

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 17:41:00 -0400

On March 19th 2013 from 5:30-8:00pm, we will hold the 3rd event of the 2013 FILS series. This event will focus on life sciences career paths in the business development, product management, and marketing areas for individuals with graduate degrees. We will be joined by panel members from Sanofi, SciFluor, Pronota, and T1D Exchange. During this event, the panel will share their experiences across business development, product management, marketing, and commercial development, and will provide tips for individuals looking to develop their careers in these areas. The panel will discuss the skills and competencies needed to thrive in this sector and growth opportunities that exist. We have a wonderful panel assembled to share insights. All events in the FILS series are held at the MassBio Offices, 300 Tech Square, 8th Floor, Cambridge, MA from 5:30-8:00pm. To register for this event, click here: http://fils32013-eorg.eventfizz.com/. The FILS Event Series, is open to current graduate student (MBA, MPH, JD, Eng, Ph.D., MD etc,), post doctoral fellow, or medical resident, interested in learning about the variety of career paths in the industry. Together, Propel Careers, MassBio, and MassBioEd are committed to fostering the next generation of industry leaders in the life sciences. We look forward to seeing you there! Meeting Agenda 5:30pm-6:00pm ? Registration and Open Networking; 6:00pm-6:10pm ? Introductions, Overview, and Recognition of Sponsors; 6:10pm-7:30pm ? Panel Discussion - 7:30pm-8:00pm ? Open Networking The Futures in Life Science (FILS) Seminar Series is a year-long event series, created in 2011 by Propel Careers, MassBio, and the MassBioEd, to promote the variety of career paths ranging from research and development to marketing and commercialization that exist in the Massachusetts Life Science Industry for individuals with graduate degrees. We believe that the career paths that exist in the Massachusetts Life Science Industry are numerous, exciting, and rewarding and that it is imperative that students considering these careers be well informed regarding the areas that their education and training are relevant. The year-long program provides in-depth overviews of specific careers in the life science industry that often require advanced degrees. We have focused on covering the various functional areas in the life sciences sector including, R&D, consulting, product management, business development, marketing, clinical, regulatory, medical affairs, bioinformatics, systems biology, modeling, pharmacoeconomics, reimbursement, patient advocacy, market access, finance, legal, and operations. Most graduate students and post-docs are well prepared to take numerous directions in their careers, and it is our intent to provide a comprehensive understanding of the aptitudes and work environments that are associated with specific career paths, so that the individuals who attend these events can make more informed career decisions. We are also big believers in the power of connections and networking, so each seminar will have specific time set aside to meet the presenters and the attendees and to develop relationships that will be an asset to those in attendance. The program has an average attendance of 80 individuals per event. Each event has a panel discussion comprised of industry leaders who provide an overview of the life sciences landscape and various career opportunities which exist in the industry. The individual seminars are scheduled to accommodate the academic school year with a focus on the technical or scientific expertise that is relevant to each area and the typical work environment associated with common roles. For more details on the series, visit the Propel Careers Website, click here: http://www.propelcareers.com/index.cfm/events/ Full FILS 2013 Series Event Schedule. All events are held from 5:30-8pm at MassBio offices in Kendall Sq. January 15th, 2013. Futures in Life Sciences Program ? Overview of Life Sciences Career Paths. To Register: http://fils12013-eorg.eventfizz.com/ February 19th, 2013. Futures in Life Science Series - Consulting Career Paths in the Life Science Industry. To Register: http://fils22013-eorg.eventfizz.com/ March 19th, 2013. Futures in Life Science Series -Commercialization 1 (Marketing, Product Management, Business Development) Career Paths. To Register: http://fils32013-eorg.eventfizz.com/ April 16th, 2013. Futures in Life Sciences Program ? Research and Development. To Register: http://fils42013-eorg.eventfizz.com/ May 21st, 2013. Futures in Life Sciences Program ? Clinical Development, Regulatory, and Medical Affairs. To Register: http://fils52013-eorg.eventfizz.com/ September 17th, 2013. Bio-Informatics, Modeling and Systems Biology Career Paths. Registration Details will be available shortly October 15th, 2013. Commercialization 2 (Reimbursement, Pharmacoeconomics, Patient Advocacy, and Market Access) Career Paths. Registration Details will be available shortly. November 12th, 2013. Finance, Legal, Operations Career Paths. Registration Details will be available shortly.

Feb 19th FILS Event: Overview of Consulting Career Paths in the Life Science Industry

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 11:36:00 -0400

On February 19th 2013 from 5:30-8:00pm, we will hold the 2nd event of the 2013 FILS series. This event will focus on life sciences consulting career paths for individuals with graduate degrees. We will be joined by panel members from Collaborative Consulting, Clearview Healthcare Partners, Deloitte Consulting, and Campbell Alliance. During this event, we will discuss topics including, the types of opportunities that exist in the consulting sector, the difference between larger firms and boutique firms, the types of projects that these firms engage in, and the skills and competencies needed to thrive in this sector. We have a wonderful panel assembled to share insights. All events in this series will be held at the MassBio Offices, 300 Tech Square, 8th Floor, Cambridge, MA from 5:30-8:00pm. To register for this event, click here: http://fils22013-eorg.eventfizz.com/. The FILS Event Series, is open to current graduate student (MBA, MPH, JD, Eng, Ph.D., MD etc,), post doctoral fellow, or medical resident, interested in learning about the variety of career paths in the industry. Together, Propel Careers, MassBio, and MassBioEd are committed to fostering the next generation of industry leaders in the life sciences. We look forward to seeing you there! The Futures in Life Science (FILS) Seminar Series is a year-long event series, created in 2011 by Propel Careers, MassBio, and the MassBioEd, to promote the variety of career paths ranging from research and development to marketing and commercialization that exist in the Massachusetts Life Science Industry for individuals with graduate degrees. We believe that the career paths that exist in the Massachusetts Life Science Industry are numerous, exciting, and rewarding and that it is imperative that students considering these careers be well informed regarding the areas that their education and training are relevant. The year-long program provides in-depth overviews of specific careers in the life science industry that often require advanced degrees. We have focused on covering the various functional areas in the life sciences sector including, R&D, consulting, product management, business development, marketing, clinical, regulatory, medical affairs, bioinformatics, systems biology, modeling, pharmacoeconomics, reimbursement, patient advocacy, market access, finance, legal, and operations. Most graduate students and post-docs are well prepared to take numerous directions in their careers, and it is our intent to provide a comprehensive understanding of the aptitudes and work environments that are associated with specific career paths, so that the individuals who attend these events can make more informed career decisions. We are also big believers in the power of connections and networking, so each seminar will have specific time set aside to meet the presenters and the attendees and to develop relationships that will be an asset to those in attendance. The program has an average attendance of 80 individuals per event. Each event has a panel discussion comprised of industry leaders who provide an overview of the life sciences landscape and various career opportunities which exist in the industry. The individual seminars are scheduled to accommodate the academic school year with a focus on the technical or scientific expertise that is relevant to each area and the typical work environment associated with common roles. For more details on the series, visit the Propel Careers Website, click here: http://www.propelcareers.com/index.cfm/events/ Full FILS 2013 Series Event Schedule: January 15th, 2013. Futures in Life Sciences Program ? Overview of Life Sciences Career Paths. Location: MassBio Offices, 300 Tech Square, 8th Floor, Cambridge, MA. Time: 5:30-8:00pm. February 19th, 2013. Futures in Life Science Series - Consulting Career Paths in the Life Science Industry. Location: MassBio Offices, 300 Tech Square, 8th Floor, Cambridge MA. Time: 5:30-8:00pm. To Register: http://fils22013-eorg.eventfizz.com/ March 19th, 2013. Futures in Life Science Series -Commercialization 1 (Marketing, Product Management, Business Development) Career Paths Location: MassBio Offices, 300 Tech Square, 8th Floor, Cambridge MA. Time: 5:30-8:00pm. To Register: http://fils32013-eorg.eventfizz.com/ April 16th, 2013. Futures in Life Sciences Program ? Research and Development. Registration Details will be available shortly. May 21st, 2013. Futures in Life Sciences Program ? Clinical Development, Regulatory, and Medical Affairs. Registration Details will be available shortly. September 17th, 2013. Bio-Informatics, Modeling and Systems Biology Career Paths. Registration Details will be available shortly October 15th, 2013. Commercialization 2 (Reimbursement, Pharmacoeconomics, Patient Advocacy, and Market Access) Career Paths. Registration Details will be available shortly. November 12th, 2013. Finance, Legal, Operations Career Paths. Registration Details will be available shortly.

Blog writeup from Jan 15 Overview of Life Sciences Career Paths - FILS Seminar

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 10:08:00 -0400

Jan 15 Overview of Life Sciences Career Paths Blog Writeup - Futures in Life Science (FILS) Seminar Series. By Ana Bozas. On Jan 15, 2013, Propel Careers, MassBio, and the MassBioEd presented the first of the year-long series of career discovery seminars they co-organize: The Futures in Life Science (FILS) Seminar Series. These seminars combine a networking event with a panel talk by 4-5 experts in various life sciences fields. To see a picture video of the event, click here: http://video214.com/play/JdgFxj36wPFk2zvq6KhKCA/s/dark. To learn more about the series, see the following link: http://www.propelcareers.com/index.cfm/events/. This particular panel's invitees were deliberately drawn from a very broad array of life sciences fields as a preview of the potential careers to be discussed at future presentations during the year to come. The speakers represented the research industry, not-for-profit organization leadership, clinical trial management, venture capital and law career options for life sciences graduates. John Hallinan, CBO MassBio was the moderator, and the panelists were: Stephen L. Altieri (associate at Cooley LLP), Nessan Bermingham (entrepreneur-in-residence at Atlas Venture, Monsanto Seed Fund Alliance Advisor and Advisor to the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine), Rita Viegas (Clinical Trial Manager at Biogen Idec) and Erin Whalen (Lab Head and Project Team Leader at Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research.) Here are some of the key questions the speakers discussed: 1. How did you find or choose your career? Both friends and mentors (typically the first graduate advisor) were instrumental in opening doors for our panelists. Serendipity, despite lack of knowledge of options, played a big role in the choice of that first career away from the academic milieu; further career choices hinged upon gathering of information about other areas of interest and networking. Networking and mentoring: how important are they to personal development? All panelists agree that networking is a key ingredient of successful career building. However, they caution to not just focus on numbers, but rather on quality: it's important to make true connections, to meet people that resonate with you on a personal level. A good way of going about it is to have coffee or lunch meetings - to have one-on-one meetings with people and build trust. Mentoring is equally, if not more important to career development: one can find a mentor everywhere, but for that a certain awareness of your surroundings is needed. Every person you meet, in an environment that you like or that interests you, can be a mentor. Mentoring is also not being bound to just one person; you may have a combination of people as mentors, depending on a variety of interests you'd like to pursue (for example, a business mentor and a research mentor.) Some advice: find the people you resonate with and never say "no!" to meeting somebody; it can change your career path and help you find your passion! 2. Given the rise of social media tools, is it better to have face-to-face meetings or a wide virtual social net? The panel emphasized the importance of forming close bonds with a small, trusted group of connections; face-to-face meetings are still important in this age of technology. However, a wide social network, managed though social websites is also important in today's changing career landscape: particularly when you're moving around a lot or changing careers a few times, in order to keep relationships alive long-distance. LinkedIn has gained in prominence over the last decade, and has become very useful in not just collecting connections, but in tracking other people's business-related updates and career changes. Some recommendations from the panel on successfully navigating the social media waters: don't over-share (particularly the daily minutiae), and never respond immediately to emails - take the time to process the information and think about the best answer and the best strategy. Also, when you need to solve a problem or draw upon your network for a solution, the best way to connect is still by telephone rather than by email: it shows that you're motivated and are making a personal connection. 3. What is your typical day like? Despite the vast differences in the job descriptions and even fields of expertise of the panelists, all of them describe their "typical day" as being no such thing: their schedules vary based on the results of scheduled and unscheduled meetings, they have a variety of simultaneous projects, and the work itself is constantly changing. In the fields of research project management, clinical trial management and in law (patent protection and IP litigation) the panelists spend their day "putting out fires," resolving critical and more routine issues, while the venture capital side has the added fillip of requiring frequent travel and face-to-face on-site client interactions. The biggest challenge of this lifestyle is the lack of consistency ? it is hard to balance with family life, you may need to catch up with work at night and on the weekends ... The positives of the roles include learning a lot on the job, meeting many people during the course of the day, and having exciting projects to do. Some advice from the panelists on how to effectively deal with a challenging job: be your most efficient in the time you've got, and don't let yourself be overworked and overwhelmed by doing at least one thing that relaxes or recharges you every day. 4. What essentials skills do you need to succeed in your role? Did you have these skills right out of school, or did you acquire them on the job? The key skills outlined by the panel participants are communication, time-management, problem-solving, and listening. Some, such as communication and problem-solving, you may already possess from your graduate school training; some, such as being an effective listener, may take a lifetime to perfect. Some advice from the panelists regarding how to be effective at work: a. Be productive in the 8-5 workday, do not just work longer, work smarter! b. Listen well, understand and be able to ask the right questions. c. Be a good problem-solver and project confidence. d. Work well with others: don't antagonize people - co-workers, clients, friends... Don't dismiss ideas contrary to yours out of hand; be prepared to deal with many different types of people. e. In the research field: build your background knowledge, be a master of the material, pay attention to details. 5. Work-life balance and time management issues The panelists agree: time is your most valuable resource. To be an effective manager of your time, be able to say "no" to some projects or collaborations, and know how to prioritize and what you can do. Be honest with yourself and an honest communicator with your collaborators. Finally, be as objective and unemotional as you can when solving work problems. 6. What are some lessons you learned in your career that you didn't know when you got out of college? What would you recommend to your younger self? All four speakers emphasized having an open mind (about career possibilities) and having the self-confidence that you can deal with any situation, while at the same time not being egocentric. Some advice: keep doing what you're doing now - do a lot of informational interviews, networking and panel events to learn about the multitude of potential careers. Don't overlook opportunities just because you haven't thought of that particular career direction: in the decades to come the world around you will change, the jobs and opportunities will change, and you will change. 7. Companies are increasingly using foreign and contingent workers, and one latest report says millenials will have an average of 3 careers and 4-5 job changes. How do you manage this brave, new world? The panelists were unanimous in their advice to young graduates: keep your connection network active - so that you can be ready for the next job change - and keep your skill set sharp ? find out what the new in-demand skills are by being aware of the changes in your field and develop new skills by cross-training with other teams in your company. Build your brand. Be aware of what you want to do. Generate new skills and learn, so you can evolve along with the job market; you are the CEO of your career! 8. Steve Jobs' career advice to go after your passion: great or terrible advice? The general consensus from the panel speakers was that a job should not make you miserable, but that in life a lot of compromises need to be made, so there is a balancing act between loving your job and having a job. The best way to find that job that fulfils both the ideal and financial aspects of your needs is to constantly explore what makes you happy, and go for the job that has these elements. Don't be afraid to transition to a different field or lower-paying job if you know you will love doing that job; believe in yourself! Takeaway messages: The panelists had three main recommendations for the audience: 1. Know yourself - be honest with yourself, look inwards and have a sense of humor when things don't go as planned. Figure out your work-life balance, your passions and needs. 2. Be flexible, nimble, have an open mind. Put 100% of yourself into what you're doing today, but be aware of opportunities around you. 3. Ask questions, learn, explore. Be willing to take risks; all successful people do that. The next event in this series will cover Career Paths in Life Sciences Consulting. To see details, click here: http://fils22013-eorg.eventfizz.com/. We look forward to seeing you there!

Building The Team ? The foundation for a successful company

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 14:32:00 -0400

It goes without saying that expertise and execution are essential for the success of any new startup. But these represent only part of the equation. One cannot underestimate the importance of personal attributes to the success or failure of a founding team. Vision, drive & personality are at the core of any good team. Vision and the ability to clearly communicate one's vision are of the upmost importance. What does the company want and need to be? What does success look like? You can't fill in the details without the big picture. You are selling your vision, so you better be able to communicate it effectively. Drive is that elusive force which picks you up when you have been knocked-down and pushes you to succeed where others have failed. It is the greatest enemy of adversity, and there is plenty of that to go around in any startup. Personality is comprised of a many qualities including self-awareness, interpersonal skills and flexibility. Strong self-awareness helps you surround yourself with co-founders and early team members that compliment your strengths and support your weaknesses. This is very attractive to investors. Strong interpersonal skills allow you to create positive environments with open communication, teamwork, and a strong culture. This is attractive to employees. Flexibility, allows founders to react quickly and effectively as their business or market needs change. This quality is especially important as companies evolve through various stages which may lead to management realignments or reorganizations for the betterment of the company. This is very attractive to investors, employees, and customers. Obviously there are many things to consider in any startup, but the above core attributes will help maximize the probability of success. To learn more, join The Capital Network for the Life Science Venture Fast Track on Feb 12th 2013: http://www.thecapitalnetwork.org/programs/life-science-venture-fast-track/ where various topics to create a successful company, including Building the Team, will be discussed.

The job search checklist ? evaluating what you want in a role

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 16:19:00 -0400

By Lauren Celano, CEO, Propel Careers Lauren Celano, CEO, Propel Careers wrote this blog for Bio Careers as part of her monthly contributions. To learn more about Lauren's Blogs for Bio Careers, see link: http://biocareers.com/blog/lauren-celano How do you define your ideal role? What factors in the role or company are most important to you? Which ones are a must have vs. a nice to have? Answers to these questions will help you sort through the thousands of jobs available to uncover a handful that are a match for your interest, background and expertise. The variety of job openings at any one time can make starting your search overwhelming. To manage this, create a checklist of preferred criteria in a role as soon as your search begins. This will help you maintain focus. Things to consider may include: the preferred responsibilities in a role, preferred title, level, reporting structure, salary, culture, management style, location, and group/team size, among others. Think carefully about what you do not want in a role as well as what you are ambivalent about. Also consider whether you want growth potential in the role, travel opportunities, management responsibility, a flexible work schedule, or benefits such as tuition assistance, a lot of vacation, or a good work/life balance. Answers to these questions matter and can dramatically impact your search. Your list may include preferred and non-preferred responsibilities, and considerations such as, is the role customer/people facing or internally focused, is it hands on or does it only involve assessing the work of others, , is it very quantitative or qualitative, is it team based or individualized, and it is administrative, operational, or strategically focused? Does the role involve managing people, projects, budgets, or collaborations? Does it require travel or working late hours when deadlines need to be met? Is the role clearly defined or a little more fluid? Either can be fine, it is more important to know which you prefer. To create the checklist, use a spreadsheet such as excel to organize your questions and preferences. This checklist may start small, but will grow over time as you become more and more aware of that which is truly important to you. As you read a job description, compare it to the checklist. If the job description meets what you are looking for, then apply. Otherwise, don't. Remember, every second you spend applying to roles that are not a fit for you, is time you take away from your search. This checklist can also be used to evaluate companies that you may be interested in working for. As you identify these companies, network and try to do an informational interview with someone in the company or close to the company to determine if the culture, management style, structure, and growth potential are in line with your interests. If so, add this company to your target company list. Then when a role arises there that is a fit for you, you are ready to apply. Throughout the job search process, your goal is to efficiently sort through the thousands of jobs listed to identify the handful which are a true match for your background and expertise. The job search checklist is a valuable tool that can teach you a lot about yourself, and help keep your search focused, and efficient. Remember time is one of the most valuable assets we all have.

Jan 15th 2013 FILS Event - Overview of Life Sciences Career Paths

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 12:56:00 -0400

On January 15th, 2013, the kickoff event to the 2013 Futures in Life Sciences Series will occur. This event will provide an overview of Life Sciences Career Paths and will set the stage for the 7 other events in this series which will deep dive into specific functional areas in the sector. All events in this series will be held at the MassBio Offices, 300 Tech Square, 8th Floor, Cambridge, MA from 5:30-8:00pm. To register for this event, click here: http://fils12013-eorg.eventfizz.com/. The FILS events are open to current graduate student (MBA, MPH, JD, Eng, Ph.D., MD etc,), post doctoral fellow, or medical resident, interested in learning about the variety of career paths ranging from R&D, consulting, commercial, business development, marketing, clinical, regulatory, medical affairs, bioinformatics, systems biology, modeling, pharmacoeconomics, reimbursement, patient advocacy, market access, finance, legal, and operations. Together, Propel Careers, MassBio, and MassBioEd are committed to fostering the next generation of industry leaders in the life sciences. We look forward to seeing you there! Meeting Agenda 5:30pm-6:00pm ? Registration and Open Networking; 6:00pm-6:10pm ? Introductions, Overview, and Recognition of Sponsors; 6:10pm-7:30pm ? Panel Discussion - Moderator: John Hallinan, CBO MassBio and CFO Cytel. Panelists: Stephen L. Altieri is an associate in the Cooley LLP, Rita Viegas, Clinical Trial Manager, Biogen Idec; Erin Whalen, Lab Head and Project Team Leader, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research; Nessan Bermingham, Atlas Venture, Monsanto Seed Fund Alliance Advisor and Managing Partner, Bio Equity Capital. 7:30pm-8:00pm ? Open Networking The Futures in Life Science (FILS) Seminar Series is a year-long event series, created in 2011 by Propel Careers, MassBio, and the MassBioEd, to promote the variety of career paths ranging from research and development to marketing and commercialization that exist in the Massachusetts Life Science Industry for individuals with graduate degrees. We believe that the career paths that exist in the Massachusetts Life Science Industry are numerous, exciting, and rewarding and that it is imperative that students considering these careers be well informed regarding the areas that their education and training are relevant. The year-long program provides in-depth overviews of specific careers in the life science industry that often require advanced degrees. We have focused on covering the various functional areas in the life sciences sector including, R&D, consulting, commercial, business development, marketing, clinical, regulatory, medical affairs, bioinformatics, systems biology, modeling, pharmacoeconomics, reimbursement, patient advocacy, market access, finance, legal, and operations. Most graduate students and post-docs are well prepared to take numerous directions in their careers, and it is our intent to provide a comprehensive understanding of the aptitudes and work environments that are associated with specific career paths, so that the individuals who attend these events can make more informed career decisions. We are also big believers in the power of connections and networking, so each seminar will have specific time set aside to meet the presenters and the attendees and to develop relationships that will be an asset to those in attendance. The program has an average attendance of 80 individuals per event. Each event has a panel discussion comprised of industry leaders who provide an overview of the life sciences landscape and various career opportunities which exist in the industry. The individual seminars are scheduled to accommodate the academic school year with a focus on the technical or scientific expertise that is relevant to each area and the typical work environment associated with common roles. For event details on the Propel Careers Website, click here: http://www.propelcareers.com/index.cfm/events/ Full FILS 2013 Series Event Schedule: January 15th, 2013. Futures in Life Sciences Program ? Overview of Life Sciences Career Paths. Location: MassBio Offices, 300 Tech Square, 8th Floor, Cambridge, MA. Time: 5:30-8:00pm. To Register: http://fils12013-eorg.eventfizz.com/ February 19th, 2013. Futures in Life Science Series - Consulting Career Paths in the Life Science Industry. Location: MassBio Offices, 300 Tech Square, 8th Floor, Cambridge MA. Time: 5:30-8:00pm. To Register: http://fils22013-eorg.eventfizz.com/ March 19th, 2013. Futures in Life Science Series -Commercialization 1 (Marketing, Product Management, Business Development) Career Paths Location: MassBio Offices, 300 Tech Square, 8th Floor, Cambridge MA. Time: 5:30-8:00pm. To Register: http://fils32013-eorg.eventfizz.com/ April 16th, 2013. Futures in Life Sciences Program ? Research and Development. Registration Details will be available shortly. May 21st, 2013. Futures in Life Sciences Program ? Clinical Development, Regulatory, and Medical Affairs. Registration Details will be available shortly. September 17th, 2013. Bio-Informatics, Modeling and Systems Biology Career Paths. Registration Details will be available shortly October 15th, 2013. Commercialization 2 (Reimbursement, Pharmacoeconomics, Patient Advocacy, and Market Access) Career Paths. Registration Details will be available shortly. November 12th, 2013. Finance, Legal, Operations Career Paths. Registration Details will be available shortly.

2013 Futures in Life Science (FILS) Event Dates

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 12:53:00 -0400

MassBio, MassBioEd and Propel Careers are looking forward to the 3rd year of the FILS Series. Dates for the 2013 series are below along with more detail about the event series and organizers. To view registration details, click this link: http://www.propelcareers.com/index.cfm/events/. We look forward to seeing you there! January 15th 2013: Overview of Career Paths in the Life Sciences Industry. http://fils12013-eorg.eventfizz.com/ February 19th 2013: Consulting Career Paths in the Life Science Industry. http://fils22013-eorg.eventfizz.com/ March 19th 2013: Commercialization 1 (Marketing, Product Management, Business Development) Career Paths. http://fils32013-eorg.eventfizz.com/ April 16th 2013: Career Paths in Research and Development May 21st 2013: Career Paths in Clinical, Regulatory, and Medical Affairs September 17th 2013: Career Paths in Bio-Informatics, Systems Biology and Modeling October 15th 2013: Commercialization 2 (Reimbursement, Pharmacoeconomics, Patient Advocacy, and Market Access) Career Paths November 12th 2013: Career Paths in Finance, Legal, and Operations Meeting Agenda: 5:30pm-6:00pm ? Registration and Open Networking; 6:00pm-6:10pm Introductions, Overview, and Recognition of Sponsors; 6:10pm-7:30pm ? Panel Discussion; 7:30pm-8:00pm ? Open Networking. Event Location: All events are held at MassBio in Kendall Sq. The Futures in Life Science (FILS) Seminar Series is a year-long event series, created in 2011 by Propel Careers, MassBio, and the MassBioEd, to promote the variety of career paths ranging from research and development to marketing and commercialization that exist in the Massachusetts Life Science Industry for individuals with graduate degrees. We believe that the career paths that exist in the Massachusetts Life Science Industry are numerous, exciting, and rewarding and that it is imperative that students considering these careers be well informed regarding the areas that their education and training are relevant. The year-long program provides in-depth overviews of specific careers in the life science industry that often require advanced degrees. We have focused on covering the various functional areas in the life sciences sector including, R&D, consulting, commercial, business development, marketing, clinical, regulatory, medical affairs, bioinformatics, systems biology, modeling, pharmacoeconomics, reimbursement, patient advocacy, market access, finance, legal, and operations. Most graduate students and post-docs are well prepared to take numerous directions in their careers, and it is our intent to provide a comprehensive understanding of the aptitudes and work environments that are associated with specific career paths, so that the individuals who attend these events can make more informed career decisions. We are also big believers in the power of connections and networking, so each seminar will have specific time set aside to meet the presenters and the attendees and to develop relationships that will be an asset to those in attendance. The program has an average attendance of 80 individuals per event. Each event has a panel discussion comprised of industry leaders who provide an overview of the life sciences landscape and various career opportunities which exist in the industry. The first seminar of each series in January provides an overview of the various career options within life sciences and will set the stage for the next 7 events which are deep dives into the various areas of life science including business and commercial, consulting, research and development, clinical, bioinformatics and systems biology, reimbursement, pharmacoeconomics, patient advocacy, and finance, legal, and operations. The individual seminars are scheduled to accommodate the academic school year with a focus on the technical or scientific expertise that is relevant to each area and the typical work environment associated with common roles. About the Organizers MassBio - MassBio, a not-for-profit organization that represents and provides services and support for the Massachusetts biotechnology industry, is the nation's oldest biotechnology trade association. Founded in 1985, MassBio is committed to advancing the development of critical new science, technology and medicines that benefit people worldwide. Representing over 600 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, research hospitals, and service organizations involved in life sciences and health care, MassBio works to advance policy and promote education, while providing member programs and events, industry information, and services. To learn more, visit: http://www.massbio.org. MassBioEd - The Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation, founded in 2001, is a non-profit charitable organization committed to supporting science and biotechnology education in Massachusetts through school programs, workforce training, and lifelong learning. MassBioEd is closely affiliated with the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council and helps the Council in fulfilling its goals to nurture the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) pipeline in Massachusetts. To learn more, visit http://www.massbioed.org. Propel Careers - Propel Careers is a Boston based life sciences search and career development firm founded in 2009 to foster entrepreneurship and to cultivate leaders in the life sciences industry. Propel recognizes the importance of job creation and career development opportunities to the success of the industry as well as to next generation of industry leaders. The mission of Propel Careers is to make connections that fuel innovation, and we do this through placement, networking, coaching and mentorship. To learn more, visit http://www.propelcareers.com.

Blog from Nov 20th Futures in Life Sciences Event - Finance, Legal, and Operations Career Paths

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 12:45:00 -0400

Blog Writeup from the Nov 20th Futures in Life Sciences Event covering the Finance, Legal, and Operations Career Paths by BY Ana Bozas, Ph.D. Roughly once a month Propel Careers, MassBio, and the MassBioEd organize a networking and panel event highlighting various careers in the life sciences sectors. See link for details of the series: http://www.propelcareers.com/index.cfm/events/. If you're undecided about your career path, curious about others' or just want to meet interesting people, these series of events are worthwhile to attend. The Nov 20th event focused on the Legal, Operational and Financial aspects of the biosciences world. The moderator was John Hession, J.D., Partner at Cooley LLP, and panel speakers were: Tony Martignetti, Corporate Controller at Sarepta Therapeutics, Drew Lowery, Biotechnology Group Leader at Global Prior Art, Joanne Kamens, Executive Director at Addgene, and Stephen Garbacz, Sr. Director of Finance at Epizyme. A picture video from the evening is here: http://video214.com/play/lEUb7fIO1CACAnpzdnqI8A/s/dark This event's panel was a colorful gathering: they had not only wildly differing expertises (law, finance and biotech), but also various degree backgrounds (JD, MBA, PhD) and even differing amounts of experience climbing the career ladder (from five years in the business to twenty-plus.) Some had experience working with mammoth companies, while other had focused on the start-up and small biotech/non-profit world. Despite the large variety of background and experience, all panelists had one major point to highlight for people interested in either learning about the industry or wanting to join the industry: network, network, network. They shared tips about how to network effectively: network with people you like, concentrate on quality not quantity and don't forget to follow up. When asked about the defining moment in their career that brought them to their current position, the panelists were unanimous in saying there was no "Aha!" moment, but rather it's important to be open to new experiences. Some have had a more varied career path than others, but they have taken care to enjoy their jobs, however different they might be. They have also enjoyed the relationships with their co-workers and bosses. Another common theme for the panelists at the FILS8 event is their reason for doing their current job: all panelists derive great satisfaction from working for a greater good and for genuinely helping people. This, it turns out, is a theme on most panels in the FILS series, not just this one. How do you get that first job? Panelists recommend that you follow the industry news through sites like Fiercebiotech, Biospace, or Xconomy, join professional societies, network and differentiate yourself when applying or giving your elevator pitch. Be sure to think about and distill what YOUR special skill-set is, i.e. what differentiates you from the pack. Finally, learn to speak the target audience's language if you want them to be interested in you or your ideas. Interact with the industry before you NEED to join them. How has the job field changed? What should the incoming generation know about joining the workforce? Many of the panelists reflected that people are more mobile nowadays: they became experts in a narrow field and move from company to company troubleshooting in their expertise area. Also people are expected to change careers at least 3-4 times during their lifetime (and every 3-5 years switch between companies), so a person is no longer bound to a company as was the case 30-50 years ago. Finally, the two most important points of this meeting and discussions following it to build your Career are, (1) it is crucial to network and (2) to research the field. Now that you have learned how to start and build your career, go forth and conquer! To see details for the 2013 Future in Life Science Series click here: http://www.propelcareers.com/index.cfm/events/. Full registration details will be available shortly.

The Life Sciences Industry Needs More Than Just Scientists. By Lauren Celano, CEO, Propel Careers

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 10:25:00 -0400

Lauren wrote this for BostInno ? see link to article: http://bostinno.com/channels/the-life-sciences-industry-needs-more-than-just-scientists/ To build successful companies, the life sciences industry needs more than just biologists, chemists, and other scientific types. The industry needs lawyers, accountants, finance, human resources, operations (especially Six Sigma-trained), facilities, information technology, supply chain, manufacturing, marketing, and sales people. Science alone does not build a company, people do. Certainly, when companies are formed, science is the core focus. Therefore many of the first hires are people with strong scientific backgrounds. As the companies grow, the "non-scientific" functional areas become extremely important and growth in these areas often outpaces the scientific hires. This creates tremendous opportunity for individuals to apply their skills and join very exciting innovative organizations. While therapeutic companies may take years to develop their compounds; diagnostics, medical device and especially healthcare IT firms have shorter timelines to develop and launch their products. Some of these businesses look and feel more like high-growth software companies than cost-heavy mammoth organizations, and therefore individuals who have experience in the online and IT sectors may find the life sciences very attractive. Many individuals with consumer goods and financial services backgrounds also find homes in the life sciences industry as they look to apply their transferable skills. For those of you who have experience in sectors outside of the life sciences industry, I hope that you will consider applying your skills to this industry. Not only will you be able to utilize your financial modeling, cost accounting, public relations, or corporate law, among other skills, you will be able to make a real difference in alleviating human suffering from disease. This last point alone is one of the strongest reasons why people join this industry. You will contribute to building successful companies, you will grow professionally and personally, and you will strengthen the industry. Numerous career opportunities abound in the life sciences industry. The career paths are plentiful and passion is everywhere. No matter the role, in a life sciences company everyone contributes to making a difference in the lives of patients.

Top 10 Tips for Job Seekers Part 2 by Lauren Celano, CEO, Propel Careers

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:41:00 -0400

Lauren wrote this article for MassBio's Blog - http://massbiohq.org/2012/11/20/top-10-tips-for-job-seekers-part-2-guest-post-by-lauren-celano-of-propel-careers/ This is continued from part 1: http://massbiohq.org/2012/11/13/top-10-tips-for-job-seekers-part-1-guest-post-by-lauren-celano-of-propel-careers/ Top Tips for Job Seekers #6-10 Separating yourself from the pack of job seekers is critical so that employers can determine whether you are the right fit for a particular role they want to fill. While the job search process can be daunting and overwhelming, below are a few tips to accelerate your search and increase the chances of landing the right job for you. 6. Develop an elevator pitch Everyone should have an elevator pitch. For the job hunter, this is even more important. You need to be able to clearly and efficiently articulate what you are looking for. Without this, it is difficult for individuals to make introductions or referrals since they won't feel confident that you know what you want to do. 7. Network. Network. Network. Many jobs come through networking and personal connections. In Boston, there are hundreds of networking events every month from intimate gatherings of 10-20 people to larger events with several hundred. Get out there and start making your search personal. 8. Practice Interviewing Make sure you can nail interview questions to make a strong positive impression. Practice short stories for typical interview questions/prompts such as: Why do you want to work for us? Tell me about your background. What are the key strengths that you bring to our company? Describe a time when you were proactive to obtain the resources needed to complete a task. How do you get up to speed when learning new things? How do you prioritize tasks? What management style do you prefer? Tell me about your teamwork skills. What are your weaknesses? What are your career plans for the next 5-10 years and how can this role get you to where you want to be? Have questions to ask the interviewer. Nothing halts an interview process faster than having nothing to ask the interviewer when they ask if you have questions. If you are serious about the company and role, you should have questions. Prepare a list such as: What are the most critical tasks for the first 90 days after I am hired? Can you elaborate more on the major research techniques used in the lab? What is the culture of the company? What is my future boss's management style? What growth opportunities exist in this role? What type of people thrive here? What is a typical week like? 9. Set goals Every job search is difficult and takes time. Staying confident, focused, motivated, and excited throughout the process is a challenge, so set goals. For example add 10 news companies a week to your target list. Identify 4 people a week for informational interviews to learn about their company or role. Attend two networking events a month. These types of goals will help you stay focused and on track. You may also find you even enjoy the activities. 10. Be positive Lastly, be positive. Don't take rejection from the job search personally. Remember, you are looking for a good fit, just as the company is looking for a good fit. Good luck!

Top 10 Tips for Job Seekers Part 1 by Lauren Celano, CEO, Propel Careers

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 12:54:00 -0400

Lauren wrote this article for MassBio's Blog - http://massbiohq.org/2012/11/13/top-10-tips-for-job-seekers-part-1-guest-post-by-lauren-celano-of-propel-careers/ Top 10 Tips for Job Seekers Part 1: Top Tips #1-5 By Lauren Celano, CEO, Propel Careers Separating yourself from the pack of job seekers is critical so that employers can determine whether you are the right fit for a particular role they want to fill. While the job search process can be daunting and overwhelming, below are a few tips to accelerate your search and increase the chances of landing the right job for you. 1.Become self-aware I often recommend that job seekers read "What Color is your Parachute?" by Richard Bolles, to help identify their true passions and "transferrable skills". This helps narrow down which career paths might be a good fit. It also enables you to clearly articulate what you bring to a company and why you should be hired. I also recommend "How Will You Measure Your Life?" by Clayton M. Christensen, which can also help you find your passion, meaning, and what impact you want to make with your life. The more you know about what you want, the quicker you can go after it and be on your path to success. 2. Do informational interviewing If you don't know what you want to do, i.e. project management, product management, consulting, or research, then identify people in roles that interest you and engage them in an informational interview. Talking with people who are living and breathing your "potential new role" will help you clarify which roles are the best fits for you. Ask questions such as: What is your day like? What skills do you find helpful for your role? How did you get into your role? What growth opportunities exist in your role? What do you like best about your role? What would you change about your role? What is your company like? How is your company different from other companies? Through this process, you will check roles off your list and maybe even put others on that you previously had not considered. This is critical and will allow you to focus your time and effort only on roles that are relevant to you, instead of stretching yourself too thin. 3. Develop your personal brand Your personal brand matters. Your resume, LinkedIn profile, Twitter feeds, Facebook, and blog(s), comprise your personal brand, positive or negative. Employers consider what they see very carefully when evaluating a candidate. A sloppy resume or unprofessional Facebook profile does not leave a good impression. If you are serious about your career, make sure you create a positive personal brand. Put a professional picture on LinkedIn and Facebook, build out your LinkedIn profile to add details about your experiences, create two Twitter accounts, one for your "professional side" and the other for your "personal side," and make sure your resume looks clean and is well formatted, free of spelling mistakes, easy to read, and tailored for the job you are applying for. After seeing your information, you want people to say, "Wow ? I need to hire this person." 4. Write quality Cover Letters Include a tailored cover letter indicating your relevancy to the job and the skills required, along with your resume, when you apply to a job. Without a tailored cover letter, you rely on the HR person to essentially guess if you are relevant. If you are a 100% fit based upon your background, this is an easy yes. If you are a stretch for a role, you will most likely be passed over unless you provide more context for why you should be considered for the role. Why would you leave your job search to chance? 5. Take initiative to learn the skills required to break into a new field If you are looking to break into a new field i.e. R&D bench research into project management or a Ph.D. program into consulting, be proactive about your career change. Companies want to see that you are serious about your chosen career path. Take steps to develop the skills and insight needed to know that this "new career path" is what you want to, and are qualified, to do. If you are bench researcher looking to move into project management, start to take initiative to organize and lead activities in your lab. This demonstrates an interest in doing more than just bench research and develops your other skills. If you are a Ph.D. or post doc who wants to move into consulting, become involved in your institutions consulting club, do business plan competitions or intern for startups. All of these experiences build your skills. You can also sign up for specific courses or certificate programs to gain skills needed if they are required for the role. Stay tuned for Lauren's Top Tips for job seekers #6-10!