Career Development Opportunities

Immunology Teaching Interest Group: Enhancing Your Immunology Teaching

Sponsored by the AAI Education Committee

Chairs
John K. Cusick, California Northstate Univ., USA
Michelle Snyder, Towson Univ., USA

Speakers
William H. Carr, Medgar Evers Col., CUNY, USA, Gaps in undergraduate usage of an immunology course-based social media toolkit for evaluating the validity of X (formerly known as Twitter) and/or Facebook posts about vaccines
Raffaella Ghittoni, Univ. of Southern California, USA, Opsonins as sugar sprinkles and B cells as music DJs? Effective examples of analogies used as a pedagogical tool in immunology education
Brian K. Martin, Idaho Col. of Osteopathic Med., USA, Alignment of objectives and identification of curricular gaps in immunology at a U.S. osteopathic medical school
Aimee Pugh-Bernard, Univ. of Colorado Anschutz Med. Campus, USA, Super hero or super villain? AI as a tool for teaching and learning

Breakout Session Leaders
Stephanie James, Regis Univ., USA, Using team-based learning to teach immunology online?!
Jastaranpreet Singh, Univ. of Toronto, CAN, Context matters as immunologists navigate the immuno-statistical landscape
Maria Tokuyama, Univ. of British Columbia, CAN, Breaking through the immunology jargon in large classrooms using BINGO*

Are you looking for new ideas or strategies to enliven and improve your teaching? If so, please join us for this special interest group, which will focus on strategies that instructors can use to successfully convey immunology concepts to students at the undergraduate and graduate level. The session will explore teaching strategies through talks and structured breakout discussion groups. Current educators, new faculty, and trainees with an interest in teaching are welcome.

*Bring your laptop to get the most out of this breakout session!

Interviewing for a Job

Speaker
Derek J. Haseltine, Hertz Fndn., USA

This session will be focused on tips and techniques to help you successfully navigate the interview process. Emphasis will be on how you can present yourself in the best possible light. You will also learn how to respond to unexpected questions. This session is open to anyone but is especially intended for student and postdoctoral attendees.

Careers Roundtables and Speed Networking Session

Sponsored by the AAI Minority Affairs Committee

Chair
Luis J. Montaner, Wistar Inst., AAI Minority Affairs Committee Chair

Career building and networking skills have never been more crucial to ensure success for trainees and early career scientists, including those traditionally underrepresented in biomedical research. At the session, take advantage of the opportunity to meet in small-group format with established immunologists and others to hear how they have handled the career challenges you now face and learn what they believe will work for you today. Then practice networking in a relaxed environment offering a structured networking exercise and personalized feedback on communicating your scientific interests/objectives most effectively. Scientists and trainees of all backgrounds are encouraged to attend!

Registration fee: $40 (includes lunch)

Table Topics and Table Leaders:

Grad Student: Finding a Mentor, Setting Sights on Postdoc Training
• Curtis Henry, Emory Univ., USA; Julie Mirpuri, UT Southwestern Med. Ctr., USA
• Joseph Larkin III, Univ. of Florida, USA; Beth Tamburini, Univ. of Colorado, USA
• Keke Fairfax, Univ. of Utah, USA; Rakshin Kharwadkar, Genentech;

Navigating Challenges Unique to International Grad Students and Postdocs
• Javier Irazoqui, UMass, USA; Craig Maynard, Univ. of Alabama, Birmingham, USA
• Swinburne Augustine, EPA, USA; Michael Opata, NIAID, NIH, USA

The Physician-Scientist Career Path – NEW
• Virginia Pascual, Cornell Univ., USA; Wayne Yokoyama, Washington Univ., St. Louis, USA
• Laura Santambrogio, Weill Cornell Med., USA; Sing Sing Way, Cincinnati Children's Hosp. Med. Ctr., USA

Postdoc: Finding a Mentor, Setting Sights on a Faculty Position
• Jeniffer Hernandez, Keck Grad. Inst., USA; Luis Montaner, Wistar Inst., USA
• Harlan Jones, Univ. of North Texas; Charlotte Vines, Univ. of Texas, El Paso, USA
• Maria-Luisa Alegre, Univ. of Chicago, USA; Antonieta Guerrero-Plata, LSU, USA

Junior Faculty: Preparing for Promotion and Tenure
• Jose Conejo-Garcia, Duke Univ., USA; Carla Rothlin, Yale Sch. of Med., USA
• Robert Binder, Univ. of Pittsburgh, USA; Elizabeth Kovacs, Univ. of Colorado, USA
• Amal Amer, Ohio State Univ., USA; Avery August, Cornell Univ., USA

Academia or Industry: How to Decide (or Switch Sides)
• Louise D’Cruz, BD Biosci.; Rashade Haynes II, Bristol Myers Squibb
• Stephen Haley, Immudex; Kiyomi Komori, Uniquity Bio
• Jason Stadanlick, Cabaletta Bio; Jeanette Ampudia, Equillium
• Frann Antignano, STEMCELL Tech.; Randy Brutkiewicz, Indiana Univ., USA
• Gisele Baracho, BD Biosci.; Albert Zlotnik, Univ. of California, Irvine, USA

Government Agency Careers (including Grant Review)
• Ravi Bassavapa, ARPA-H, USA; Vanitha Raman, NIAID, NIH, USA
• Timothy Gondre-Lewis, NIAID, NIH, USA; Thomas Conway, NIAID, NIH, USA
• Zhuqing “Charlie” Li, NIAID, ORTSP, DEA, NIH, USA; Bridget Burke, NIAID, ORTSP, DEA, NIH, USA

Beyond the Bench Science Careers:
• Entrepreneurship
   - Eduardo Davila, Univ. of Colorado, USA; Tonya Webb, Univ. of Maryland Sch. of Med., USA
• Nonprofits/Foundations
   - Derek Haseltine, Hertz Fndn., USA; Thandi Onami, Bill & Melinda Gates Fnd., USA
• Science Consulting – NEW
   - Andrea Loewendorf, ImmunoVation
• Science Policy
   - Emily Kansler, AAI; Jacob Schumacher, AAI
• Scientific Patent Law/Technology Transfer
   - Michael Hinton, Univ. of Chicago, USA; James Lillard, Morehouse Sch. of Med., USA
• Scientific Publishing/Science Writing
   - Adriana Benavides, AAI; Ellen Fox, AAI

How to Have a Successful Postdoctoral Experience

Speaker
Vipul Sharma, Univ. of Chicago Pritzker Sch. of Molecular Engr., USA

A postdoctoral fellowship is the time to develop research skills you will need to succeed as an independent scientist. It is, however, just as important to realize that you need to prepare for a career path at the same time. This session will highlight ways of getting the most out of your postdoctoral fellowship, relating successfully with your mentor, and understanding how to use the resources available to you to ensure that your training prepares you adequately for a seamless transition into the next phase of your career.

How to Convert Your CV into a Résumé

Speaker
Derek J. Haseltine, Hertz Fndn., USA

For anyone seeking a job outside of academe, how you present yourself on paper is critical. A well-prepared résumé can make all the difference in securing that interview. The focus of this session will be on the important elements of a résumé, the differences between a résumé and the standard academic curriculum vitae, and the information needed to make a good impression. In this special career development session, attendees will be instructed in how to transform their CVs into professional résumés.

Small breakout sessions for individual consulting will follow from 12:00–2:00 PM in Room W474B. Bring your CV!

Careers in Science Roundtables

Sponsored by AAI Committee on the Status of Women

Chair
Julie M. Jameson, California State Univ., San Marcos, USA, AAI Committe on the Status of Women Chair

At this popular session, attendees will have the opportunity to meet with experienced scientists to explore specific career issues important to today's scientists. Gain insights into issues you are confronting in your own career. Topics include international opportunities in science, succeeding in graduate school, tips on grant writing, considerations for scientists in M.D.-Ph.D. careers, and exciting careers beyond the bench. Topics include building productive mentor/mentee relationships; overcoming self-doubt; and tackling gender biases in recruitment, research, and leadership; and navigating work/life issues, such as balancing careers with family and transitioning from specific career stages, which may be relevant to any work environment (academic research, biotech industry, governmental agencies, nonprofit). Don’t miss this great opportunity!

Registration fee: $40 (includes lunch)

Table Topics and Table Leaders:

Challenges for International Trainees/PIs
• Weishan Huang, LSU, USA; Michael Opata, NIAID, NIH, USA

STEM Opportunities for URM in the US
• Avery August, Cornell Univ., USA; Javier Irazoqui, UMass Chan Med. Sch., USA

New PI Toolbox (mentoring effectively, recruiting students and postdocs, preparing for promotion, early career self-promotion)
• Wei Luo, Indiana Univ. Sch. of Med., USA; Dequina Nicholas, Univ. of California, Irvine, USA

Work/Life Balance
• Kathryn Knoop, Mayo Clin. Minnesota, USA; Juan Mendoza, Univ. of Chicago, USA

Building Networking Skills
• Swinburne Augustine, EPA, USA; Clara Abraham, Yale Univ. Sch. of Med., USA

Grant Writing for PIs
• Carrie Lucas, Yale Univ. Sch. of Med. USA

Balancing Teaching Responsibilities with Research
• Deborah Brown, Trudeau Inst., Clarkson Univ., USA; Michelle Snyder, Towson Univ., USA

How to Negotiate for Better Self-Promotion
• Elizabeth Leadbetter, UT Hlth. San Antonio, USA

Challenges for Women Mentors and PIs
• Cheong-Hee Chang, Univ. of Michigan, USA; Michelle Krogsgaard, NYU Grossman Sch. of Med., USA

Tackling Gender Biases in Recruitment, Research, and Leadership
• Kristin Hogquist, Univ. of Minnesota, USA; Melanie Rutkowski, Univ. of Virginia, USA

Opportunities for Teaching and Research in Predominantly Undergraduate Institutions
• Julie Jameson, California State Univ., San Marcos, USA; Edith Porter, UCLA, USA

Biotech and Industry: R&D
• Samik Basu, Cabaletta Bio; Nikki B. Marshall, GSK
• Julie Rumble, Cayman Chemical Company; Erica Stone, GigaGen

Biotech and Industry: Business Development
• Judy Chou, AltruBio

Biotech and Industry: Medical/Translational Directors
• Laura Johnson, Verismo Therapeut.; Kiyomi Komori, Uniquity Bio

Biotech and Industry: Technical Operations and Communications
• James Jin, Biocytogen

Careers in Science Policy
• Lauren Gross, AAI, USA; Elizabeth Kovacs, Univ. of Colorado Anschutz Med. Campus, USA

Research from the M.D., Ph.D. Perspective/The Physician Scientist
• Aimee Payne, Columbia Univ., USA; Maria-Luisa Alegre, Univ. of Chicago, USA

Careers in Veterinary Immunology
• Michael Criscitiello, Texas A&M Univ., USA; Crystal Loving, USDA, ARS, Natl. Animal Dis. Ctr., USA

Academia versus Industry
• Daniel Cua, Janssen Res. & Dev.; Qizhi Tang, UCSF, USA

Careers in Government Agencies
• Arya Biragyn, NIA, NIH, USA; Kelly Hudspeth, NIAID, NIH, USA
• Michael Humble, NIEHS, NIH, USA; Mulualem Tilahun, NIA, NIH, USA

Scientific Publishing
• Adriana Benavides, AAI, USA; Eugene Oltz, Ohio State Univ. Col. of Med., USA

Opportunities for Scientists in Non-profits/Foundations
• Joshua Vieth, JDRF; Shermaine Mitchell-Ryan, Hlth. and Envrn. Sci. Inst., USA

Science Communication, Popular Science Writing, Editing
• Aimee Pugh-Bernard, Univ. of Colorado Anschutz Med. Campus, USA

Alternative Careers in Science
• Mira Chaurushiya, Westlake Village BioPartners

Mentoring Across Racial/Ethnic/Nationality Differences
• Rameeza Allie, Penn State Col. of Med., USA; Ziaur Rahman, Thomas Jefferson Univ., USA

How to Build Productive Mentor/Mentee Relationships
• Nicholas Lukacs, Univ. of Michigan, USA; Olivia Martinez, Stanford Univ. Med. Sch., USA

Meet the AAI Lancefield Mid-Career Achievement Award Winner
• Stephanie Eisenbarth, Northwestern Univ. Feinberg Sch. of Med., USA

Keynote Speaker Table
• Erica Saphire, La Jolla Inst. for Immunol., USA

Succeeding in Graduate School
• Kate MacNamara, Albany Med. Col., USA

Graduate Student to Postdoc
• Shanjana Awasthi, Univ. of Oklahoma Hlth. Sci. Ctr., USA; Malini Raghavan, Univ. of Michigan, USA
• Anita Chong, Univ. of Chicago, USA; Erin E. West, NHLBI, USA

Postdoc to PI
• Craig Maynard, Univ. of Alabama, Birmingham, USA; Zhenyu Zhong, Univ. of Texas Southwestern Med. Ctr., USA
• Claudia Kemper, NHLBI, NIH, USA; Gianluca Veggiani, LSU, USA

Grant Writing for Fellowships
• Jessy Alexander, Univ. at Buffalo, SUNY, USA; Lauren Zenewicz, Univ. of Oklahoma Hlth. Sci. Ctr., USA

Funding and Career Training Opportunities through the Office of Research Training and Special Programs, Division of Extramural Activities at NIAID
• Bridget Burke, NIAID, ORTSP, DEA, NIH, USA; Zhuqing “Charlie” Li, NIAID, ORTSP, DEA, NIH, USA

NIH Grants Workshop: Demystifying the Grant Application Submission, Review, and Funding Processes

Chair
Xinrui Li, CSR, NIH, USA

Speakers
Xinrui Li, CSR, NIH, USA
Lillian Kuo, NCI, NIH, USA
Timothy Gondre-Lewis, NIAID, NIH, USA

This workshop will provide participants with an overview of NIH grant submission, assignment, review, and funding opportunities. Emphasis will be given to identifying suitable NIH funding agencies and mechanisms, how to make an application “reviewer friendly,” and other strategies that contribute to applications that succeed in obtaining research funding, with a focus on Research Project Grant (RPG) and training grant mechanisms. 

This workshop will delve into understanding the peer review system, which is essential to competing successfully for funding. Opportunities to serve as a reviewer will also be discussed. NIH review and program staff will provide a broad array of expertise and encourage questions from participants. This workshop is open to anyone interested in learning more about preparing an NIH grant application and obtaining NIH funding. Trainees and independent investigators are welcome.

Careers in Science Keynote Lecture

Sponsored by AAI Committee on the Status of Women

Chair
Julie M. Jameson, California State Univ., San Marcos, USA, AAI Committee on the Status of Women Chair

Speaker
Erica Ollmann Saphire, La Jolla Inst. for Immunol., USA, Pave your own road

Sip and Learn: Speed Networking with Immunology Educators

Sponsored by the AAI Education Committee and ImmunoHorizons

Chairs
Nicholas A. Pullen, Univ. of Northern Colorado, USA, AAI Education Committee Chair
Mark H. Kaplan, Indiana Univ. Sch. of Med., USA

Are you interested in immunology education? Join the editors of ImmunoHorizons and the AAI Education Committee for a networking event for current and future immunology educators! The first part of this session will be short one-on-one meetings, where you’ll have the opportunity to meet others with an interest in immunology education. Then attendees can continue their conversations in a relaxed setting over coffee. All are welcome! Scientists and trainees of all backgrounds are encouraged to attend.

Registration fee: $25

Careers in Biotech: Panel Discussion and Networking

Sponsored by the AAI Education Committee

Chair
Kiyomi Komori, Uniquity Bio

Speakers
Jeanette Ampudia, Equillium
Samik Basu, Cabaletta Bio
Alex Gonzalez, Miltenyi Biotec
Erin C. Zook, Becton Dickinson and Co.

Many opportunities exist in industry for scientists with advanced degrees. There are positions in laboratory research, program management, business development, regulatory affairs, clinical trials oversight, medical liaison, and more. This panel features scientists employed in a variety of positions in industry discussing their career paths and the skills required for success in each. Following the panel discussion, enjoy casual conversation with the speakers and other scientists from industry at a networking reception.