By Shawn Rumrill
The beauty of earning a PhD in STEM, particularly in life science divisions, is the versatility in career paths post-graduation. One unique, and perhaps lesser known career path is project management. While many STEM graduates find their passion in developing new technologies at the bench, communicating science, or working on the business side of science, few consider filling the gap that coordinates these responsibilities as a well-oiled machine. On March 10th, Rutgers iJOBS in partnership with the Project Management Institute (PMI) of New Jersey, hosted a workshop called “Project Management for the Life Science Professional” to introduce PhD students to this little-known field.
This workshop was facilitated by three life science project management professionals. The session was moderated by Diane Cianciminio-Bordelon Cianciminio-Bordelon, MS, PMP, a PMI representative and supervisor for the Department of Laboratory Medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Joining her was David Vincente, PMP, a Senior Director of Project Management at BD and Claudia Campbell-Matland, MS, PMP, an Independent Consultant and owner of CNCM Consulting LLC. Mr. Vincente and Ms. Campbell-Matland aided in discussion during the workshop and later facilitated discussions in breakout groups.
First and foremost, what is a project and what is project management? Ms. Cianciminio-Bordelon defined projects as temporary endeavors that culminate in unique products, services, or results. Project management involves providing organizations with the know-how, skills, tools, and techniques required to execute projects within constraints of time, scope, and budget. Moreover, someone overseeing these responsibilities is usually a certified project management professional (PMP).
Next, Ms. Cianciminio-Bordelon painted a picture of what project management looks like. Briefly, project management can be divided into 4 phases: initiate, plan, execute/monitor, and close. During initiation, a project manager synthesizes ideas to define the scope and goals of a particular project. Next, s/he will identify desired outcomes, benefits, and metrics of success. With these details in mind, sponsors and stakeholders (anyone with an interest in a business including investors and employees) can be identified to support a project. In the planning stage, project managers work with business and finance experts to determine budgets, timelines, and project constraints. In a more senior position, project managers can then construct roles and responsibilities for the various teams that will be required to accomplish the project goals. Next comes the actual execution and monitoring of a project. Once a project is implemented, project managers play an important role in managing teams, tracking progress and evaluating success metrics, while changing course as necessary to overcome obstacles and meet original constraints. Finally, project managers conduct closing reviews and summarize the deliverables of the project, accomplished outcomes, and document any lessons learned along the way. You might be wondering why a dedicated project manager is really needed. Aren’t there other ways these goals can be achieved? In short, project managers can help to provide structure, save time and money, and provide clear outcomes and objectives that meet stakeholder expectations.
To demonstrate the importance of project management in the life sciences, Ms. Cianciminio-Bordelon briefly discussed the 10 most influential biotech projects in 2020. Notably, the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, the London patient who was cured of HIV, and quantum stealth invisibility technology topped the list. This prompted a question from one of the seminar participants: “do you need to have skills in a specific area of knowledge to be a project manager?” The overwhelming consensus was “no!” Ms. Cianciminio-Bordelon explained that, with few exceptions, a general scientific background and general scientific skills are sufficient for a career in project management. Ms. Campbell-Matland made an excellent assertion: as PhD students, we not only become well versed in specific subject matter, but more importantly we become broadly trained in research, communication, problem solving, and other skills that translate to many different types of jobs, project management included. With this, graduates can be assured that even with little experience in a certain area, they are not precluded from pursuing a career in project management.
So, what kind of project management careers are available in the life sciences? It turns out that not very many of them even have “project manager” in the title! Commonly, PhD graduates can expect to work first as entry level project analysts whose technical skills are leveraged for specific tasks. Next up the totem pole is an actual project manager who is responsible for leading a team and is accountable to stakeholders. Groups of project managers are then overseen by project leaders, who are responsible for portfolios of projects and securing tools and resources for project managers to effectively do their jobs. Executive level positions also feature project management responsibilities, typically procuring project funding and providing larger perspective and context. One thing Ms. Cianciminio-Bordelon asked participants to keep in mind is that these are not fixed positions, but rather they vary by company. Often times, each role has some amount of crossover tasks and responsibilities that makes each position in a project management capacity very collaborative and versatile.
Revisiting the same ideas as above, the panelists next discussed skills and knowledge important to the project management profession. First, project managers in any capacity need to be people-oriented and understand the needs of customers (stakeholders). Additionally, they should have a knack for communicating technical information to lay persons and use those skills to bridge functions across different departments and teams. Fundamentally, project managers should have a basic understanding of business processes including budgets, reports, and metrics. In this regard, taking a business course or two as a graduate student might be beneficial. Something I personally found encouraging during this seminar is that most PhD students have done many of these things! Even as students, we understand the importance of explaining our science on a basic level, communicating with collaborators and working as a larger team, getting things done and having strong problem-solving skills, as well as an appreciation for the cost, scope, and timelines of our respective projects. This brings back a recurring theme across many iJOBS events, which is that graduates looking for any job need to know how to market themselves and pitch their personal experience in a way that makes them valuable to employers and hiring managers.
graduates looking for any job need to know how to market themselves and pitch their personal experience in a way that makes them valuable to employers and hiring managers.
As the workshop progressed, organizers went on to discuss how new graduates might land a project management position in the life sciences. So what is it hiring managers are looking for? Importantly, project managers should have leadership qualities, this includes being able to influence and motivate your own team, as well as those who don’t report to you. A good leader should have the ability to empower others to take on their responsibilities and work hard to achieve their goals. Hiring managers also look for attention to detail, collaboration, and great communication skills. Again, keep in mind that these skills are often developed throughout the course of earning a PhD. Ms. Cianciminio-Bordelon suggested that anyone interested in a project management career get some formal project management education or experiences through courses or jobs. She also cautioned against being shy about leveraging grad school experiences to make you stand out as a candidate.
After a short break, attendees were divided into breakout rooms with different project management professionals to pitch themselves as candidates for a project manager position. My group was led Mr. Vincente. Despite considering myself an introvert, I volunteered first to deliver my elevator pitch. Though perhaps longer than your average elevator ride, I felt good about my performance. Some key aspects of my experience that I invoked were my past jobs as a retail manager, as well as discussing my communication skills, mentorship, team leadership, and technical skills. Fortunately for my self-esteem, Mr. Vincente applauded my elevator pitch. However, a criticism that I found most helpful was the concept of connecting one’s skills to their worth and actual outcomes. I personally find this difficult to do in the brevity of an elevator pitch but agree, nonetheless, that demonstrable outcomes convey stronger messages than unsubstantiated buzzwords or bombastic language. Mr. Vincente left the group with one last parting thought for their elevator pitches: what’s your 1 sentence people will remember about you? For Mr. Vincente, I remember his introduction at the beginning of the seminar as a poet and accordionist. Conversely, he remembered me for my previous life as a retail manager. These seemingly trivial facts actually provide a unique fingerprint of sorts and help build lasting impressions and connections with prospective employers to whom you might deliver your elevator pitch.
With the conclusion of the breakout sessions, the project management workshop came to a close. I found the overall workshop quite enjoyable, and despite the unassuming title, project managers are quite energetic, engaging, knowledgeable, and fun-to-work-with individuals! This niche career may be just the perfect fit for many PhD graduates. I know after attending this workshop that I can see myself exploring project management jobs post-graduation. Ms. Cianciminio-Bordelon suggested for anyone interested in this field that they keep in mind the skills they need to be successful and build those up now, taking additional courses or working toward certifications as necessary. Moreover, she suggested analyzing job advertisements and resumes of those in the project management profession to learn more about the career path and how to start one’s journey.. Ultimately, the skills one learns during a PhD translate well to a career in project management. Moreover, this career path may well suit those who want to mix their technical and communication skills with a knack for interdisciplinary teamwork and managing deliverables to fulfill the critical role of a project manager.
This article was edited by Junior Editor Gina Sanchez and Senior Editor Brianna Alexander