We all started out in the PhD program for similar reasons – we thought it would be best for our careers, we enjoyed doing scientific research, and probably believed that science was our vocation. But what about those of us that end up in labs that don’t suit our needs, or research just doesn’t make us happy anymore? While everyone hits a rough patch in the PhD journey, it is inevitable that some of us will find ourselves downright miserable for months or years in a row.

The cover letter is a job application tradition that can make or break your chances at getting that elusive interview.  Let’s face it: cover letters aren’t fun to write; it feels awkward to write about oneself so brazenly.  There is a fine balance between flat out bragging and understating your skills, but th

  When I entered graduate school, I had only one straight career path in front of me: get my degree, apply for a post-doc position, then a faculty position, and get on my way to becoming tenured. Honestly, I thought that was what everyone did after getting their PhD.

by: Dharm Patel GENEWIZ, Inc. is a contract research organization, with headquarters in South Plainfield, NJ, that provides research services for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, clinical, academic, and government institutions worldwide. Most Rutgers researchers know Genewiz as the place to send samples for DNA sequencing.

By: Maria Qadri “…one person’s rose-tinted view of their own idiosyncratic story does not constitute “advice,” especially not in an endeavor where we value reproducibility.” This year’s American Society for Cell Biology Early Career Life Scientist, Vladamir Denic, wrote a brief and honest essay about his journey from average high school student to a successful Principal Investigator at a name-brand university.

By Chris Lowe Some of our iJOBS participants have been able to complete an industrial internship during their PhD studies.

There is a new Rutgers institute in town – and it is called the Brain Health Institute. Their mission seems to be primarily to bring neuroscience labs across all Rutgers campuses together to share findings, exchange ideas and find collaborators. The BHI hosted a symposium on Monday, October 26 (that is to become the first of many, on an annual basis).

By: Fatu Badiane Markey The theme of storytelling is often emphasized in the field of science. However, it is easy to forget the significance of presenting a clear and compelling story once all the experiments are complete and the hypothesis has been proven. What good are the hours spent in the lab if no one can understand the end result?

I don’t have to tell you that pursuing a PhD is a huge undertaking that is extremely stressful; we have all become well aware of that. It has been my impression that the general culture in graduate schools everywhere prioritizes time in lab and subsequent deliverables including results, conference presentations, and publications.

The INet NYC is an international social group that aims to provide support and professional guidance for all international graduate students and research fellows in STEM fields. On August 18^th, a networking and social event was organized by the INet NYC. Most of the people at this event were PhD students from different universities in NYC who were eagerly networking, especially with those considered to be the “big fish” in the “industry pond”. After several glasses of wine and beer, people started to talk freely at the event.