By: Sarah Misenko and Chris Lowe A case competition is an opportunity to work as a team to solve a complex, real-world business problem in a limited period of time. Emphasis is placed on identifying the main issues proposed in the case study and approaching them in a creative manner. The teams are usually made up of 2 – 5 graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. Frequently, the teams competing at case competitions are members of consulting clubs at their home university. Consulting clubs are student-run organizations for individuals interested in careers in management consulting.

Research Opportunities at the FDA While we eagerly wait for the next round of iJOBS events and the start of the semester, let me give a brief summary of a career panel hosted last May, detailing excellent research careers at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). I found out from this career panel that there are as many as around 3000 Ph.D. graduates employed in the FDA! When we consider places to apply to after graduation, we usually think of academia or industry, but somehow overlook the FDA and other government organizations.

This past spring, my advisor informed me that I would be graduating in the coming year.  Most graduate students would be ecstatic to hear this news, but I was nervous.  After the conversation, I was left wondering whether I have enough data to graduate, if my committee would agree that I am ready, and what on earth I am going to do next.

By Chris Lowe Almost all STEM graduate students and post-docs are members of professional societies. Why? The member rate for conference registration is offered at a deep discount and when students must travel to present their work on their advisor’s dime, every dollar counts. If you are one of the majority of graduate students or post-docs then your professional society involvement probably begins and ends with the abstract submission followed by a poster or presentation at a conference later in the year.

We are a few short weeks away from the start of the academic year. For those of you who are new to the iJOBS program, here is a brief summary of the types of events offered that you should test the waters with. I’ve added links to related posts in each category in case you want to learn more about a specific talk. Don't hesitate to contact Dr.

Image edited from: http://www.enterrasolutions.com/2014/05/stem-education-fuss.html

We know iJOBS is here to expose us sheltered grad students/post docs to the opportunities outside of academia. However, for those committed to the academic track, iJOBS, together with the Postdoc Association, hosted our very own Dr. Samuel Bunting and his wife, Dr. Nina Peel to take us through their two different academic career paths and how they pulled it all off as a husband-and-wife team.

Have you ever had that (dreaded?) experience when someone suddenly springs this question on you: “So, what do you do?” I’ve had all different kinds of people ask me this: a colleague, a fellow graduate student, a prospective housemate, my parents. It seems like such a simple question, and yet it has taken me years to feel completely at ease with my answer.

My name is Chris Lowe and I’m a 5th year PhD student in the Biomedical Engineering department. I’m advised by Dr. David Shreiber and my work is focused on developing novel biomaterials for nervous system regeneration and repair.

In keeping with my recent theme, which might be summarized as, “PhD, heal thyself,” I will use this blog post to draw your attention to the current issue of the journal Science.  Earlier this year, Science magazine (via their feed at twitter.com/sciencemagazine) posed the question, “Is the idea of the postdoc position obsolete in today's scientific landscape?”  Before we get into it, I would just like to point out that Science has often reported on obsolescence.  A search of the word “obsolete” on www.sciencemag.org show