Graduate School’s Career Day Explores New Career Paths

By Liz Caldwell

 
More than 170 students attended the 14th Annual Biomedical Career Day hosted by the Graduate School. 


Graduate and undergraduate students had to chance to talk to professors and department representatives about different programs and careers.

Oct. 31, 2014 | While students may know and be confident in their field of study, sometimes their actual career path is still unknown.

The UAMS Graduate School hosted its 14th Annual Biomedical Career Day on Oct. 23 and provided graduate and undergraduate students several possibilities and ideas for career options. The event drew students from all over Arkansas.

“I came because I wanted to be more exposed to potential career paths. It’s helped me get more information on what I want to do,” said LaDonna Branch, an undergraduate biology major at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. She participated in UAMS’ Summer Undergraduate Research Program to Increase Diversity in Research last summer.

Robert McGehee Jr., Ph.D., dean of the UAMS Graduate School welcomed the crowd of 174. Kristen Sterba, Ph.D., associate dean of the Graduate School, gave a brief overview of all the Graduate School has to offer. The rest of the day featured lectures ranging from teaching in a university setting to nursing science to careers at a state public health laboratory.

Guest speakers included:

  • Shimul Chowdhury, Ph.D., Illumina Clincial Services Laboratory, San Diego, California (UAMS alumnus) 
  • Angela Green, Ph.D., vice president of performance improvement, Arkansas Children’s Hospital (UAMS alumnus) 
  • Scott Struthers, Ph.D., founder, president and chief scientific officer, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals Inc., San Diego, California 
  • Glake Hill, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry, Jackson State University 
  • Stephanie Byrum, Ph.D., instructor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, UAMS (UAMS alumnus) 
  • Kathryn Seely, Ph.D., Ph.D., laboratory supervisor at the public laboratory, Arkansas Department of Health (UAMS alumnus)

Seely presented options to students about work in a public health laboratory.

“As a graduate student I always came to this event to learn about different fields. It’s nice to see career choices and know all your options to keep them open,” Seely said.

Graduate students also had an opportunity to talk to undergraduate students about their fields.

“I get to serve as a representative of our department talking to undergraduate students about our program,” said Jessica Bailey, who is working toward her Ph.D. in cellular physiology and molecular biophysics. “I’m also interested in talking to people in all the different career opportunities.”

Other activities included tours of the campus for undergraduates and a career development workshop for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.