01:694:383 Seminar in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry - Careers in Science

Prerequisites: 

This course is for registered MBB (694) majors only and should be taken in the fall semester of their third year.

Course Format: 

In person, no Textbook required

Course Description

This course is for registered MBB (694) majors only and should be taken in the fall semester of their third year in college. The course has two major components. For the writing component, each student submits a report about the longer term goals of the lab where they conduct their independent research. Students not yet in a lab will write several short reports about labs they would like to join to do their independent research with the goal to join a lab prior to the end of the semester. Such students will also be instructed on how to find a laboratory on campus to conduct independent research.    The careers in science component comprises  a series of guest lecturers to introduce students to possible career options in the biological sciences, representing both traditional and alternative career tracks. Below is a list of some of the topics and career options that may be discussed, along with the names of previous guest lecturers. 

Learning Goals

1. Help those students who are not yet in a lab doing independent research to find such a lab.
2. Complete a writing assignment depending on the student's research-lab status as follows. Students not yet in a lab will write several short reports about Rutgers/RBHS professor's research that they find interesting. Students already in a lab, will write a report on the longer-term goals of the lab they are in (this is different than end-of-semester reports).  
3. Listen to a series of guest lecturers to introduce students to possible career options in the biological sciences, representing both traditional and alternative career tracks with emphasis on research rather than medical school. Each student will write a short report on one of the speakers. Below is a list of some of the topics and career options that may be discussed.

Topics

• Applications to Graduate School - Interviews and campus visits
• Physicians in research and the MD-PhD track
• Academic track: "Life as a Research Professor"
• Physicians Assistant Program (PAP)

The role of scientists in the following career tracks:

• Big Pharma - research
• Big Pharma - research combined with business
• Small Biotech - research 
• Non-profit Charitable Organizations that fund research focused on specific disease
• Non-Governmental - Research
• Patent Law (combines life science PhD with law degree)
• Public Health Policy
• Alternative Careers
• Scientific Writing

Assignments and Grading Policy: Class attendance will be a component of the grade. The course will also have a required writing component. For students who have not found a lab to do research, they will search for several different professors whose research interests them and write a short report of the research of each professor. For students already doing research in a lab, they will be required to write a single longer report on the longer-term goals of the research that is being conducted in their lab.

Course Materials

All course materials are posted on the course Canvas site. 

Course Closed?  

If this course is closed please contact the course instructor concerning special permission numbers.

Course Coordinator and Instructor 

Samuel Gunderson
A322 Nelson lab
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office hours by appointment only

Participating Faculty

Jia Fei
A128, Nelson Biological Labs
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** All information is subject to change at the discretion of the course coordinator.