PDF file: EURASNET Annual Report 2008

Work Package 18 Career DevelopmentLead Participant: Jørgen Kjemsmonthplanned achieveddeliverables: 118 Career development related round table discussions withrepresentatives of both academia and industry (month 30).30 29119 Organization of a workshop on career development at theKrakow meeting (month29)29 29238 Establishing joint PhD committees for PhD students in theEURASNET. (month 42) (continuation of deliverable 16)42 42239 Organization of a mentor lunch (month 29) 29 29240 Organization of job interviews at the Krakow meeting(month 29)241 Evaluate available career development training courseswithin the EURASNET network for appropriateness for ourpre- and postdocs (month 36)242 Pursue the possibility of selecting one program for a 1-2day career development workshop in which participants gethands-on training in the chosen topic (eg writing the cv,giving a talk or an interview, making and presenting aposter) (month 41)29 2936 3641 41Objectives of the work package• To prepare young scientists for careers in science, teaching and industry• To facilitate the transition from a post-doctoral fellow to an independent group leader• To give young scientists the opportunity to raise the profile of their research and their research groups, and to establishlasting contacts/collaborations among the young generation of European scientistsShort description of activities118 Career development related round table discussions with representatives of both academia and industry.A round table discussion was included in the Krakow career development program (See report to D119). Many of theEURASNET members are highly active in the arrangement of career develoment workshops, both at their home universitiesand throughout the world. A particular active member is Karla Neugebauer who in 2008 gave a talk on Women in Science:Canadian RNA meeting, participated as a mentor in Robert-Bosch-Stiftung leadership training course for women inacademic biological research, and acted as the Chair of the ELSO Career Development Committee.119 Organization of a workshop on career development at the Krakow meeting.A workshop entitled "Career Paths for RNA Scientists" was included in the Krakow meeting. A total of 27 young scientistsfrom 23 EURASNET institutions, 5 speakers, and 3 EURASNET PIs participated in the workshop. The program covered awide spectrum of career related topics with representatives form industry, by Jie Kang, Head of Gene Silencing Research, atQiagen talking about "Career Paths for RNA Researchers in Industry", from the publishing industry, Associate Editor NatureStructure and Molecular Biology, Sabbi Lall, talking about "Steps along the way: RNA researchers tell their own stories",two young scientist, Frédéric Allain and Anabella Srebrow, both with recent interesting divergent career path story, andfinally Carol Featherstone, a freelance science writer and consultant, talking about "Mobility in European ScientificResearch". Each talk was all followed by a general discussion and the workshop was concluded with a round tablediscussion where all career related questions were brought up.238 Establishing joint PhD committees for PhD students in the EURASNET.There has been at least 12 registered joint PhD committees or co-supervisions established in 2008 including within theEURASENET network:J Stevenin was member of the comittee of a PhD defense in Christiane Branlant's lab, Ian Eperon and Angus Lamond havesupervised two PhD students in Baralle's lab, Chris Smith has acted recently as the external examiner for the PhD inCaceres's lab, Bindereif acted on a Ph.D. committee for a PhD student in the Lührmann lab, Bujnicki was external memberof a PhD committee in Bindereif's lab, lbrecht Bindereif served as reader and evaluator of a PhD thesis in KarlaNeugebauer's lab, Ast served on the PhD committee for a student in Soreq's lab, Kornblihtt was a member of the PhD thesiscommittee for a PhD student in Carmo-Fonseca's lab, Carmo-Fonseca has acted as the external examiner for a PhD studentin Auboeuf's lab, Brown was on a PhD committee for a student in Barta's lab, Tazi is an examiner of a PhD thesis in67