On Tuesday, November 3rd, CEND hosted an insightful career panel that brought together three distinguished UC Berkeley alumni: Dr. Kimberly Sogi (Platform and Portfolio Lead at The Gates Foundation), Dr. Laura Rosen (Senior Director of Protein Sciences at Vir Biotechnology, Inc.), and Dr. Joseph Tran (Research Scientist at the California Department of Public Health) to explore non-academic career paths spanning foundation work, biotech, and philanthropy.
Throughout the session, the panelists provided practical guidance on transitioning out of academia and entering the job market. They addressed students' questions regarding effective job search strategies and how students can leverage their academic networks to discover new opportunities. The discussion also focused on interview preparation and emphasizing the technical, research, and soft skills PhD graduates should highlight to stand out to potential employers.
We thank Dr. Sogi, Dr. Rosen, and Dr. Tran for sharing their experiences and all attendees for their questions and participation!