The Biotech Career Development Program (BCDP) is a structured, cohort-based career development program for STEM graduate students and postdocs interested in careers outside of the traditional academic tenure-track faculty position. The program guides participants through self-reflection, skill-building, and career exploration strategies in advance of seeking full-time employment or an internship/externship.
Throughout the program, participants engage in a series of workshops, seminars, panel discussions, and self-guided research opportunities to explore career options and prepare for an experiential learning opportunity with an on-campus unit, small business startup, large corporation, non-profit organization, governmental agency, law firm, or any additional non-academic entity. We also host an in-person networking event to put into practice many of the topics addressed in the sessions in a fun, low-stakes environment.
Participants will attend one session every week (each 1.5 hours in length, generally) during the 12-week program. The weekly sessions will include a mix of panel discussions focused on different career sectors and skill building seminars and workshops. All of the sessions will run Thursdays 3:30-5pm EST in a fully virtual setting.
Participation is by application only. We are accepting applications from graduate students (M.S. and Ph.D.), postdoctoral fellows, and early-career researchers in STEM disciplines at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor campus.