Breadcrumb

null First virtual Career Day held for RI-MUHC Research Trainees

The Desjardins Centre for Advanced Training helps demystify career paths for life scientists

Source: RI-MUHC. The Annual Career Day at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) moved online this year for its fifth edition, with the goal of exposing trainees to a wide range of career paths for life scientists.

On March 26 twenty-one professionals, many of them RI-MUHC alumni, made themselves available online to network with research trainees in an event organized by the Desjardins Centre for Advanced Training (DCAT) at the RI-MUHC. Under the theme of “Adapting to Change,” these guests were asked to explain the changes they have experienced in the last year in their industries and roles and to offer tips on how trainees can adapt to changes in the job market brought on by COVID-19.

Meaningful connections with professionals

Networking conversations also addressed trainee questions about what is involved in a variety of professional roles and how they might transition into roles in government, not for profit, and industry. Making contacts vital for their career development, trainees had the opportunity to talk with professionals working in the Canadian government and such industries as Pfizer and Novo Nordisk, to name only a few.

"The virtual platform for this year's Career Day provided a unique opportunity to network with many professionals from all kinds of fields,” said Amanda McFarlan, doctoral student in the Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program at the RI-MUHC. “I was able to learn about so many different career options and was able to make meaningful connections with the professionals at Career Day. This was one of the best Career Days yet!"

The 2020-2021 cohort of the Clinical and Regulatory Affairs Experience program meet weekly to prepare for careers in the field
The 2020-2021 cohort of the Clinical and Regulatory Affairs Experience program meet weekly to prepare for careers in the field

The virtual Career Day was the culmination of a year in which DCAT found new ways to support RI-MUHC trainees online. Over the past year, three cohorts of trainees have participated in virtual Peer Career Discovery Groups and two in the Clinical and Regulatory Affairs Experience program. The latter cohort includes five trainees from outside of the RI‑MUHC whose participation was facilitated by the virtual format.

In 2021 DCAT has set a new goal to deliver 150 individual career-advising appointments remotely to trainees. At the end of March 2021, DCAT was well on track with this initiative: twenty per cent of the way there! RI-MUHC trainees are invited to reserve an appointment with a member of the DCAT team.

The 2021 virtual Career Day for RI-MUHC Trainees: “Adapting to change”
The 2021 virtual Career Day for RI-MUHC Trainees: “Adapting to change”