Careers

HMS Associate Dean David Cardozo, who directs DMS, created the program after realizing that “an increasingly large number of students are not following what we used to think of as the traditional career trajectory towards a purely academic research position. The revolution in modern biology has permeated many levels of society and has created new needs and opportunities for highly trained PhDs. Students are now considering a wide range of futures, both in the public and private sectors.”

Paths in DMS gives students with a common interest the chance to join in career-building activities and networking events. The program has established seven pathways to start: science writing, law, biotechnology, public health, science policy, education, and consulting. The paths will be student-directed, each with an associated student group or club, a website, representation from the Office of Career Services, a faculty advisor, and alumni as well as other external mentors.

As reported in the student-run DMS Bulletin, the program launched officially on June 9, when faculty, students, and alumni gathered in the atrium of the Model Immunology Center on the medical campus to begin to answer the question, “What should the world do with all of these PhDs?” “As it turns out, answers abound, and roughly 35 DMS alumni were there to fill in the details,” writes Stephen Hinshaw, a PhD student in biological and biomedical sciences. Among them was Betsy Ohlsson-Wilhelm, AB ’63, PhD ’69, medical sciences, a member of the GSAS Alumni Council, who says that given the rapid expansion of research jobs and the modest increase in tenure-track positions, “It just doesn’t make sense anymore to train replacement professors.” Her recommendation to current DMS students? “Start your Rolodex now.”

Hear directly from the student Path leaders about fall events and opportunities.