Last year Emory’s Laney Graduate School in collaboration with the Georgia Institute of Technology received one of the first ten NIH Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training (BEST) grants to strengthen the biomedical research workforce. The program aims to better prepare PhD graduate students and postdoctoral scientists for the breadth of possible careers in the biomedical research workforce and to establish a networkand disseminate widely best practices for the community. More specifically, the program’s goal is to expose pre-doctoral and post-doctoral trainees to career choices outside of the traditional tenure track academic position.
At Emory, the program accepts a small cohort of trainees each year (approximately half each from Emory and GA Tech) into a two year-program. Year one aims to broaden the participant’s exposure to alternative careers and provide leadership training. Year two allows the participant’s to immerse themselves in a specific career track including an internship. The six tracks are:
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Business and Entrepreneurship
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Communications (scientific writing, journalism, public policy)
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STEM Education and Outreach
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Law, Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property
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Research (non-tenure track, governmental and contract research organizations)
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Industrial Science (biotechnology, pharmaceutical)
Emory’s OTT is working in partnership with the Atlanta BEST program by providing internship opportunities for participants who are interested in technology transfer and intellectual property. Our first group of three BEST trainees recently completed their tech transfer boot camp and their capstone training project; they will soon be starting their first rotation in the office. We look forward to continuing to partner with the BEST program and provide opportunities for participants to explore a career in our profession.
“We are already seeing a difference in self-awareness and trainee confidence in career choice which is translating to how they are meaningfully contributing in their lab teams and projects. We are building a culture of information sharing and reflection surrounding career paths and leadership that will help trainees develop the capacity and skills needed to be leaders in the careers that they choose” said Tami Hutto, program manager for the Atlanta BEST program.
To find out more about the Atlanta BEST program visit their website here. Contact Tami Hutto with any questions, thutto [at] emory [dot] edu.