Student and Early Career Activities

As a student and early career professional, the annual meeting can be a tremendous resource  for your future career. To support young scientists, we have planned many networking and career development opportunities.

Download the Student Guide
Students of SETAC
Career Committee

Please note, student activities will be presented on site in Pittsburgh and will not be live-streamed.

Sunday, 13 November

View Pricing | Pre-registration Required

You can sign up when you register for the meeting or add the event to your existing registration by visiting the SETAC Store.

Professional training courses provide great educational opportunities for students at a discounted rate. Sign up for one of our full-day, morning or afternoon training courses while availability lasts.

13 November | Room 315

$25 | Pre-registration Required

You can sign up when you register for the meeting or add the event to your existing registration by visiting the SETAC Store.

Graduate students and post-docs in environmental toxicology and chemistry typically pursue a diverse spectrum of career opportunities for teaching, consulting, conducting research in academic, industrial or contract toxicology laboratories, or in regulatory agencies and affiliated institutes. With this course, students are provided insight and guidance on the process of career job hunting from scientists in environmental science and toxicology positions. When you have invested so much time and effort into your career, you need to network to increase your chances of getting a job! Job hunting is a process that requires your full commitment, and it is essential to organize a job search campaign. The job search includes a variety of strategies.

We’ve designed a “practical short course” to aid students and post-doctoral candidates with the process of preparing for career job hunting that is lead by experienced SETAC academic, government, industry and consultant members. As the application, interview and selection processes for all jobs is not the same, developing a resume to apply for a professional position is challenging and one of the most important in career planning. We’ll present a variety of ways to “sell yourself on paper” and discuss a range of interview tips. We’ll discuss the various types of positions in different organizations, i.e., academic, business sector (consulting and industry), and government.

Each instructor will present the viewpoint of a potential employee and the personnel responsible for hiring recommendations. Participants will learn about the hiring processes from application to the final selection, and we’ll cover one-on-one, phone, video and panel interviews. The workshop will include what to include in resumes for different jobs and sectors, where to find jobs, the hiring process, making applications with supporting materials, typical interview formats, and the selection and decision procedures for each type of organization. We will present example resumes and provide interactive opportunities to consult with the instructors on your resume for each sector. The team of instructors from academia, consulting, industry and government will present the viewpoint of a potential employee and the personnel responsible for hiring recommendations. Participants will learn about the hiring processes for academic, business, and government positions from application to the final selection, something you cannot find by reading self-help books! Designed for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows or anyone looking for resume and career ideas. We suggest that attendees bring résumés or email them ahead of time to Teresa Norberg-King.

13 November | Room 315

$25 | Pre-registration Required

You can sign up when you register for the meeting or add the event to your existing registration by visiting the SETAC Store.

Professional development is an ongoing process to stay up to date with useful skills that will help boost confidence and open the door to future career opportunities. This workshop will help participants of all career stages think about next career steps by providing training to expand professional networks, professional online presence, and pathways to pursue a role that is the best fit. Establishing an online professional presence and forming meaningful collaborations across fields and sectors can help take careers to the next level. This workshop will also explore how to transition to a new role within a company/organization and between sectors. Whether you are earlier or established in your career, there is something valuable for everyone. In three one-hour sessions, we will cover the following topics:

1) Owning Your Digital Footprint: How to optimize your online professional and research presence on a variety of networking, research profile, and data sharing platforms. Make it easy for potential employers, collaborators, and clients find out who you are and what you do.

2) Mid-Career Transitions: It is never too late to pivot your career to something new or more suitable for your interests and skills! It can be intimidating to pursue a new direction, so this workshop will cover ways to change sectors or move laterally within an organization.

3) Speed Dating for a Collaborator: Looking for new collaborators in a different field? Look no further! Participants will engage with professionals with broad skillsets in a variety of disciplines and sectors. Find someone with overlapping interests to spark new project proposals or expand the potential for current ones.

13 November | Room 317/318

Registration deadline: 21 September

The Meeting Guide Program connects young scientists who are attending the SETAC North America annual meeting for the first time with seasoned SETAC attendees. Meeting guides and first-time attendees will be introduced via email by the end of October so they can arrange a time to meet in person during the annual meeting and also get to know each other during this casual meeting and greet.

Monday, 14 November

14 November | Ballroom C

$10 Students, $30 Mentors | Pre-registration Required

You can sign up when you register for the meeting or add the event to your existing registration by visiting the SETAC Store.

Do not miss this opportunity to mingle and dine with a variety of SETAC members. Your participation will strengthen your networks within SETAC and provide a valuable opportunity to discuss scientific topics and career experiences with mentors.

Tuesday, 15 November

15 November | Room 315

View Pricing | Pre-registration Required

You can sign up when you register for the meeting or add the event to your existing registration by visiting the SETAC Store.

Meet with professionals to gain insights and tips for career paths in environmental toxicology and chemistry! Experts from a variety of sectors will be in attendance.

Pricing

By 17 August By 21 September After 21 September
Students $5 $10 $15

Wellington Laboratories Inc.

Sponsored by Wellington Laboratories

15 November | Penn Brewery

$10 Students, $20 Nonstudents | Pre-registration Required

You can sign up when you register for the meeting or add the event to your existing registration by visiting the SETAC Store.

The annual Early Career Social is back in person this year! If you identify as early career, join us at a local brewery for a chance to make new connections while enjoying some light snacks and beverages. We will be meeting at Penn Brewery (under 21’s welcome), which is a 30-minute walk or a 4-minute Uber from the convention center. We will also have some optional activities to break the ice and help you meet and chat with new people.

Wednesday, 16 November

16 November | Room 317/318

FREE | Pre-registration Required, Lunch Included

You can sign up when you register for the meeting or add the event to your existing registration by visiting the SETAC Store.

Robin EngGrowing From Uncertainty: Finding Value and Making Moves

Robin Eng

Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy

Robin Eng is an early-career professional working as the Ecological Project Manager for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. While she has always known she wanted a career that would benefit the environment, she didn’t always know what that would look like. Her career path reflects this uncertainty. Since graduating college in 2013 she has held numerous positions spanning four workforce sectors and five environmental vocations. While these jobs have varied in their relevance and relation to her career objectives, she has grown to recognize and value the skills, lessons, and perspectives she obtained from each opportunity. Most of all, she’s learned how complex the ecological and environmental landscapes really are. In her talk, Robin will discuss the challenges she’s faced and the opportunities she’s seized. While she is still quite familiar with uncertainty, she hopes to share some of the insights she’s gained from an evolving career and diversity of experience.

$5 | Pre-registration Required

You can sign up when you register for the meeting or add the event to your existing registration by visiting the SETAC Store.

Compete for glory by answering trivia questions from a variety of topics that will test your knowledge! Participants will be able to arrange their own teams or be sorted into one. Afterwards, mingle with your new friends and rivals!