Career Outcomes

Career Outcomes

Explore the SSQBio Career Outcomes Dashboard

Scientists pursue a wide range of fulfilling careers that are personally meaningful and critical for society. These include therapeutics, business, consulting, publishing, and policy, among others. Our training program aspires to reflect the breadth of knowledge, skills and relationships necessary to achieve professional success in your chosen career. We recognize that many students will not pursue the path of becoming postdocs and then professors. Unlike many programs, we characterize non-academic routes as standard, and even desirable, outcomes of PhD training. We never use the phrase “alternative careers”, since it implies that becoming an academic is the norm.  The Career Outcomes Dashboard gives a summary of where our students go, and how their careers progress. 

One tool for career planning as you progress through the program is the Individual Development Plan (IDP).  This provides a structured way to think about what your career goals are, and whether you are on track to achieve them. Systems Biology students are required to complete an IDP form annually, and to discuss it with their primary mentor and their Dissertation Advisory Committee. Students must report on the completion of their IDP conversation to the Program Coordinator by February each year.