UAB EXPERIENtial Learning for Career Enhancement in the Sciences (EXPERIENCES) Program

What

A professional development initiative that introduces UAB graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to emerging career options in the sciences.

Why

Workforce reports show that pre- and post-doctoral trainees need to be informed and educated about careers within and outside traditional academic research to be job-ready in today’s economy. Because experiential learning is a critical element of career awareness, the purpose of the UAB EXPERIENCES Program is to test the feasibility of varied experiential learning approaches in five strategic career areas:

  • business and entrepreneurship;
  • public policy, government, and non-profit organizations;
  • research administration;
  • science communication; and
  • science education.

Who 

The UAB EXPERIENCES Program is open to all UAB graduate students and post-doctoral fellows.

student using equipment in chemistry lab

Details

IDP and Self-Assessments

  • All interested trainees are encouraged to update their IDPs and perform self-assessments
  • Each trainee has the opportunity to review these materials with a career advisor

Boot-camp Informational Sessions

  • Separate sessions will be held for each of the aforementioned career path areas
  • Sessions will provide information on employment trends, educational requirements, and job skills specific to that career area
  • Trainees may then opt to perform a job simulation, shadowing, or immersion experience with the same career partner; alternatively, the trainee may choose no additional activity

Job Simulations

  • These will provide true-to-life job simulation exercises to help trainees explore potential careers in the biomedical science field.
  • A partnership between Wash U and UCSF, they designed the job simulations to be self-guided. Each simulation contains background and directions for you to complete a task that is related to the career of interest.

Shadowing Experiences

  • Shadowing experiences will be comprised of two, day-long sessions with a career community partner
  • In these sessions, trainees will visit the partner’s office, meet with staff, and observe daily activities

Immersion Experiences

  • Immersion experiences will be comprised of the equivalent of four weeks’ time at the partner’s office
  • In these sessions, trainees will work with the partner on a focused project toward a defined goal

Questions?

For any questions, please contact Lisa Schwiebert, PhD, Assoc. Dean for Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Jami Armbrester, MS, Director of Career Services, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..