UC Irvine GPS-STEM

Graduate Professional Success for PhD students and Postdocs in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

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  • Program Elements
    • Explore
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  • Navigate Career Paths
    • Explore Careers in Biotech & Pharma
    • Explore Careers in Business, Consulting & Entrepreneurship
    • Explore Careers in Data Science
    • Explore Careers in Intellectual Property Law
    • Explore Careers in Science Communication
    • Explore Careers in Science Policy
    • Explore Careers in Teaching
  • Stay Connected
    • Monthly Calendar
  • Alumni Outcomes
    • Alumni Spotlights
    • Employment Outcomes
  • UC Irvine Public Policy Prep
  • Online Mentoring Program
  • Science Café – Blog
  • Newsletter
  • GPS-STEM Radio
    • About GPS-STEM Radio
    • Science Policy Podcast

FAQs

Q1) How is GPS-STEM  funded and why was it created?

GPS-STEM program is funded by Schools of Biosciences, Medicine, Engineering, Physical Sciences and Provost office at UC Irvine. The program is continuation of GPS-BIOMED program which was funded by an NIH-BEST Award until Oct 2019. In 2012 the NIH published the Biomedical Research Workforce Report, which indicated ~23% of the biomedical workforce holds tenured or tenure-track faculty positions. That means almost 80% of PhD’s hold diverse positions beyond academia. These important findings prompted the NIH to create the BEST (Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training) Initiative aimed at better preparing biomedical graduate students and postdocs for success in diverse career fields including: Biotech & Pharma, Business & Consulting, Communications & Outreach, Government & Nonprofit, and Intellectual Property Law & Technology Transfer. Institutions across the country were encouraged to apply for BEST funding and the NIH select 17 schools to serve as research sites. Each site is conducting a series of experiments to identify new and innovative approaches to broaden career and professional development for graduate and postdoctoral training. The figure below represents the new model of biomedical research training BEST programs are implementing:

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Q2) Who can join GPS-STEM?

Most GPS-STEM events and activities are open to all graduate students and postdocs across campus. However, in order to take full advantage of our our program, we encourage you to register! Graduate students within participating Ph.D. programs can register at the beginning of their 1st year and beyond. Postdoctoral fellows from participating departments can register after serving at least 6 months of their postdoctoral appointment.

Q3) What types of activities does GPS-STEM offer?

GPS-STEM offers a variety of professional development and career planning activities within the following categories:

  • EXPLORE: Events that increase awareness of diverse careers
  • TRAIN: Interactive workshops that develop professional soft skills
  • EXPERIENCE: Hands-on experiences within the workplace
  • TRANSITION: Networking and mentoring opportunities that foster career transitions

A complete description of GPS-STEM activities can be found on our Activities page. Up to date information about upcoming events can be found on the GPS-STEM calendar.

Q4) What are the benefits of becoming a GPS-STEM member?

Although most GPS-STEM events and activities are open to all graduate students and postdocs across campus, GPS-STEM members receive the following benefits:

  • Priority access to career & networking nights at the University Club featuring prominent PhD & Postdoctoral Alumni
  • Free enrollment in UCI Continuing Education Courses ($700 value)**
  • Priority and reduced cost of admission to the SciPhD Business of Science Program**
  • Priority enrollment in Science Communication Skills taught by Sandra Tsing Loh
  • Exclusive enrollment in GPS-STEM Excellence in Science Communication Program taught by Bri McWhorter
  • Priority enrollment in Teaching Apprenticeship in STEM (TAP-STEM)
  • Internship & Job Search Advising
  • Exclusive access to the GPS-BIOMED LinkedIn Group
  • Exclusive access to our 1-on-1 Alumni Mentor Program**
  • Reduced cost of admission to local professional group networking mixers
  • NIH-BEST Professional Development Certificate that can be listed on resumes and LinkedIn profiles**

**To encourage participation, we assign Professional Development (PD) credit to each event or activity that we sponsor. Our members accumulate credit by attending GPS-BIOMED events granting further access to higher level activities (asterisk activities listed above). After accumulating at least 20 credits, members receive a NIH-BEST Professional Development Certificate of Completion that can be shared with employers.

Q5) What will be required of me during my time as a GPS-STEM member?

GPS-STEM activities are never mandatory. Members are free to participate in the activities they see fit within a suitable timeline. We encourage attending career exploration events early on in graduate or postdoctoral training followed by higher level activities once specific career interests are determined. In order to help our members pinpoint careers of interest and build supportive networks, we require:

  • Completion of the Science Careers myIDP skills, interests and values assessments
  • Creation of a LinkedIn Profile

Members are also expected to provide on-going feedback by completing event evaluations (for the events attended) as well as yearly evaluations that analyze the execution of project goals.

Q6) Will I be required to discuss my career goals with my faculty advisor?

We understand that each mentor-mentee relationship is unique and developed a PI-Trainee agreement to help our members establish honest dialogs with faculty advisors. The exercise (2016-GPS-Biomed-PI-trainee-agreement) was developed to foster discussion on the following topics:

  • Careers of Interest
  • Professional Development & Career Planning
  • Balancing Academic & Career-related Goals

This agreement is recommended for members who would like to participate in GPS-STEM activities that require significant time commitments. It is required only for members who would like to participate in an internship. Additionally, the Graduate Division offers a campus-wide Individual Development Plan (IDP_form) that is now required for specific graduate programs. If you are required to complete the Graduate Division form, we suggest using our agreement as a supplement for the career planning section (excluding the PI signature page).

If you would like further coaching on how to prepare for difficult conversations, please contact: Associate Director, Emma Flores Ph.D. (eflores@uci.edu).

Q7) How is GPS-STEM addressing culture change within academia?

At the beginning of each academic year, GPS-STEM faculty leaders deliver brief program overviews at departmental faculty meetings to emphasize the added value, specifically to research efforts, our BEST program can bring. We continually provide language for training grant applications highlighting innovative professional development programming, and encourage faculty members to engage with lab alumni and industry partners to increase networks for our members. Following our most recent faculty survey (completed in August by 75+ faculty members), we found that 94% of faculty familiar with GPS-BIOMED (now GPS-STEM) believed their trainees are benefitting from the program. 

Program Successes: 

  • View the list of members and alumni who received a NIH-BEST Professional Development Certificate.
  • Checkout Alumni Spotlights
  • Read about Alumni Career Outcomes

Events Spotlight

GPS-STEM Radio SPP EP 2
GPS-STEM Radio SPP EP 2
Episode #2 of GPS-STEM Radio's Science Policy Podcast is out!
GPS-STEM Radio SPP EP 1
GPS-STEM Radio SPP EP 1

Episode #1 of GPS-STEM Radio's Science Policy Podcast is out!

GPS-STEM Radio
GPS-STEM Radio

GPS-STEM Radio, bringing you science, professional development, and experts to your earbuds!

GPS-STEM DCE Course
GPS-STEM DCE Course
Building a Career Development Program for Biomedical Trainees course designed as a toolkit and provides additional program support course.
Online Mentoring Program
Mentoring Program 2019
Industry Research, Medical Science Liaison, Teaching/Research, Field Application Scientist, Product Development, Data Science
Science Communication & Business Development
Alumni in the News!
Why GPS-BIOMED for PhD students & Postdocs? How the program prepares for careers in academia/Industry
Irvine City Council Member, Farrah Khan
Irvine City Council Member, Farrah Khan
Keynote speaker for Science Policy Symposium 2019
Congratulations to our P3 program members on DC Visit
Congratulations to our P3 program members on DC Visit
Public Policy Program members visited DC to campaign for effective NIH funding and STEM education policies.
SciencePolicySymposium
SciencePolicySymposium
Engaging policy makers and scientists in a meaningful dialogue
WhenScienceSpeaks
WhenScienceSpeaks
GPS-BIOMED in the news for unique programming for early career scientists.
Medtech Mega Mixer
Medtech Mega Mixer
Biomedical Industry Networking event for PhDs & Postdocs
4th Elevator Pitch Competition
4th Elevator Pitch Competition
Tell me about yourself!
Career Paths for PhDs
Career Paths for PhDs
Develop a strategic plan & review career paths for scientists.
Alumni Mentor Program for PhDs
Alumni Mentor Program for PhDs
Alumni from diverse career fields return to help current trainees.
UCI P3
UCI P3
Public Policy Prep for STEM grad students & postdocs!

Join GPS-STEM on social media!

  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Upcoming PD Events

Job Search Resources & Databases

  • BioPharmGuy
  • BioSpace
  • Naturejobs: Science Jobs of the Week
  • NIH OITE Career Blog
  • Science Careers
  • UCI Career Center Job & Internship Database

UCI Partners

  • Antrepreneur Center
  • Applied Innovation
  • Career Center
  • Graduate Resource Center
  • Outreach & Minority Science Programs
  • The Graduate Division
  • UCI Division of Continuing Education
  • UCI Office of Postdoctoral Scholars
  • UCI Postdoctoral Association

External Partners

  • Allergan
  • Fish & Tsang LLP
  • LDOS Media Lab
  • OCTANe

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