For its 13th edition (see gallery below), the Life Science Career Day focused on networking as an important means for discovering work opportunities, and on the best strategies to get your career started.
From Industry to Global Health: A Journey of Impact against Malaria
During the opening session, the role of the scientist in society came to the fore as Isabelle Borghini-Fuhrer, Senior Director, Program Leadership and Strategy at Medicines for Malaria Venture, shared her journey from industry to global health in an NPO. In doing so, the potential of science for societal impact and humanitarian action was particularly underlined, putting research and innovation in health at the service of those who need it most.
Mini-roundtables with Alumni
Before the event, seven alumni had agreed to take part in filmed interviews, discussing the transition to the professional world, networking, career choices and much more. This four-part film project was screened in the auditorium at different moments during the day, each video addressing a specific theme:
• Life after Graduation: Our Alumni’s Various Journeys
• Beyond the CV: The Power of Conversations
• Career Crossroads: Master’s, PhD, Industry or Academia?
• Life’s Not a Smooth Ride, but That’s How We Grow
Networking and Career Orientation Session
Including free lunch
After our sponsoring companies presented themselves onstage with 1-minute pitches, participants had the opportunity to meet them at their booths and to interact directly with recruiters from the private industry.
They also got a chance to converse with forty alumni and invited speakers, discovering their various backgrounds and roles, asking them questions and receiving precious advice.
Finally, several invited institutions and associations were present, offering an overview of their activities and how useful they might be to students and young researchers in life sciences.
Career Corner
During the lunch session, participants were also able to meet two management and coaching experts in the pharmaceutical field (from SwAPP), discussing career paths and getting recruitment tips in a special sofa zone.
In addition, the career corner gathered university units and career centers, each holding a booth throughout the day to inform visitors about their services on campus.
Navigating your Career: Insights from Experts and Employers
In the afternoon, an expert panel from our platinum sponsors presented their scientific activities onstage and took a closer look at the private sector. Those presentations were punctuated by three Q&A sessions, offering the audience a better understanding of career opportunities and of the skills that are high in demand.
Other Activities
Throughout the event, participants had access, upon free registration, to one of the three following services:
• Chat with a professional recruiter with Talendo: come with your resume and get valuable feedback from the private sector.
• CV Photo Booth with AliaPhoto: add the perfect touch to your resume with a professional headshot.
• iEvolve – Discovering your Career Options: workshop with EPFL Transversal Skills and Career Center, using collective thinking and positive work psychology to better understand your strengths and aspirations.
We would like to thank all the organizations, speakers and participants who took part in the event and helped us make it a successful one.
See you next year for the 14th edition!
