Below I cover the professional development activities I have engaged in past years. Admittedly, now that my own career path is more well defined, these topics are less of a forefront topic for me. However, I do try to assist early career scientists think-through their own career planning, when there is interest.
Individuals having advanced scientific training are valuable problem solvers, often able to refocus their intellect over a broad range of material. Thus scientists are found not only in the research oriented academe, but also at our National Laboratories and in technological business and industry. For society to take full advantage of the skills possessed by these individuals it is vitally important to:
Educate scientists on the full range of employment options available to them.
Provide the information necessary so that individual scientists can find the most rewarding niché for each person to make their mark.
I have been involved with a few organizations and roles that work to achieve these goals.
The Committee on Careers and Professional Development (CCPD) is the American Physical Society's (APS) organizational body that tracks career issues for the APS Executive Council. I served a three year term on the Committee (2004 - 2007) and was Chairperson of the Committee in my last year, 2006. Some the projects we completed during this time were:
A Professional Development Guide designed to assist the individual make the most of the available resources and provide an outline for career development.
The Career Development Organization (CDO) for Physicists and Astronomers is a Registered Student Organization at the University of Washington composed of physics and astronomy graduate students. The CDO formed to address the needs of the physical science student-body regarding career planning and advancement. The CDO achieves this objective through a number of programs:
The UW Physics Networking Day brings students and employers together for a day of student presentations.
Seminars by physicists working a variety of settings and disciplines.
Workshops to improve students "soft" skills of communication and leadership.
Collect and disseminate career information to the students.
The CDO was envisioned to facilitate interactions of students with individuals or employers who wish to promote career opportunities for physicists and astronomers. I encourage you to contact the CDO - they will be glad to speak with you.