{"id":13313,"date":"2017-04-12T13:00:17","date_gmt":"2017-04-12T12:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.nature.com\/naturejobs\/?p=13313"},"modified":"2017-04-04T14:16:42","modified_gmt":"2017-04-04T13:16:42","slug":"science-competitions-earn-you-fame-glory-and-transferable-skills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.nature.com\/naturejobs\/2017\/04\/12\/science-competitions-earn-you-fame-glory-and-transferable-skills\/","title":{"rendered":"Science competitions earn you fame, glory and transferable skills"},"content":{"rendered":"

Competitions aimed at early career researchers fill the gap between a PhD and a ‘real world’ education, says R\u00e9ka Nagy.<\/h2>\n

My PhD journey is coming to its end and I am considering a non-academic career. Looking at job descriptions, I know I tick the box marked \u2018strong analytical and problem-solving skills.\u2019 However, there are other boxes to consider: \u2018Strong time and project management skills.\u2019 \u2018A team player with a proven track record of collaborations.\u2019 \u2018The ability to communicate clearly and concisely to a wide range of stakeholders.\u2019<\/p>\n

I worked in a ten-person research group but I did most of my work on my own \u2013 does that really make me a team player? And what does \u201ca wide range of stakeholders\u201d mean, anyway? I don\u2019t have the time or money to pursue further training to gain these skills, and I feel like the four years I spent getting my PhD in Human Genetics were a waste.<\/p>\n

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Then again, my degree gave me the opportunity to take part in activities that may help tick these boxes.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m talking about competitions aimed specifically at early career researchers. These competitions are heavily subsidised by charities, universities or companies, so they don\u2019t cost you anything. They are designed to teach you the skills and provide the experiences you might not otherwise be exposed to as a researcher. They are also excellent networking opportunities \u2014 the judges are often important figures in industry, academia or the media, and talking to them will give you a better idea of what to pursue next, and they could serve as key contacts in the future.<\/p>\n

There are competitions that cater to a range of interests and personalities. You can participate on your own, or as part of a team. The competition might have a broad scientific context, or it might be specialized to your field. It might require you to present your own work, someone else\u2019s work, or a piece of work that is entirely fictional. You will be judged by children, scientists, industry experts, business moguls, investors, media personalities and science communicators. You can write, design, talk or even dance your way to victory.<\/p>\n

The opportunity to win a prize is a great incentive on its own. But competitions also provide a controlled environment in which to take risks, apply yourself and try out new things. You gain another skill that is often overlooked, though: the opportunity to experience failure without repercussions, which prepares you to deal with the let-downs that are a part of life. You really have nothing to lose and much to gain.<\/p>\n

Taking part in competitions will allow you to develop yourself and, consequently, your r\u00e9sum\u00e9. You\u2019ll have managed several projects with tight deadlines. You\u2019ll demonstrate that you can be a leader and a team player, but also stand out as an individual. You\u2019ll be able to prove that you can communicate effectively with expert or lay audiences. And, should your job application get rejected, you\u2019ll have the skills to deal with that, too.<\/p>\n

Science Competitions aimed at students and early career researchers.<\/h1>\n

Here are some examples of competitions available to early career researchers, primarily in the life sciences. This is meant to be an informative, rather than an exhaustive, list, and similar opportunities may also be available in other fields.<\/p>\n

Learn and Collaborate.<\/h2>\n

International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM)<\/a> is an interdisciplinary synthetic biology competition. The hands-on research is done by teams of undergraduates, supervised by at least one professor and a post-doc.<\/p>\n

The Merck BioPharma Innovation Cup<\/a> provides insight into the process of pharmaceutical development, from discovering a drug to bringing it to market. Science and business students from all over the world work together in teams to develop and present a biopharmaceutical business plan.<\/p>\n

The Young Entrepreneurs Scheme (YES) competitions come in Bio<\/a>, Engineering<\/a>, and Environmental<\/a> flavours. Industry leaders teach you about marketing, finance, licensing and intellectual property law. Using these concepts, your team develops a business idea based on fictional but plausible science, and presents it to a panel of investors, akin to Dragon\u2019s Den.<\/p>\n

Talk.<\/h2>\n

The Festival of Bad Ad Hoc Hypothesis (BAHfest<\/a>), held in cities in the US, UK and Australia, has acclaimed public speakers train you to present science in a convincing manner, without the requirement to have any results to present. The aim is to present thoroughly researched, well-argued but completely made-up theories.<\/p>\n