![\"TNguyen-naturejobs-blog\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.nature.com\/naturejobs\/files\/2015\/07\/TNguyen-naturejobs-blog.jpg\" "\\"TNguyen-naturejobs-blog\\"")
<\/a>{credit}Image credit: UCSF Communications Team{\/credit}<\/p><\/div>\n
What is your scientific background?<\/strong><\/p>\n I have a PhD in Neuroscience and my area of research was neuroscience and inflammation using animal models of neurodegenerative disease. Most recently I studied the intersection of inflammation, metabolic disease and neurodegeneration during my postdoctoral appointment at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).<\/p>\n Why did you decide to leave the bench?<\/strong><\/p>\n This new career within academia was a natural transition for me. As a postdoc, I started organizing career panels and events to help the people I was doing science with. Now as a PhD career advisor and programme director for career development at UCSF, I design, conduct and evaluate programmes specifically for scientists. I collaborate with researchers and counselors, and support scientists at a research-intensive institution everyday, and find that incredibly rewarding.<\/p>\n Why did you decide to start working as a career advisor?<\/strong> How do you want to help scientists in their careers?<\/strong><\/p>\n When scientists figure out that they can\u2019t or don\u2019t want to continue in academia, I want to help them explore non-academic careers and navigate the application process. The decision to leave academia can be a tough one, whether you figure it out early in your career or not, so I also offer co-counseling appointments with colleagues in the office to discuss both academic and non-academic career paths.\u00a0I want to help scientists explore careers in science, network, and apply for jobs in a way that is comfortable for them, because individuals approach these processes differently (i.e., as an introvert or extrovert). I design workshops and online resources with this in mind.\u00a0In my position, I have the opportunity to talk to recruiters and employers in diverse career fields and use that information to help postdocs and graduate students present themselves well in the application process. I also coach clients on how to have positive interactions with alumni when exploring new careers and transitions.<\/p>\n Tell us something interesting about yourself.<\/strong><\/p>\n I work remotely from Boston; 3,000 miles away from the UCSF office. I contribute to the team through teleconferencing and my advising appointments are via Skype (which is convenient for those early birds in SF). Our office jokingly calls me the UCSF-East Coast office.<\/p>\n Thi has kindly offered four questions to you, our readers, to vote on. Cast your votes for your favourite, and in one month you’ll see the answer.<\/p>\n
\nI get the opportunity to help postdocs and graduate students prepare for career paths of interest beyond the bench such as consulting, policy or scientific communications. I came in as a former postdoc, so my experiences inform me about the barriers scientists may face in exploring career options and looking for jobs. I am particularly passionate about helping clients present themselves well during the application process, from resume to negotiation.<\/p>\n