Cool site for alternative careers: Biocareers.

Check out Biocareers for a wealth of information on an impressive array of alternative science careers.  The job boards are restricted to affiliated universities, but the career articles are free!

Call for posts! Call for ideas and suggestions!

Nearly two years ago (and I can't believe it's been that long!) a blogger named Mad Hatter hatched the idea for this site.  Since then, we've had some great posts on a variety of topics--non-tenure track positions in academia, government positions, marketing, scientific writing and editing.  We've had discussions on career angst, offered support and personal stories, and listed job opportunites and links to resources and news.

But the well is running dry.

Our regular group of contributors has done a great job (if I do say so myself), but we have only so much knowledge and experience.  Posts here have been slanted toward our particular fields, but are light in others. And as for myself, I think I've said pretty much all I have to say on my own foray into an alternative career (at least for now!)

So I would love to hear from new voices.  I'd love to hear about areas we haven't yet delved into.  Personally, I'd love to hear from those who've used their scientific training to find careers in public policy, patent law, technology transfer, regulatory affairs and consulting.  A commenter here recently asked a questions about the field of scientific illustration.  I know nothing about that field. But I would love to learn.

So this post is a call to our readers:  we want to hear from you!  Do you have something to say? If you would like to be a guest poster or contributor, e-mail me at sneakycat@gmail.com.

Perhaps you don't have a full-length blog post in mind, but you have a tip on a new job opening or a link to a really cool science career site (no SPAM, relevant sites only)? Again,  leave a comment or e-mail at sneakycat@gmail.com.

What do you want this website to be? Ideas? Suggestions? What do you want to see here? Leave a comment or e-mail!

We look forward to hearing from you.

Link to a perspective on leaving the bench

I just read this beautiful post on leaving the research bench by Ian Brooks, "Meandering Scholar" at Nature Network.

Go read. He doesn't hide the pain and turmoil he felt in leaving the standard career track, but it seems that he has found his own happy ending.

Another science writing internship opportunity

This was passed on from a friend of The Alternative Scientist:


The Ecological Society of America (ESA) is looking for an intern, to be
based at its Washington, DC office, to help with the production of one of
the Society's journals, Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment
(www.frontiersinecology.org). Frontiers is published ten times a year
(both in print and online). Ecologists and environmental scientists make
up its primary readership.

The internship is a great opportunity to learn about the scientific
publishing process. Depending on experience and aptitude, the intern will
be involved in many different aspects of journal production, including
editing/proofreading, writing, podcasting, and image research, as well as
other day-to-day activities of the editorial office.

The internship includes a stipend of $2750 for 3 months. The successful
applicant should have a demonstrated knowledge of ecology, environmental
science, or biology, and an interest in, or experience in, publishing or
journalism.

Application instructions:

Resume, cover letter, and two letters of reference should be sent
electronically to Dr. Sue Silver, Frontiers Editor-in-Chief
(suesilver@esa.org).
On e-mail subject line, please state: Frontiers Internship

Science writing internship opportunity at Argonne (for undergrads)

A friend recently alerted me to a science writing internship opportunity at Argonne National labs. It sounds like a great opportunity. Unfortunately, it is limited to undergrads only, but perhaps some undergrads do read this blog?

The following description is from Argonne's web site http://www.anl.gov/Media_Center/Internship/index.html

"Argonne National Laboratory's Communications & Public Affairs Division is offering one full-time science-writing internship for summer 2010 for an undergraduate student or student who graduates in May or June 2010. Former Argonne interns subsequently landed reporting and editing jobs with Science, Science News, R&D, Chemical & Engineering News, The Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the International Medical News Group and the Elgin Courier-News, and as science writers at Cal Tech, Purdue, the American Chemical Society, Ames Laboratory, Argonne, and the University of Chicago Hospitals.

Participants must be full-time students at an accredited college or university and must have a strong interest in science-related journalism. Participants will work at least ten 40-hour weeks on science news and feature stories and magazine articles for the Argonne News, Argonne Now and the Argonne Web site, as well as related news releases. The internship requires a strong background in journalism and an interest in science.

The working environment is collegial, creative and collaborative. Argonne's Communications & Public Affairs Division has nine full-time professional journalist/writers who work with our interns daily.

Argonne National Laboratory has more than 200 research programs in basic and applied science, including mathematics and computer science, biology, environmental research, materials science, physics, chemistry, energy research, and advanced nuclear reactor technology. Argonne's Illinois site is located on a wooded, 1,500-acre campus near Chicago."


For more detailed information on the program and application, see

http://www.anl.gov/Media_Center/Internship/index.html



http://www.anl.gov/Media_Center/Internship/index.html