On February 1, 2024, Yale’s Office of Career Strategy (OCS) organized a site visit to Jackson Laboratories (JAX) in Farmington. This visit offered a valuable insight into the vibrant and varied field of nonprofit scientific research, showing a different side to it than what’s typically found in academic settings. Participants included Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Researchers.
The day began at 9:15 am with a warm welcome and an insightful overview of JAX, a pioneering institution at the forefront of genomic research. This introduction set the stage for what was to unfold – an immersive experience into the heart of a leading biomedical research facility. Afterwards, the group embarked on a tour of JAX, an eye-opening journey through state-of-the-art facilities where groundbreaking research unfolds daily. The tour offered the participants a tangible sense of the vibrant research culture and the cutting-edge work being undertaken at JAX.
The tour was followed by a presentation from a member of the Talent Acquisition team, providing an in-depth look into the employment opportunities at JAX. The session, coupled with a Q&A segment, was invaluable, shedding light on the myriad pathways available to those interested in pursuing careers in genomic research and other non-academic jobs as available in JAX.
One of the day’s highlights was the career panel where participants had the unique opportunity to engage with JAX professionals. The panelists, comprising of postdoctoral associate, scientific writer, research scientist, computational scientist, and science educator, generously shared their career trajectories, offering both inspiration and practical advice to those contemplating a career in this exciting field.
The visit to Jackson Laboratories left an indelible mark on all 18 graduate students and postdocs in attendance. The combination of a warm reception, comprehensive tours, insightful presentations, and engaging panels provided a holistic view of life at JAX. The openness of the JAX team in addressing questions and their willingness to share personal career experiences made the trek not just educational but also deeply inspiring. The insights gained by attendees are stepping stones to a future rich with possibilities, and provides a broader perspective on the varied paths their careers could take.
This job trek to Jackson Laboratories epitomizes Yale OCS’s commitment to exposing graduate students and postdocs to a diverse array of career paths beyond traditional academic routes. It was both a journey through a nonprofit research facility and into the possibilities that lie in the expansive field of biomedical research. It also underscores the desire to maintain a lasting connection between Yale and JAX, with hopes of future collaborations.
Visit the OCS STEM PhD Pathways website for more information on career pathways! This OCS job trek was led by McDougal Career Fellows in Yale’s Office of Career Strategy, Oluwatobi Oso (PhD candidate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) and AJ Simon (PhD candidate in Radiology and Biomedical Imaging).
