Never before has there been the dizzying array of educational and career enhancement offerings organized at national meetings and on society websites. Besides interviewing and brushing up on such skills as grant writing and preparing a flawless CV, meeting goers say that these events are also a good place to network. "I don't know if more people told me they met their spouse or got their jobs at our meetings," jokes Elizabeth Marincola, executive director of the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB). "Networking opportunities abound at our meeting."
In addition to job bazaars and placement services, societies also hold educational, career-oriented, and outreach programs. At last year's Society for Neuroscience meeting, scientists could chose one-day courses on topics such as DNA microarrays, light microscopy, and the neurobiology of Parkinson's disease; career roundtables and discussions on training opportunities for grad students; and daylong professional skills workshops on training, employment, and ...
