Life & Physical Sciences

Welcome to the Life & Physical Sciences Community!

The following sampling of tools and resources should be combined with your own research. We suggest you use targeted keyword searches to find representative employers and opportunities, explore professional associations, join LinkedIn groups, and browse additional job board postings. Remember to also search LinkedIn and MyPenn (formerly QuakerNet) to connect with Penn alumni in fields related to your interests. Additionally, the sample jobs and employers are only a small selection of what’s posted in Handshake – log in to see much more!

We also suggest using the Career Exploration section of our website for more information or researching by major.

Broaden your STEM-relevant professional skills that are valued in industryMany career opportunities in STEM fields need candidates who have strong research, technical, and scientific skills. However, roles in industry also need a wide range of transferable skills that are essential for getting the research done in a timely, collaborative, and impactful way. Skills such as effective communication, problem solving, project management, collaboration, and innovation, are all highly valued in industry. Understand which professional skills you need to build during your time at Penn by using resources such as iBiology and ChemIDP, and then learn how to communicate these effectively in your resumes and interviews.
Find employers in industries and career fields that interest youCreating a spreadsheet of employers that do the kind of work and research that you hope to do as a professional is always a good idea. This can help you prioritize your networking and job search. Use keywords in the job sections of Handshake and LinkedIn to see which organizations are interested in your skills. Check out the employers that alumni from Penn are working at now in our outcomes surveys, and see where students have had their internships. Use CareerShift to perform a company search by industry and geographical locations to get a great list of organizations to explore (and email addresses for contacts too!).
Connect with employers and alumni, and explore your career optionsThere are many opportunities for you to connect with employers and alumni over the course of an academic year. Some employers will hold information sessions that can be a fantastic way to understand more about a company, their positions, and their hiring practices. Search for these on Handshake, and make sure to complete your Handshake profile and make it public so that employers can reach out to you. Attend some of our career fairs to engage with employers, recruiters, and alumni – these are useful networking events even if you are not actively looking for jobs or internships. And don’t forget to take advantage of the interactive alumni database on LinkedIn!
Find ResourcesOn this page, we’ve compiled many resources to help you prepare for a career in the life or physical sciences. Of particular interest should be our industry specific job boards, as well as various scientific professional organizations.

What's New?

Coming Together to Support the Nation’s STEM Pipeline

News & Articles
Published on October 4, 2022

Check out this post from the Carpe Careers blog published on the Inside Higher Ed website – written by PhD/postdoc career advisors for PhD students and postdocs:

By Joseph Barber

The in-person BioSciences Career Fair is today

News & Articles
Published on September 29, 2022

Make the most of the BioSciences Career Fairs by setting aside some time today (in-person) and tomorrow (virtual) to focus on your professional and career development.

If you are looking to explore career options in fields that value a STEM …

By Joseph Barber

It’s Getting Hot in Here

News & Articles
Published on September 27, 2022

Katelyn Jones, COL ’24, Fayetteville, PA

Climate change – one problem that will undoubtably plague the future of the planet. Among other global issues, rising global ocean temperatures feels like an out-of-control train car that just can’t seem to be stopped. …

By Career Services

Investigating Missense Mutations in silico vs. in vivo

News & Articles
Published on September 26, 2022

Aleena Alex, COL ’24, Philadelphia, PA

This summer I got the opportunity to conduct research with the Paralkar Lab. The Paralkar Lab studies how transcription factors and other related proteins affect normal hematopoiesis or blood cell development. The lab focuses …

By Career Services

Prepare for the BioSciences Career Fair 2022

Video

Find the resources mentioned in this video here: https://upenn.box.com/s/czcb5mrdz95ty9vdg1xnirszvtbxwlro

Whether you are in the first years of your academic program at Penn, or right at the end of your postdoc, there are many benefits to participating in career fairs. You …

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HandshakeShare This: Share Handshake on TwitterShare Handshake on LinkedinShare Handshake on Facebook
Handshake is Career Services’ powerful platform for University of Pennsylvania students, postdocs and alumni served by our office.  Handshake uses …

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ChemIDPShare This: Share ChemIDP on TwitterShare ChemIDP on LinkedinShare ChemIDP on Facebook
A tool for chemists to help them explore career options and create a plan for their own professional and career …

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iBiologyShare This: Share iBiology on TwitterShare iBiology on LinkedinShare iBiology on Facebook
Successful scientists share their experiences and advice related to a variety of careers in education, industry, government, and more

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myIDPShare This: Share myIDP on TwitterShare myIDP on LinkedinShare myIDP on Facebook
Developed specifically for STEM PhDs, this free resource provides self-assessment tools to help you evaluate your skills, interests, and values, …

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Academic Entrepreneurship for Medical & Health ScientistsShare This: Share Academic Entrepreneurship for Medical & Health Scientists on TwitterShare Academic Entrepreneurship for Medical & Health Scientists on LinkedinShare Academic Entrepreneurship for Medical & Health Scientists on Facebook
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Connecting Black microbiologists with one another and foster a sense of community among them.

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Vault Guide to Chemistry Jobs, Second EditionShare This: Share Vault Guide to Chemistry Jobs, Second Edition on TwitterShare Vault Guide to Chemistry Jobs, Second Edition on LinkedinShare Vault Guide to Chemistry Jobs, Second Edition on Facebook
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Vault Guide to Nuclear Power Jobs, Second EditionShare This: Share Vault Guide to Nuclear Power Jobs, Second Edition on TwitterShare Vault Guide to Nuclear Power Jobs, Second Edition on LinkedinShare Vault Guide to Nuclear Power Jobs, Second Edition on Facebook
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