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?

The Power of a Fruit Fly

News & Articles
Published on January 6, 2023

Hayle Kim, COL ’25, Knoxville, TN

I began working in the Kayser Lab in November of my freshman year as a work-study student, hoping to explore my curiosity of sleep through research. As a full time research assistant this summer, …

By Career Services

Build on 2022 for a Strong Career-Focused Start to 2023

News & Articles
Published on December 13, 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

My Summer in the Lampson Lab

News & Articles
Published on November 15, 2022

Srikar Yelamarthy, COL ’24, Warrington, PA

Over the summer I had the opportunity to work in the Lampson Lab and conduct research in the field of cell biology. The lab focuses on the cell biology of meiotic drive in mammals, …

By Career Services

Exploring Physics in the Field of Medicine

News & Articles
Published on November 11, 2022

Jesica Mena, COL ‘ 23, Philadelphia, PA

‘This summer, I had the privilege of working for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as a research assistant in the department of radiation oncology. As a member of the Hao Huang laboratory, I …

By Career Services

What Is an Externship (and How to Get One)?

News & Articles
Published on November 10, 2022

Choosing a career path can be difficult and even nerve-racking when you’re applying to jobs but don’t even know what a day in the role would look like. Externships, typically short programs where you shadow a professional, can help give …

By Zoe Kaplan - Forage

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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
Academic Entrepreneurship is a free Open Education Resource that seeks to support and grow a new academic research community of …

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Black in MicrobiologyShare This: Share Black in Microbiology on TwitterShare Black in Microbiology on LinkedinShare Black in Microbiology on Facebook
Connecting Black microbiologists with one another and foster a sense of community among them.

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Vault Career Guide to Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology, Third EditionShare This: Share Vault Career Guide to Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology, Third Edition on TwitterShare Vault Career Guide to Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology, Third Edition on LinkedinShare Vault Career Guide to Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology, Third Edition on Facebook
Worldwide, more than 2,700 pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies comprise a trillion-dollar industry, with many of the top companies—and one of …

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The Vault Guides to Jobs series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …

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Vault Guide to Chemicals Industry Jobs, Second EditionShare This: Share Vault Guide to Chemicals Industry Jobs, Second Edition on TwitterShare Vault Guide to Chemicals Industry Jobs, Second Edition on LinkedinShare Vault Guide to Chemicals Industry Jobs, Second Edition on Facebook
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Vault Guide to Medical Equipment Manufacturing Jobs, Second EditionShare This: Share Vault Guide to Medical Equipment Manufacturing Jobs, Second Edition on TwitterShare Vault Guide to Medical Equipment Manufacturing Jobs, Second Edition on LinkedinShare Vault Guide to Medical Equipment Manufacturing Jobs, Second Edition on Facebook
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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
The Vault Guides to Jobs series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …

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