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<p>Finding a mentor or reevaluating skillsets can be daunting for any PhD student or postdoc. For Dr. Yvette Seger, it was a manner of doing the work in networking while also finding guidance from a &#8220;fairy job mother.&#8221; As director of science policy at the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), Dr. Seger oversees [&hellip;]</p>

Pathways Ep.1: Nothing Like a Fairy Job Mother

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Finding a mentor or reevaluating skillsets can be daunting for any PhD student or postdoc. For Dr. Yvette Seger, it was a manner of doing the work in networking while also finding guidance from a “fairy job mother.”

As director of science policy at the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), Dr. Seger oversees a team working to analyze science and policy in several areas of research within FASEB, including public outreach efforts where science is described to the public. Throughout the past thirteen years, Dr. Seger has grown within her field by fostering strong connections, acknowledging her strengths and understanding the evolution of a job position. PhD students and postdocs will have multiple mentors throughout their educational and professional careers; it’s important to find those mentors, that will help nudge and guide them toward a flourishing path.

“I looked at gaps in my training and used career opportunities to test drive them,” said Dr. Seger.

Along with her doctorate in genetics, Dr. Seger uses her policy knowledge to better understand issues affecting the conduct of research in the sustainability of the biomedical enterprise. In this episode, IU School of Medicine professor and host, Dr. Randy Brutkiewicz, discusses with Dr. Seger how fairy job mothers and a PhD acted as gateways toward an exciting career path.

 

Pathways, an original IU School of Medicine podcast, highlights unique career paths of PhD holders to encourage current graduate students and postdocs toward a variety of opportunities outside academia.
The views expressed in this content represent the perspective and opinions of the author and may or may not represent the position of Indiana University School of Medicine.
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Sonder Collins

Communications Manager

Having joined IU School of Medicine in 2016, Sonder uses a poetry and theatre background to bridge the academic world with the creative. A graduate of University of Evansville, he works with faculty, staff and trainees to create unique marketing ideas that connect the public to research, education and clinical initiatives taking place at IU School of Medicine. From writing stories on groundbreaking equipment to orchestrating digital marketing strategies, Sonder collaborates with experts across the school to help departments thrive in their marketing and communication ambitions. His specific area of focus is the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences and the Indiana Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.