Join Our Network for Young Professional
Mission
Our goal is to build a community of early career professionals, collate disparate information sources that are integral to success in our future careers, and provide free access to this information in an inclusive and supportive environment.
Motivation
Finding and preparing for that “forever” job is daunting and can still be challenging once you have secured a position. Many of us liken the feeling to jumping into the deep end of the pool without knowing how to swim. We can tread water to stay afloat, eventually teaching ourselves how to swim. But what if we were thrown into the deep end of the pool and could think to ourselves, “whew, I am so glad I know how to swim. I can do this.” This analogy is not to invoke a melodramatic view of a scientific career, but rather portray that the challenges within a scientific career can be eased when you are properly prepared, have the appropriate knowledge, and are surrounded by a supportive group of colleagues and mentors.
Aims
- Provide pertinent information to all interested early career professionals.
- Deliver this information in a supportive and relaxed environment under a horizontal organizational structure.
- Foster a community of early career professionals that continues to provide a supportive and collaborative network.
Connect with Us
Meeting Themes for 2026
In 2026, the Early Career Group is testing out a new format. We will host four longer sessions instead of a monthly format. Briefly, the four themes will be (and not necessarily in this order):
- How to get a job: Searching for jobs, applying, interviewing, and negotiating (we will discuss all types of jobs).
- How to secure money: Grant writing, searching for different types of grants, budgeting, collaborating, and pivoting if a grant is unfunded.
- How to best present data: Sharing with a scientific audience, science outreach to the community, using new tools (AI, open source platforms), working on graphical abstracts, social media and websites, how to present yourself and your data in today’s world.
- How to be happy: Finding balance with career and life/family/hobbies, working with anxiety/impostor syndrome, exploring your role as a mentor and a mentee, climate anxiety and disaster fatigue, building community, supporting our international scientist
Meeting Dates for 2026
While the dates are not yet finalized, we are looking at the months of March (late), May, September and November. We are hoping to avoid the busy summer field season. Sessions will be held Wednesdays (get your HMSC coffee and then head over!).
Time: 10: 30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
- Part 1: 10:30 a.m. - noon
- Lunch (provided): noon - 1:00 p.m.
- Part 2: 1 - 2:30 p.m.
Location*: Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building, Room 176 (unless otherwise posted)
* Hybrid option information is available when you join the listserv.
Volunteers Welcome
If you or someone you know are able to help with the planning or know of someone that could help with a session please let us know!
Feel free to reach out to Emily Slesinger or Dawn Barlow.