For many graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, the idea of networking is a scary thought, bringing with it connotations of schmoozing, kissing babies, and handing out business cards with a wink and a smile. In fact, networking is an easy-to-master and valuable skill that, if put into play early in one’s training, can reap huge rewards when it comes time to finding employment. In this interactive workshop, trainees will learn what networking really entails, the returns it can generate, and how to leverage the power of the networks they already have. Practical tips for creating new networks will also be covered, including finding and attending networking events, the use of online tools, and the art of writing letters of introduction.

Facilitator: Dr. Jennifer Gardy has been working with Mitacs Step since the inception of the program in 2008. Dr. Gardy leads BCCDC’s Genome Research Laboratory and is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of British Columbia. She obtained her BSc in Cell Biology & Genetics from UBC in 2000 and completed her PhD at Simon Fraser University in 2006. She completed three years of postdoctoral training in the R.E.W. Hancock laboratory at UBC, using systems biology techniques to study the mammalian innate immune response and working on visualization tools to facilitate scientists’ exploration of biological network data. Dr. Gardy joined BCCDC in 2009, where she works in the emerging field of genomic epidemiology, combining whole genome sequencing with both new and old epidemiological techniques to understand the origins, evolution, and transmission dynamics of outbreak organisms, including tuberculosis and influenza. She also leads BCCDC’s Research Development Unit and is a member of several Research Advisory Councils, including the Womens’ Health Research Institute, the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, and the Provincial Health Services Authority. She is also a passionate science communicator involved in a number of science media projects, including regular appearances on CBC Television’s documentary series The Nature of Things.

For information on upcoming Graduate Pathways to Success Events, please visit: www.grad.ubc.ca/pathways