The Caltech Alternative PhD Careers Club - Inaugural Speaker

The recently founded Caltech Alternative PhD Careers Club is devoted to supporting graduate students in their choice to explore non-traditional career paths after obtaining a PhD. Our inaugural speaker, Jane Y. Chin, obtained a PhD in biochemistry before embarking on her career path.

Jane found incredible success as a Medical Science Liaison (MSL) and then as President of The MSL Institute for upwards of eight years. Since 2007 Jane has been sharing her insights and best practices to help PhDs pursue alternative careers paths that are non-academic--even non-science in many cases. By applying these lessons learned, Jane has created multiple "viable alternative" futures, from blogging to consulting to working with a retired NFL Hall of Fame athlete.

Jane wrote a book that addresses some of the most prominent stumbling blocks for science PhDs making a transition in their career choices ("PhD [alternative] Career Clinic" (c)2011). If you are thinking about an alternative career after your PhD, her lecture is one that you should not miss!