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Originally posted on the UNC Lineberger News Site:

UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center hosted a symposium for postdoctoral fellows to hear from three scientists who have chosen different science career paths after earning their doctoral degree.

The Integrated Training in Cancer Model Systems (ITCMS) Director’s Career Symposium, held June 8, provided current trainees the opportunity to connect with the featured speakers and learn about the decisions they made in determining a specific area of interest.

UNC Lineberger’s Channing Der, PhD, kicks off the 2022 ITCMS Director’s Career Symposium

“This symposium brings speakers who have taken different career routes to share their career journeys, to help guide our current trainees learn about the wealth of opportunities available to PhD-trained researchers,” said Channing Der, PhD, ITCMS program director and the Sarah Graham Kenan Distinguished Professor in the Department of Pharmacology.UNC Lineberger’s Channing Der, PhD, kicks off the 2022 ITCMS Director’s Career Symposium.

Christina G. Towers, PhD, assistant professor, Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Sciences, Danielle R. Cook, PhD, director of Immuno-Oncology, RootPath, and Melinda D. Willard, PhD, research fellow clinical, Loxo Oncology at Lilly, all provided insight to attendees on their various areas of expertise.

“The career opportunities for PhD-trained researchers have evolved beyond just academia. However, what these options are, how one can successfully transitioned to these careers, is largely a black box for our current trainees,” Der added.

Danielle R. Cook, PhD, presents at the 2022 ITCMS Director’s Career Symposium.

The ITCMS program, in its 41st year, was established to provide postdoctoral fellows an interdisciplinary training experience, including basic and translational research opportunities with renowned investigators, and an extensive scope of workshops and training modules with an emphasis on cancer model systems.