Career development

Excellent scientific skills are a critical component of research training for predoctoral students and postdoctoral research fellows. But successful research training needs to go beyond bench work and data analysis. It should introduce trainees to the many skill sets required to be successful in academic biomedical research, such as:

  • Communications.
  • Entrepreneurship.
  • Mentoring and didactic skills.
  • Public policy.
  • Scientific writing and editing.
  • Working with the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.

The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and Research Training (OPART) enhances the research training experience at Mayo Clinic through the following offerings.

Seminars in career and professional development

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has recognized the importance of a broad research training experience to prepare the next generation of biomedical research leaders. OPART partners with the Mayo Research Fellows' Association to provide seminars and workshops to introduce trainees to the wide variety of opportunities available in biomedical and clinical research.

At these seminars, leaders in relevant fields share their insights into successful pathways and tool sets needed to succeed in all of these professional endeavors. This includes leaders from fields such as:

  • Clinical laboratory medicine.
  • Education.
  • Industry.
  • Public affairs.
  • Publishing.
  • Research.

Mayo Clinic Research Day

Every other year, research and clinical students and fellows gather to enjoy a day of presentations and poster sessions with a keynote address from a national scientific leader. Attendees network and discuss their research with colleagues, faculty members, medical students and graduate students.

This is an outstanding way to develop presentation skills and get professional feedback in an open and casual setting.

Young Investigator Research Symposium

The Mayo Clinic Young Investigators Research Symposium is a weekend long event that takes place every other year at Mayo Clinic's campus in Rochester, Minnesota.

The event provides scientific research education for young investigators. It also is a forum for career and professional development for students, residents, postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty members, and it encourages communication between researchers in related fields. Outstanding achievements are recognized during the event.