Useful Links

The UCSC Cell Browser is an interactive viewer for single-cell expression. You can find a few datasets converted at UCSC, and can also set one up yourself by installing the package. Exporters to create a Cell Browser from your own data are integrated into Seurat or Scanpy and UCSC can provide one for CellRanger and for text files.

UCSC Cell Browser

On June 22, 2000, UCSC and the other members of the International Human Genome Project consortium completed the first working draft of the human genome assembly, forever ensuring free public access to the genome and the information it contains. A few weeks later, on July 7, 2000, the newly assembled genome was released on the web, along with the initial prototype of a graphical viewing tool, the UCSC Genome Browser. In the ensuing years, the website has grown to include a broad collection of vertebrate and model organism assemblies and annotations, along with a large suite of tools for viewing, analyzing and downloading data.

UCSC Genome Browser

The UCSC STEM Postdoc Association (USPA) is a postdoctoral-led organization that organizes a variety of events, including career training, symposia, and social gatherings in Santa Cruz and Bay Area.

UCSC USPA

The UCSC Division of Graduate Studies provides a number of resources for postdocs through their Postdoctoral Scholars website.

UCSC GradDiv

UC Santa Cruz is a sustaining and an institutional member of the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA). NPA resources and benefits are available to all members of the UCSC community, including faculty, administrators, postdocs and graduate students. Register as an affiliate member using your ucsc.edu email address to access member benefits.

NPA website

The UCSC Office of Research (OR) provides a list of government funding websites, as well as several tools to identify funding sources for your research. These tools include Pivot, InfoReady, and Cayuse. The searchable grant database Pivot can be accessed using a UCSC email address.

OR – Funding Opportunities

The Office for Postdoctoral Scholars at UCSF has provided a PDF guide that provides useful tips for identifying issues impacting your well being as you progress through your postdoctoral training.

UCSF Postdoc Guide to Caring

Who is eligible?

Mentor: 3rd-year PBSE graduate students and beyond who have passed their qualifying exams (BME mentors exempt) are eligible to apply to serve as mentors.

What is the commitment?

A yearly commitment is required. Experienced graduate students will mentor a 1st or 2nd year graduate student throughout Fall – Spring quarter.

How much time will this require?

You should reserve time to meet with your mentee at least once a month, attend a lunchtime seminar (once per month), and exchange e-mails and/or other communication that is relevant.

What if I already serve as a mentor in another program? Can I participate?

Yes, definitely. We would welcome your expertise.

What training is involved?

Mentors/mentees will be required to attend a mandatory training workshop with CITL and CAPS at the start of the year. SSN Mentor Application Form

The Individual Development Plan (IDP) concept is commonly used in industry to help employees define and pursue their career goals. In 2003, the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) proposed an IDP framework for postdoctoral fellows in the sciences. AAAS/Science joined forces with FASEB and experts from several universities (see authors below) to expand on that framework. The result is myIDP – a unique, web-based career-planning tool tailored to meet the needs of PhD students and postdocs in the sciences. myIDP provides:

• Exercises to help you examine your skills, interests, and values
• A list of 20 scientific career paths with a prediction of which ones best fit your skills and interests
• A tool for setting strategic goals for the coming year, with optional reminders to keep you on track
• Articles and resources to guide you through the process

The National Research Mentoring Network is a NIH funded resource to pair mentors and mentees. The NRMN also offers a variety of training courses including laboratory readiness; unconscious bias; mentoring undergraduate students; and more. Resources are available for multiple career stages and roles.

NRMN

The Graduate Division subscribes to Beyond the Professoriate, an online resource for career exploration and preparation for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. Join with your UCSC email address and password to access BTP’s platform and its career development resources. BTP offers numerous webinars throughout the year and sends newsletters.

Beyond the Professoriate

Imagine PhD is a free online career assessment tool for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in the Humanities and Social Sciences. UC Santa Cruz is a Silver Level Sponsor of the program; feel free to create an account and explore.

Imagine PhD

UC Santa Cruz is an institutional member of the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD). All faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate students have free access to its online resources. Join and sign in with your UCSC email and password.

NCFDD

The San Antonio Biomedical Education and Research program (SABER) provides an online library of resources in support of the professional development of trainees. Resources are primarily designed for IRACDA fellows and those pursuing academic career paths.

SABER Library

UCSC’s Center For Innovation and Entreprenurial Development (CIED) offers the NSF Innovation Corps summer program “Summer & Startup Enrepreneurship Academy (SEA).” This 8-week program involves two day-long classes, followed by online webinars, and weekly office hours with faculty mentors.

UCSC CIED

The UCSC Startup Sandbox provides bio-science entrepreneurs business training, access to academic excellence, and an incubator where they launch their companies and productize their research. A variety of events are hosted that would be of interest to novice entrepreneurs.

UCSC Startup Sandbox

QB3 is the University of California’s hub for innovation and entrepreneurship in the life sciences. The institute supports UC researchers and empowers Bay Area entrepreneurs to launch startup companies and partner with industry. With five incubators, two seed-stage venture capital firms, and a special initiative in medical devices — the Rosenman Institute — QB3 helps bio-entrepreneurs create high-value jobs and brings more than $750 million into the Bay Area each year.

A variety of events and entrepreneur resources are made available by QB3, with seminars open to UCSC postdocs.

QB3 at UC Santa Cruz

Scientific Leadership and Management training (UCSF) offers a 16-hour training course for people who are about to lead research groups in an academic environment.

UCSF SLMS

SLAM (UCB) offers a set of three (3) workshops in spring that are open to UCSC postdocs. Three different sessions can be attended according to interest.

UC Berkeley SLAM

UCSC’s Center for Innovation and Teaching (CITL) offers a large variety of evidence-based mentoring training, including the Equity Minded Mentoring workshop for Postdocs required for IRACDA fellows.

UCSC CITL

InterSECT Job Simulations provide an online platform that allows PhD-level scientists and humanists, regardless of professional stage, to explore future career options.

InterSECT

Job hunting in industry might seem like a mysterious or overwhelming task, but there are specific skills you can learn to make the process approachable and successful. In a series of four talks, Bill Lindstaedt, the Assistant Vice Chancellor of Career Advancement, International and Postdoctoral Services (CAIPS) at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), will show you how to effectively search, apply, interview and negotiate for industry scientist positions. In part 1, Lindstaedt covers how to set yourself up for success in the job search, including how to find out about biotech and pharma companies and how to set up informational interviews with industry professionals. In part 2, he describes how to write a winning resume, and how to effectively find out about and apply to industry scientist positions. In part 3, he teaches key interviewing skills so you will excel at the interview process. And, in conclusion, in part 4, he provides tips for how to successfully negotiate your industry scientist job offer.

Job Hunting in Industry

Black Professionals In STEM Inc. (BPS) is a nonprofit that aims to foster community for Black people in technical spaces and connect them to new opportunities. Collectively we are 2,000+ members strong across the US and are helping more folks build their networks everyday.

BPS Job Board

oSTEM: Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM), Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit professional association for LGBTQ+ people in the STEM community. With over 100 student chapters at colleges/universities and professional chapters in cities across the United States and abroad, oSTEM is the largest chapter-based organization focused on LGBTQ+ people in STEM.

oSTEM Job Board

Breezy HR has compiled a list of the top 28 DEI focused job boards to search for your next career stage.

Top 28 DEI Job Boards

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