Career Development Resources

Graduates with MS or PhD degrees in pharmacology, and postdoctoral scholars with advanced training in pharmacology, have a wide range of career opportunities to pursue. This page contains several professional development resources for our trainees to use as they plan their career paths and interests. For some, choosing the next step in a career path can be difficult and stressful. The resources provided below can help aid in this transition. Career exploration and job searching should be an exciting time, NOT a difficult or uncomfortable task.

Getting Started

Getting Started: Career Exploration for Beginners

Individual Development Plan (IDP) A tool that can help you explore career possibilities and set goals to follow the career path that fits you best.
AAAS Career Development Center Science Careers A destination for finding high-quality, on-demand courses that augment your STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education and bridge professional gaps.
Versatile PhD An online community dedicated to non-academic and non-faculty careers for PhDs in humanities, social science and STEM.
Academic Careers A global academic job site for teaching jobs, education jobs, research jobs, and professional jobs in education and academia.
Oystir Resources and job search tools for STEM students, postdocs and professionals.
Government Positions A quick introduction and guide to government positions for those with a Ph.D.

First Impressions: Putting your best face forward

Join LinkedIn LinkedIn is a valuable resource to connect with employers and to have employers find you. Keeping this updated can be key in landing a great job!
Make Business Cards The university print shop can create personalized business cards so you can always have some on-hand to pass to anyone you might connect with.
Resources at the U

Medical School & Graduate Program Specific

MICaB Career Development Program The Microbiology Immunology and Cancer Biology Program's Graduate Career Development committee aims to promote education, opportunity, inclusion and excellence surrounding the exploration of available career paths.
Graduate Program in Neuroscience Career Facilitation & Resources A committee that supports neuroscience graduate student career development by providing resources and events to help identify and pursue career goals.
Office of Professional Development The new Office of Professional Development (OPD) provides biomedical graduate students and postdoctoral trainees with resources and opportunities in career education and professional development.

General UMN Career Resources

Graduate School Academic and Professional Development The Graduate School provides programs, resources, and events to help you with every step along the way - from identifying potential career paths, to developing skills to compete for them, to managing your career.
Goldpass The University of Minnesota's internet-based resource to help connect students and alumni with organizations that provide employment, volunteer opportunities, and internships throughout the world.
Career Services A guide to career resources at the University of Minnesota

Academic (Postdoc) Career Resources

MnDRIVE A $36M investment by Minnesota's legislature that partners university researchers and state industries to enhance quality of life and economic vitality in Minnesota and beyond.
Data Science Coursework Courses offered at the university for those interested in Data Science.
Minnesota Supercomputing Institute Training Get trained on supercomputing at the MSI.

Consulting & Technology Transfer Career Resources

MIN-Corps Seminars & Courses The MIN-Corps offers a variety of short-term non-credit boot camps and workshops aimed at catalyzing technology commercialization across the University of Minnesota.
Technological Leadership Institute The TLI offers courses and seminars related to creation of medical device innovations where you can apply the experience you've gained from your current degree.
Medical Industry Leadership Institute Student Association The MILIsa aims to develop new leaders for success in the global medical industry by creating opportunities for MILIsa members to engage medical industry representatives and recruiters and prepare them for medical industry interviews leading to successful transitions post-graduation.

Entrepreneurship Career Resources

Office of Technology Commercialization the OTC Oversees all aspects of technology commercialization at the University, bridging the gap between the lab and the marketplace to connect faculty with companies to achieve results.
New Product Design and Business Development A collaborative venture between the Carlson School of Management, the College of Science and Engineering and the College of Design and sponsoring companies. Teams of students and faculty work over nine months to develop a working prototype of a new product and a business plan and then complete the process to product launch.
Gary S. Holmes Center for Entrepreneuership An excellent program that offers courses for those students who are interested in entrepreneurship.

Science & Technical Writing Career Resources

UMN Science Entrepreneurship Inquiry promotes U of M research excellence and innovation to a broad audience and taps into the collective knowledge of our research community. We welcome ideas for original stories as well as story submissions from across the university.
Department of Writing Courses Two Courses of note are:
WRIT 8520 - Seminar in Scientific and Technical Communication
WRIT5196 - Internship in Scientific and Technical Communication
Technical Writing Certificate The online graduate certificate in technical communication program provides graduate-level instruction for working professionals and students to enhance your knowledge and skills in technical communication. The graduate certificate prepares you for jobs such as technical writer and editor, web content writer and management, information architect, online content/social media editor, and e-learning designer.

Law Career Resources

Office for Technology Commercialization The University of Minnesota has a long, proud history of innovation & discovery, and our office works to get the revolutionary technologies that result from this research into the hands of the public. We understand each stakeholder has specific needs. To best respond to those needs, we are organized into industry groups, ensuring we have the right knowledge and experience at the table.
United States Patent and Trademark Office The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is the federal agency for granting U.S. patents and registering trademarks.

Science Policy Career Resource

Humphrey School of Public Affairs - Center for Science Technology and Environmental Policy The Center for Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy at the Humphrey School focuses on public issues arising at the intersection of science, technology, environment, and society that shape economic development, environmental sustainability, human health and well-being. By integrating science with public policy, community action, and multi-sector governance, the center advances the common good in a complex and diverse world.
In Minnesota

Interested in Academics & Teaching? 
Local Academic Centers

University of Minnesota An institution you're already all familiar with! Several campuses around the state.
Augsburg College A Private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Bethel University A top-ranked, evangelical Christian university based in St. Paul, Minnesota.
University of St. Thomas A private, Catholic, liberal arts, and archdiocesan university located in St. Paul and Minneapolis.
Macalester College A private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Hamline University An American private liberal arts college in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
St. Catherine University A private Catholic liberal arts university, located in St. Paul and Minneapolis.
Normandale Community College A two-year college located in Bloomington, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis.
North Hennipen Community College One of the largest and most diverse community colleges in Minnesota. Located in Brooklyn Park, a Minneapolis suburb.
St. Paul College A Community and Technical College, is a two-year college located in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
St. Olaf A coeducational, residential, four-year, private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota.
Carleton College a private liberal arts college in the historic town of Northfield, Minnesota.

Interested in going in to the Industry?
Local Companies Looking for Advanced Science Degree Hires

Target Based in Minnesota, Target is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart.
Medtronic Medtronic is a medical device company headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Their operational headquarters is in Fridley, Minnesota. Medtronic is the world's largest standalone medical technology development company.
3M The 3M Company, formerly known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation based in Maplewood, Minnesota, a suburb of St. Paul.
Active Soft Inc. Activesoft is an IT staffing agency that offers flexible staffing options. Many companies are leveraging the services of staffing companies to gain access to talent and adjust their workforce based on the cyclical needs of their business. Activesoft offers contract, contract-to-hire, direct hire and project team staffing options to quickly increase and decrease your workforce.
VALERE Consulting VALERE is located in Minnesota with consultants delivering creative and information technology services to clients in retail, healthcare, finance, advertising and e-commerce industries. They call the Twin Cities home and strive to make our community better by giving back.
Honeywell Honeywell International, Inc. is an American multinational conglomerate company that produces a variety of commercial and consumer products, engineering services and aerospace systems for a wide variety of customers, from private consumers to major corporations and governments.
CG3 Consulting CG3 is a specialized firm focused on bringing new ideas to market and driving growth in the healthcare, scientific and technology industries.
Integrated Project Management The Minneapolis/St. Paul office of Integrated Project Management Company, Inc. (IPM) provides project management leadership services to Twin Cities businesses seeking better ways to transform strategy into tangible, sustainable results.
Magellan Medical Technology Consultants Minnesota based Medical Technology Consultant company.
Emerson Consultants Emerson Consultants is a medical technology reimbursement consulting firm located in downtown Excelsior, Minnesota.
Adjuvant Partners Healthcare Consultants with a branch in Minneapolis.
Antares Pharma Antares Pharma is a revenue-generating, product focused, specialty pharmaceutical company that has developed three proprietary platforms, two of which now include FDA approved products.
Medpace Medpace Inc. is a clinical research organization and drug and medical device development service, critical to the advancement of global clinical trials.
Radiant Research Radiant Research, Inc. is a comprehensive clinical research and development company serving the biopharmaceutical, medical device and consumer products industries for over 22 years. Radiant employs the skills of more than 500 clinical research professionals exclusively focused on providing professional, high quality study conduct and drug development services.
R&D Systems R&D Systems, a Minnesota-based biological products company, started by producing hematology controls and calibrators for use in hospitals and clinics.
Toxikon Toxikon is a preclinical contract research organization. We contract and partner with biotech, pharmaceutical and medical device industries to deliver exceptional product development services from concept to final product.
Urologix, Inc. Urologix is the leader in less invasive, in-office BPH treatment. Based in Minneapolis.
Vascular Solutions Vascular Solutions is a medical device company committed to providing superior clinical solutions for diagnostic and interventional vascular procedures. Headquartered in Minneapolis.
Boston Scientific The Boston Scientific Corporation (abbreviated BSC) is a worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices whose products are used in a range of interventional medical specialties, including interventional radiology, interventional cardiology, peripheral interventions, neuromodulation, neurovascular intervention, electrophysiology, cardiac surgery, vascular surgery, endoscopy, oncology, urology and gynecology.
Cardiovascular Systems Inc. Develops and markets medical devices for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
Entero Medics Inc Developing an implantable device to treat morbid obesity. Information for investors and prospective employees. Based in St. Paul.
Medtox MEDTOX operates a SAMHSA-certified drug testing laboratory, a CAP and CLIA-certified clinical laboratory and a diagnostic division which is an FDA registered establishment. Based in Saint Paul.
Smiths Medical Provide innovative solutions and superior support to help healthcare professionals and providers ensure safety, enhance patient outcomes, and improve the total cost of care. Global Headquarters in Saint Paul.
St. Jude Medical St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE: STJ) is an American global medical device company headquartered in Little Canada, Minnesota.
General Mills General Mills, Inc., is an American multinational manufacturer and marketer of branded consumer foods sold through retail stores. It is headquartered in Golden Valley, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis.
It doesn't just stop at the ones listed. The twin cities area is home to thousands of companies looking for the best and brightest young minds!
Looking Nationwide

Science Career Search Engines

The Scientist Jobs in the scientific field.
Medzilla Jobs in healthcare, pharma, and science
Biospace Life Science Jobs
Idealist.org Jobs in Non-profits & Policy Jobs
NIH Open positions in the NIH
FDA Job opportunities at the FDA
NIH post-doctoral positions For those who are looking in to further post-doctoral training at the NIH
Eloquenti Online marketplace of freelance science editors, medical writers, and scientific consultants
Aerotek A science-related recruiting agency
Science Magazine A career resource + search engine through Science
Nature Magazine A career resource + search engine through Nature

National Biotech Company Databases

The Lab Rat A database of biotech companies listed by location. Helpful in locating some campanies in states or cities you are interested in.
MPR List of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers A massive list of pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Miscellaneous Resources that may aid in your job search and careers

Government Jobs A quick overview guide on the type of government jobs one can get with a Ph.D.
National Association of Science Writers A forum in which to join forces to improve their craft and encourage conditions that promote good science writing.
American Medical Writers association (AMWA) The American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) is the resource for professional medical communicators, promoting excellence in medical communication and providing educational resources in support of that goal.
Society for Technical Communication (STC) A forum in which to join forces to improve their craft and encourage conditions that promote good science writing.
Science and Medical Communication A comprehensive guide to careers in science and medical communication.