With this 10th year celebration of the annual MoGen Career Development Alumni Symposium, we take a moment to reflect on the motivations for the department to develop this program for trainees in 2015, and where we are today in our efforts to educate, empower and enable students to take control over their career paths. We will discuss how graduate school can "trick" you into learning a wide range of extremely valuable skills for a range of careers in the context of thesis research, and will talk about the many opportunities grad school affords you, as well as how to get the most out of your graduate career. We'll end with discussions about how to tackle what can be a daunting task of career planning and what options there are for careers as graduates of this outstanding graduate program. 

Speakers: Dr. Julie Claycomb, Professor and Vice-Chair at the Department of Molecular Genetics, U of T
Dr. Leah Cowen, Professor & Vice-President, Research & Innovation, & Strategic Initiatives at U of T 

MoGen alumnus and Medical Science Liaison (MSL) Dr. Aaron Cheung  will share insights drawn from years of experience at the intersection of science and the medical device industry. The presentation will reflect on the questions frequently asked by graduate students: what exactly does an MSL do, how does one transition from academia into this role, and what skills are most valuable in industry? Through personal stories and practical advice, the speaker will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the MSL role and offer guidance for those considering careers beyond the lab bench. This talk aims to demystify the MSL path and highlight the many ways scientists can thrive in industry settings.

Speaker: Dr. Aaron Cheung, Principal Medical Science Liaison - Neurosciences (Medtronic Canada)