MoGen's 10th Annual Career Development Alumni Symposium Builds Community and Career Momentum

Career Development Alumni Symposium Event Recap: June 13, 2025

The Department of Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto reached a milestone on June 13, 2025, with its 10th Annual Career Development Alumni Symposium. Held at the Schwartz-Reisman Innovation Campus for the first time, the event brought together over 150 graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, alumni, and faculty for an afternoon of mentorship, skill-building, and career discussions. 

What began a decade ago as a pilot initiative has grown into a core part of the department’s student experience. This year’s program highlighted the importance of community-focused career growth and showcased the power of MoGen’s alumni network. 

Keynote Speakers Reflect on Growth and Possibility 

The symposium opened with remarks and a keynote address from Julie Claycomb, Professor of Molecular Genetics and Vice Chair of the Department, who shared reflections on how the event was shaped over the past ten years. She highlighted the need for ongoing professional development during graduate training. She also thanked the alumni, faculty, and staff for their support in making the symposium a success. 

Dr. Aaron Cheung, Principal Medical Science Liaison at Medtronic and a MoGen alumnus, gave a keynote. He shared his journey from academic research to the medical device industry. 

“There are many careers for scientists that create real impact,” said Cheung. “So much of our success is shaped by those around us. And it’s important to feel comfortable acknowledging your own skills and achievements.” 

Cheung also shared the stage with his former PhD colleague Dr. Natalie Farah (Director, Solutions Marketing at Elsevier), reflecting on their years working together in stem cell research. Their conversation showed that professional growth does not have to happen alone. It highlighted the kind of support that develops through authentic connections and what long-term professional relationships can look like beyond the lab. 

Roundtables and informational interviews  

Attendees moved between small-group roundtable sessions, where they engaged with mentors in fields such as science communication, regulatory affairs, consulting, computational biology, and academic publishing. These conversations gave students and postdocs a chance to hear from professionals who shared their experiences of transitioning into various roles in- and outside of academia. 

“My favourite part of the event was the roundtables where we got to speak with three different mentors,” said graduate student Amy Li. “It was very helpful to hear from the mentors’ diverse experiences that helped shape their careers. It made me very hopeful and more prepared for job hunting.”  

Live demo informational interviews also returned this year. On the main stage, MoGen students hosted live discussions with alumni in front of their peers, showcasing how to ask questions, build connections, and maintain professional conversations. 

The interviewees were sales specialist Dr. Simon Lui of Nikon Canada, computational biologist Dr. Owen Whitley of Genentech, director for oncology regulatory affairs Dr. David Sealey of AstraZeneca, and scientific communicator Dr. Susan Kelso of Nicoya Life Sciences. 

For many students, these interviews served as a practical introduction to networking. Kelso emphasized how early connections can support future career transitions: “Attending events like the Career Development Symposium can really get you heard from a lot of different alumni and make those connections that will later help you out when you’re looking for a job,” she said. 

Career Coaching Table in High Demand 

The Career Coaching Table, hosted by Dr. Johanna Carroll and Dr. Sarah McClymont, remained busy from start to finish. During breaks, students lined up to receive individual advice on resumes, job searches, and career planning, showing the strong demand for personalized guidance. 

Professional Pop-up Portrait Booth a Popular New Feature 

During the networking reception, another new feature was drawing attention. The LinkedIn portrait booth, introduced for the first time this year, was stationed in the lobby where students and postdocs arrived dressed for the occasion, ready to update their profiles with a professional headshot.  

Photographer Thomas Bui took photos throughout the later part of the afternoon, working with each participant until they were satisfied with the final image. The popularity of the pop-up booth reflected how seriously attendees were approaching their next steps. 

Faculty and Student Reflections 

Dr. Martina Steiner, Assistant Professor and Coordinator for Communications, Careers and Alumni Relations for the Department and the event's coordinator, felt a strong connection during the afternoon. 

“Everyone seemed engaged and in a good mood. It was delightful to watch people connect and chat,” she said. “I want MoGen students to come to the event every year, develop their career vision over time, and return after graduation as mentors.” 

Amy Li added that maintaining relationships with alumni is a critical part of the process. 

“Staying connected with mentors and alumni is important as they were once in our shoes and were able to successfully transition from academia to the workforce. Maintaining those connections and learning from their experiences can significantly help students in their career journey.” 

When asked about the advice she most often shares with students, Dr. Steiner was clear: “Career exploration takes time and effort. Get started early and work actively on it. Read, network, explore.” 

Looking Ahead to 2026 

The 2025 Career Development Alumni Symposium showed the department’s dedication to helping students explore many career options. With help from alumni, faculty, and trainees, the event builds a community that supports students after graduation. 

Planning for next year’s symposium is already underway.