Our in-person conference was September 6-7, 2024. For the seventh event, we're bringing together a diverse group of postdocs and doctoral graduate students for professional development, research presentations, and recruiting. Our invitation-only travel awards are for members of our Doctoral Directory CV database. Attendees will be preparing elements of their job application in anticipation of the Fall faculty marketing season (see advertisement rates). Join us to network with the next generation of diverse faculty and professionals!
Past events: 2023 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017
Info about: Agenda | Logistics | Sponsorships
Registration currently is invitation-only for travel awardees & select partners.
Potential sponsors & recruiters may contact us at info@DiverseScholar.org
Speaker Danielle Williams
Wellness
We are thrilled to welcome Danielle Williams to lead a workshop on strategies to prioritize wellness in an academic setting. Ms. Williams is a 5th year Ph.D. candidate in Microbiology & Immunology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Read about her workshops at Infinite Graditude. She received her bachelor’s degree in cellular and molecular biology from San Deigo State University and completed a two-year NIH PREP at the University of Washington. Over the course of her academic journey, she learned that prioritizing her mental health and self-care is integral to success as a graduate student, but there were few resources for students to learn how. As a result, in 2022, she authored a self-help mindfulness journal with exercises specifically tailored toward the doctoral student experience. Since then, she has worked closely with clinical professionals and STEM education researchers to develop evidence-based mindfulness workshops to support student well-being as they pursue their PhD. In addition, she enjoys powerlifting, taking walks with her dog, Stella, and is involved in many initiatives to recruit and support URMs in STEM.
Speaker Bill Lindstaedt, MS
Faculty Jobs
Our lead speaker about faculty job applications is Bill Lindstaedt, Assistant Vice Chancellor (retired) of Career Advancement, International, and Postdoctoral Services at the University of California, San Francisco. Read about the his topic "Launching Your Academic Job Search" based on Academic Career Readiness research. He has been helping scientists and engineers make career decisions for over twenty years. From 2014 to 2023, he served as the Executive Director of the umbrella unit known as Career Advancement, International & Postdoctoral Services, comprised of three offices: The Office of Career and Professional Development, International Students and Scholars Office and the Postdoc Office. Prior to this, he was Director of the Office of Career and Professional Development at the University of California, San Francisco. In addition to his leadership responsibilities, his career advising work focuses on helping pre-doctoral and postdoctoral research scientists with their career and professional development issues. He previously served as Director of the Office of Career and Professional Development. Mr. Lindstaedt is a co-author of ScienceCareers "myIDP", a popular career development tool hosted by Science magazine's careers site. In his one-on-one practice, he has developed particular expertise working with life and health scientists as they transition from academic positions to careers in biotech and other non-academic settings. He holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and a Master's degree from the joint Counseling Psychology and Higher Education/Student Affairs programs at Indiana University.
Speaker Stacey Glasgow, PhD
Chalk Talks
Our lead speaker about chalk talk presentations is Dr. Stacey Glasgow, Assistant Professor of Neurobiology at the University of California, San Diego. Read about her topic of Chalk Talk Presentations. She received her Ph.D. in Integrative Biology from UT Southwestern Medical Center with Dr. Jane E. Johnson. Dr. Glasgow carried out her postdoctoral training with Dr. Benjamin Deneen in the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Glasgow is the recipient of a K01 Mentored Research Scientist Development Award issued by the NIH/NCI. Her laboratory’s research is focused on using interdisciplinary approaches to study glial development and neurodegenerative disease and malignancies.
Agenda
Unless indicated otherwise, each presentation session is 90 minutes.
All attendees, speakers, sponsors, staff, and volunteers at our event are required to comply with this Code of Conduct.
Our brief COVID policy is that we encourage participants to use masks while at indoor functions.
Attendee check-in opens at 9am on all days.
Friday Sept 6
| Time | Session | Speaker(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30am | Welcome & Announcements | Roca |
| 10am | Launching Your Academic Job Search | Lindstaedt |
| 12pm | Chalk Talks for Your Faculty Interview | Glasgow |
| 2pm | Improving Your Oral Presentations | Lindstaedt |
| 4pm | Practicing Long Chalk Talks | Glasgow & Trainees |
| 6pm | Evening social: Northgate Mercado Gonzalez |
Saturday Sept 7
| Time | Session | Speaker(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 10am | Practicing Short Chalk Talks | Glasgow & Trainees |
| 12pm | Getting Your First Academic Faculty Job | Heras, Nichols, Posadas, & Vasquez Ortiz |
| 12pm | Postdoc Fundamentals | Anderson-Natale, Rebello, & Smith |
| 2pm | Exploring Non-Academic Careers | Lyon-Gutierrez & Mohan |
| 3:45pm | SACNAS chapter meet-up | Roca |
| 4pm | Mindfulness Workshop for PhD Trainees | Williams |
| 6pm | Evening social: Santa Ana ArtWalk | |
| 9am-4pm | 1-on-1 appointments | Lindstaedt |
| 10am-4pm | 1-on-1 appointments | Lyon-Gutierrez |
| 10am-4pm | 1-on-1 appointments | Mohan |
| 10am-4pm | 1-on-1 appointments | Smith |
Exhibitor Fair: Friday and Saturday 9am - 6pm
- Networking with opportunities promoted by exhibitors & sponsors.
Saturday 1-on-1 career sessions
- Please read this article to prepare for your session.
- Doctoral Directory members will meet with Lindstaedt in morning. Other PhD trainees will meet with professionals listed above.
- Each appointment is 25 minutes long with a 5 min speaker break so meetings should start every half hour.
- Career counselors availability subject to change without notice.
- Appointments are first-come, first-served in Exhibit area.
Evening social for dinner
This year evenings will be for social fellowship at sites chosen to represent the cultural diversity in Orange County. Both locations have plenty of venues for purchasing dinner on your own. Travel awardee recipients will be reimbursed so save your receipts. Please meet around 5:45pm in the hotel lobby for shared rides to the following sites:
- Friday: Northgate Mercado Gonzalez,
2300 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 - Saturday: 4th Street Market,
201 E 4th St, Santa Ana, CA 92701;
afterwards enjoy the Saturday Santa Ana ArtWalk
Speakers & Facilitators
Alberto Roca, PhD, Conference Chair
Executive Director, DiverseScholar
Kayleigh Anderson-Natale, PhD
Director of Postdoc Affairs and Professional Development
University of California, Irvine
Milena Gavala, MESM
Founder, Curious G Design Studio
Stacey Glasgow, PhD
Assistant Professor of Neurobiology
University of California, San Diego
Joseph Heras, PhD
Assistant Professor of Biology
California State University, San Bernadino
Bill Lindstaedt, MS
Assistant Vice Chancellor (retired); Career Advancement, International, and Postdoctoral Services
University of California, San Francisco;
Professional Development Hub
Lauren Lyon-Gutierrez, MA, LPPC
Founder & Lead Coach; L. Lyon, LLC
Briana Mohan, MA
Program Manager, Research Education & Training
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Dequina Nichols, PhD
Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
University of California, Irvine
Brianna Posadas, PhD
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Josh Rebello, MPA
Diversity Programs and Fellowships Manager, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs
Stanford University
Chris Smith, PhD
Postdoctoral Affairs Program Administrator, Virginia Tech
Rebecca Vasquez Ortiz, PhD
Associate Professor of Psychology
Santa Ana College
Danielle Williams
PhD Candidate, Microbiology & Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill;
Founder, Infinite Graditude
Logistics
When: September 6-7, 2024
Where: Hilton Irvine / OC Airport hotel; 18800 MacArthur Blvd, Irvine, CA 92612; 949-833-9999. Request room block: DiverseScholar Postdoctoral Conference (if still available).
Ground transportation: Call the hotel for their shuttle which picks up from the airport around every 30 minutes.
Airport: John Wayne (SNA)
Registration for Postdocs and PhD Graduate Students*
PhD trainee attendees will be drawn from existing members of the following:
- DiverseScholar Doctoral Directory: instructions in summer/fall email newsletters.
- MinorityPostdoc email list: instructions to join Doctoral Directory in summer/fall newsletters.
- Southern California PhD graduate students: We are contacting leadership of local diversity associations/clubs.
- UC-Irvine GPS-STEM & OPA Preparing for Faculty Careers Certificate participants: watch for announcement from your program director.
- UC-Irvine Postdoc Association members: watch for announcement from PDA Board.
Partial conference expenses (registration, airfare, and lodging if needed) will be covered for select PhD trainee attendees. However, funding and space are limited so please register early!
If space permits, registration will be open to all postdocs and PhD graduate students from southern California partners in mid-August.
*Note that due to limited funds, the dinners are only for select PhD trainees, registered professionals, and invited guests.
Registration deadline: Friday August 23
- for DiverseScholar Doctoral Directory members traveling by plane
- for SoCal PhD trainees (requiring hotel lodging)
- for UC-Irvine PhD trainees (lunch headcount)
- on-site registration (space permitting) but no lunch guarantee!
Registration for Professionals
Registration to open soon.
Potential sponsors & recruiters may contact us at info@DiverseScholar.org. Registration rates below are for Recruiters, Faculty, Administrators, Staff, Exhibitors, etc except where indicated for PhD trainees. The latter's registration does not include evening meals.
| Cost | Service |
|---|---|
| $30 | Registration for graduate students (d) |
| $60 | Registration for postdocs (d) |
| $500 | Reg. & Sponsorship Level 2 (branding) |
| $1,000 | Reg. & Sponsorship Level 3 (exhibitor table) |
| $2,500 | Reg. (for 2), Level 3, & Platinum candidate database |
| $5,000 | Reg. (for 4), Level 3, Diamond CV database, & logo in virtual office |
Registration deadline: Monday September 2
In event of cancellation by September 20, a full refund less a 5% processing fee will be issued. No refunds will be made for cancellations after that date.
Sponsors and Partners
Stanford University: Office of Postdoctoral Affairs
Sponsorship and Exhibitor Rates (e)
| Sponsorship Level: | -- | One | Two | Three | Four | Five |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost: | $300 | $250 | $500 | $1K | $2.5K | $5K |
| Registrations (#) | 1 | -- | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Listing: Event webpage | -- | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Listing: Slides kiosk | -- | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Recognition @ welcome | -- | -- | -- | Y | Y | Y |
| Listing: Print program | -- | -- | -- | Y | Y | Y |
| Exhibitor table | -- | -- | -- | Y | Y | Y |
| Candidate database- Platinum | -- | -- | -- | -- | Y | Y |
| Candidate db w/CVs- Diamond | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Y |
| Logo in virtual office | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Y |
Potential sponsors & recruiters may contact us at info@DiverseScholar.org.
Notes:
d) Evening meals not included in registration.
e) Sponsorship benefits subject to change without notice.
In event of cancellation by August 28, a full refund less a 5% processing fee will be issued. No refunds will be made for cancellations after that date.