STEM Job Talk Interview

Jessica Vélez received her PhD in Energy Science and Engineering at University of Tennessee, Knoxville where she studied genetic relationships and heavy metal tolerance of fungi. During graduate school, she developed and organized science outreach and career leadership programs while working at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Genetics Society of America (GSA). Jessica’s passion for science communication and outreach led her to her current role as the Membership, Engagement, and Early Career Programs Manager for GSA’s Engagement Department. Amongst her many achievements and awards, she is a member of SACNAS and a National GEM Fellow.

Can you describe your academic and professional background? What path led you to pursue this field? 

I earned my B.A. in English from the University of Texas at Austin in 2004, then earned my B.S. in Microbiology from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville (UTK) in 2014. I then completed a PhD in Energy Science and Engineering at the Bredesen Center at UTK in 2020. I was always interested in both English and Microbiology as fields when I was a child and kept this interest as I pursued my higher education. I am grateful that I earned my English degree, as this has helped me with science writing and editing!

How did you find this particular position, and what was the hiring process like? Is there a typical structure for this in your field? 

I joined the Genetics Society of America during my graduate studies and attended several of their conferences. I was selected for the GSA’s professional development Early Career Leadership Program. From there I was able to network with GSA staff and began working part-time with them during their preparation for The Allied Genetics Conference in 2020. After I earned my PhD, I had the opportunity to join the GSA in a full-time position.

Can you tell us about your current responsibilities? What is a typical day or week like in your role?

My department manages the GSA’s Early Career Leadership Program, conference professional development, GSA membership engagement, and virtual seminar series, among many other tasks! Every day is different and exciting as my tasks and priorities change.

What do you enjoy about your current job and work environment? 

I love how varied our work is, and I have many opportunities to engage with both GSA members and the public. I love meeting new people and developing new relationships, which is built into my job.

What are some of the challenging aspects of your job? Is there anything you wish you had known about your job or industry before joining?

The COVID pandemic has brought many challenges to us, including shifting to a virtual and hybrid virtual/in-person conference format. We’ve worked to provide networking opportunities to our early career scientists even without physical events, and are continuing to think of new ways to engage with scientists during this time.

Do you have any professional plans for the future? What are some future career paths that could open up for someone in your position, 5-10 years down the road?

During my graduate studies, I discovered that I was most passionate about non-profit work, and feel incredibly privileged to have found this career.

What’s changing in your industry? Are there any future trends we should be aware of?

Hybrid and virtual opportunities for conferences, seminars, workshops, and more are expanding accessibility tremendously. These changes have increased accessibility for many organizations, along with remote work opportunities, and will likely be permanent.

What activities, internships, or organizations would you recommend someone get involved with to help them break into this field?

I highly recommend the Genetics Society of America, as we hold numerous high-value conferences. We also host dozens of virtual seminars focusing on career path options, grants and funding, multilingual science communication, and more.

I am also a member of SACNAS, which hosts the largest diversity conference annually. SACNAS also offers many virtual seminars with amazing speakers.

I am a member of the Graduate Career Consortium, which I highly recommend for anyone considering a career in professional development for graduate students and postdocs.

I am also a member of the National Association for Science Writers, which is a fantastic network of science writers and hosts a high-quality annual conference for members.

I am honored to be a National GEM Fellow, and strongly suggest applying for this fellowship to underrepresented graduate students. GEM internships are invaluable, and the annual GEM conference is an invigorating experience.

Is it common for people in your field to have a scientific/academic background (i.e. have PhDs)? Can you think of any advantages or disadvantages someone with a PhD might experience while pursuing or working in your field?

It depends on the role. We have a healthy mixture of communications, English, and genetics backgrounds at the GSA.

Do you have any final words of advice for those navigating these career questions? Is there anything you would have done differently given what you know now? 

Think long-term! Keep in mind that in three years, you’ll be three years older, no matter what – you can be three years closer to your goal, or not. Make yourself a plan, be kind to yourself if there are setbacks, and always think of what you’re working toward. It’s also worthwhile to start thinking about your career goals now, particularly what you want your position to look like: do you want to manage others? Do you want to do benchwork? Do you want to focus on research, academia, industry? Do you have a preference for in-person versus remote work? What do your goals mean for your education needs and training opportunities? Join organizations which will offer opportunities to grow your network!

Author: Vivian Ko

Original source: STEM Job Talk Series, linked here.