| Rutgers University Biomedical iJOBS - Mentors | |
| Outreach | |
| Are you a subject matter expert in life sciences (e.g., pharma, medical devices, biotech, medical, healthcare, animal health, etc.) and project management as it is used in the life sciences? Would you enjoy helping to foster the next generation of life science project managers? Then PMINJ’s Life Sciences LCI (local community of interest) is looking for you! We are seeking PMINJ members who work in the life sciences industry / biomedical disciplines to volunteer occasionally as either non- academic mentors or informational interviewees for Ph.D. students and postdoctoral fellow “trainees” in the Rutgers University iJOBS Program (interdisciplinary Job Opportunities for Biomedical Scientists). You’ll provide your perspectives, lessons learned and more to your assigned trainee, to help them understand career opportunities as a life sciences project manager and potential career pathways. Note: It’s helpful for the volunteer to have a Ph.D. in a biomedical or related discipline, so the volunteer can speak from that viewpoint with their trainee; however, volunteers with an M.S. or B.S. are also appropriate and will be considered for these roles. About iJOBS (from: About | Rutgers School of Graduate Studies): The Rutgers University iJOBS Program exposes life science and engineering Ph.D. students and postdoctoral fellows to a range of non- academic career options and empowers them to pursue their career goals. iJOBS was established in September 2014 with a BEST (Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training) Award from the National Institutes of Health Common Fund. The skills obtained in iJOBS are also valuable to academic careers including leadership styles, managing people, and communication skills. iJOBS has expanded to include all campuses of Rutgers as well as all Ph.D. granting institutions in the state: Princeton, NJIT, Rowan and Stevens Institute of Technology. To learn more about how we collaborate with the iJOBS program, look for “Rutgers iJOBS” on our Life Sciences LCI page: https://www.pminj.org/nj_lifesci- lci.mr |
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for this role: |
· Give back by mentoring emerging PM talent · Become aware of emerging PM talent that could be of interest to your employer / organization · Expand your network · Earn PDUs (if you have a PMI® certification) |
| 1) Interviewee role: Participate in informational interviews with the iJOBS trainee, which could range from 1 to 4 times annually. Trainee sends topics or questions (e.g., career path, critical skills, etc.) to the interviewee and schedules a 30 or 45-min discussion (schedule of volunteer's choice) to benefit from interviewee's experiences and perspectives. 2) Non-academic Mentor: Provide inputs, ideas and considerations to the trainee's career development plans, and impart wisdom and perspective for a fulfilling professional journey. Where possible, help expand trainee's professional network. Typically, mentor and trainee meet initially to discuss expectations, milestones and schedule. Trainee schedules 1 to 2 meetings each quarter with the mentor (30 or 45-min discussion, schedule of volunteer's choice). Formal mentorship spans time period of mentor's choice - up to 1 year - but may endure, each becoming important links in their professional networks. 3) Both roles: At the end of the academic year, the trainee and mentor may be asked by Rutgers to complete a short survey (15-min time) to help guide the iJOBS program going forward. NOTE: Occasionally, shadowing of the volunteer at their workplace (whether on-site, remote or hybrid) may be requested. Shadowing is outside the scope of this PMINJ volunteer role. However, the volunteer may elect to provide this additional opportunity in their role within their employer. Shadowing may require the iJOBS trainee to sign an NDA or execute other documentation per the volunteer’s employer’s requirements. Volunteer shadowing host hours can be submitted for PDUs. |
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| Communication and mentoring skills, including: empathy, active listening, ability to build the mentor / trainee relationship and guide the trainee for setting goals and action plans, willingness to provide perspectives, lessons learned and insights from the mentor’s career journey. Note: It’s helpful for the volunteer to have a Ph.D. in a biomedical or related discipline, so the volunteer can speak from that viewpoint with their trainee; however, volunteers with an M.S. or B.S. are also appropriate and will be considered for these roles. |
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| Interviewer role in 1-year time period – average of 2 hours. Mentor role in 1-yr time period – average of 4 hours. | |
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In Person - N Virtual - Y Both - N |
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| N | |
hold multiple positions: |
Y |
| Yes | |
| 10/18/2023 | |
| 04/17/2026 | |
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Click Apply below to complete the volunteer application. Otherwise click Review Other Opportunities. |
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