Module 23: Career Exploration and Pathways in Neuroscience

Explore diverse career paths in neuroscience, from academia and industry to science policy and entrepreneurship.

💼 Neuroscience Career Landscapes

Discover the breadth of careers possible in neuroscience and connectomics research.

  • Academic research and teaching
  • Industry roles in biotech, neurotech, and pharma
  • Science communication, policy, and education

🔹 Building Your Career Toolkit

Each path has different preparation requirements. Learn to align your experience and identify gaps.

  • CV vs. resume and tailoring for roles
  • Finding and reaching out to mentors
  • Graduate school vs. industry decisions

💼 Creating an Individual Development Plan

Use IDPs to map your goals, milestones, and resources over time to support intentional development.

  • Career self-assessment tools
  • SMART goals for growth
  • Iterating based on new opportunities

🌟 COMPASS Integration

  • Knowledge: Career types, hiring criteria
  • Skills: Planning, networking, application
  • Character: Self-reflection, openness
  • Meta-Learning: Career planning and adaptation

📚 References & Resources

✅ Assessment

  • Explore 3 different neuroscience careers and summarize requirements
  • Draft a personal IDP with goals and timelines
  • Practice outreach to a potential mentor with an email draft