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<h1 class="page-heading">Why is this program being offered?</h1>
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The BEST program was initiated by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2013, by recommendation of the Biomedical Research Workforce Working Group. This group was assembled to assess the state of the biomedical workforce and make recommendations to the NIH regarding how many people we should be training, and for what types of jobs. Their report from 2012 recognizes the breadth of careers available to PhDs in the biomedical and health sciences, which are important for advancing the NIH’s mission of ultimately improving human health (see figure below). In fact, in 2009,  approximately 75% of US-trained biomedical PhD’s were employed in categories other than tenured or tenure-track faculty positions, thus, it would be a misnomer to refer to these categories as “alternative careers”. Yet, the majority of today’s biomedical doctoral and postdoctoral training programs focus primarily on training students for academic research positions.

Currently 10 universities nationwide have received NIH BEST awards, with the  mission of broadening the training experience to better expose trainees to the breadth of careers that comprise the biomedical workforce. Virginia Tech's BEST program aims to foster an understanding of the career opportunities available to biomedical PhDs, and provide trainees with guidance and information toward preparing them for pursuit of these goals, through instruction, internships, and mentorship from a range of academic and non-academic professionals.

For more information about the NIH's BEST program, please click <a title="here" href="http://www.nihbest.org/">here</a>.

[caption id="attachment_16" align="aligncenter" width="800"]<a href="http://info.vtc.vt.edu/best/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/piegraph.png"><img class="size-large wp-image-16" src="http://info.vtc.vt.edu/best/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/piegraph-1024x573.png" alt="Adapted from the NIH Biomedical Research Workforce Working Group Report, 2012" width="800" height="448" /></a> Adapted from the Biomedical Research Workforce Working Group Report, 2012[/caption]

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<h1 class="page-heading">Career Resource Library</h1>
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<em>The BEST Program has developed a library of career resources on the Roanoke campus for doctoral students and postdocs in the biomedical and health sciences. Please contact Jay Read </em>(jayread@vtc.vt.edu) <em>to sign out any of these books (2 weeks maximum).</em>

Barker, K. (2002). <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">At the Helm: A Laboratory Navigator</span></strong>, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.

Basalla, S. and M. Debelius (2008). <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">"So What Are You Going to Do with That?": Finding Careers Outside Academia</span></strong>, University of Chicago Press.

Borbye, L. (2010). <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Secrets to Success in Industry Careers: Essential Skills for Science and Business</span></strong>, Elsevier Science.

Bush, P. M. C. (2012). <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Transforming Your STEM Career Through Leadership and Innovation: Inspiration and Strategies for Women</span></strong>, Elsevier Science.

Carter, M. (2012). <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Designing Science Presentations: A Visual Guide to Figures, Papers, Slides, Posters, and More</span></strong>, Elsevier Science.

Feibelman, P. J. (2011). <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">A PhD is Not Enough!: A Guide to Survival in Science</span></strong>, Basic Books.

Gray, P. and D. E. Drew (2008). <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">What They Didn't Teach You in Graduate School: 199 Helpful Hints for Success in Your Academic Career</span></strong>, Stylus Pub.

Johnson, A. M. (2011). <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Charting a Course for a Successful Research Career: A Guide for Early Career Researchers</span></strong>, Elsevier B.V.

Johnson, A. M. and A. P. Johnson (2013). <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Improving Your Research Management: A Guide for Senior University Research Managers</span></strong>, Elsevier.

Margulis, A. R. (2010). <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Road to Success: A Career Manual - How to Advance to the Top</span></strong>, Elsevier Science.

Olivero, O. (2013). <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Interdisciplinary Mentoring in Science: Strategies for Success</span></strong>, Elsevier Science.

Robbins-Roth, C. (2006). <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Alternative Careers in Science: Leaving the Ivory Tower (Second Edition)</span></strong>. Burlington, Academic Press.

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<h1 class="page-heading">Where can I go for additional resources?</h1>
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<a href="http://acd.od.nih.gov/biomedical_research_wgreport.pdf" target="_blank">Biomedical Workforce Working Group Report</a>

<a href="http://www.nationalpostdoc.org/" target="_blank">National Postdoctoral Association</a>

<a href="http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/" target="_blank">Science Careers</a>

<a href="https://www.sfn.org/">Society for Neuroscience Career Center</a>

<a href="http://myidp.sciencecareers.org/" target="_blank">MyIDP</a>

<a href="https://www.aamc.org/students/research/phd/career_paths/" target="_blank">Association of American Medical Colleges</a>

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VT websites:

<a href="http://www.advance.vt.edu/" target="_blank">Advance VT</a>

<a href="http://www.advance.vt.edu/resources_links/grad_students/resources_for_graduate_students.html">*Materials from Advance VT Seminars and Workshops</a>

<a href="https://webapps.graduateschool.vt.edu/glcweekly/">*Events, Opportunities and Services for Graduate Students</a>

<a href="http://vtknowledgeworks.com/">VT KnowledgeWorks</a>

<a href="http://graduateschool.vt.edu/" target="_blank">The Graduate School</a>

<a href="http://graduateschool.vt.edu/graduate_catalog/certificates.htm" target="_blank">VT certificate programs</a>

<a href="http://www.tbmh.vt.edu/" target="_blank">PhD Program in Translational Biology, Medicine and Health</a>