Once a scientist always a scientist Life after

Once a scientist, always a scientist Life after you postdoc Wouter Bossuyt

The problem You’re much better then my scientific CV I didn’t know this I didn’t tell (the right) people I did not find a job (as fast as I could have)

Current job • We enable Next-Generation Sequencing in diagnostic labs • Spin-off UA, based in Niel • Created in April 2011, now 60 employees

Current Job • Product specialist Oncology • Explain the science to customers • Translate the science to meaningful info for R&D • Specific tasks: go to conferences, talk science to people, help in the design of new products, analyze the market, make website, give presentations…

The winding road behind me • Master Biomedical science, KULeuven • Ph. D with Bassem Hassan @ CME and VIB • 2003 -2008 • Postdoc with Georg Halder @ MDAnderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX • 2008 -2012 • I followed Georg when he was recruited by VIB and KULeuven • 2012 -2015

Becoming a PI Good points: • Nice scientific CV: good publication record, groundbreaking research, good labs, … • Ambitious and novel plan for my own lab Bad points: • No Crescendo career, not top 5% • Geographical limitation • Limited funding to become independent

Becoming a PI • 2 years of active search • A couple of interviews: You are a top candidate but there is somebody better • Should I stay or should I go?

Outside academia • Start by contacting all people you know • Achievements are good, skills are better • Your interest are wider than you think • Apply for less interesting jobs • Changing jobs is easier once you left academia

Practical TELL EVERYBODY • CV: include skills • Cover letter: specific for every firm, explaining skills • Use the right words • Formatting!! • Create a FULL Linked. In profile • Regularly check Flandersbio. be, jobat, Linked. In, … • Firm, NGO, university positions, … • (semi-)blind applications work!

We are looking for good people!