388: Exploring STEM PhD Careers Through a GSF Externship with Reem Salem

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I speak with Reem Salem, a fourth-year molecular engineering PhD candidate at the University of Chicago, about career development for STEM PhD students. Drawing from the research she conducted during her Grad School Femtoring externship, Reem shares why graduate students need greater access to career guidance, mentorship, and opportunities to explore the many paths available beyond academia. We discuss how to identify and communicate the transferable skills you are already developing through your doctoral training. Reem also offers practical steps for exploring careers that align with your strengths and values.

In this episode, you will learn:

• What research reveals about the career development needs and pathways of STEM PhDs
• How limited mentorship and professional networks affect historically excluded and first-generation graduate students
• How to identify transferable skills within your doctoral research and training
• Why career exploration can begin before you know exactly where you want to end up
• How to approach career planning as a gradual and systematic process grounded in your strengths and values

Work with me

• If you are exploring new career paths or navigating a major academic or professional transition, I offer personalized coaching to help you clarify your goals, communicate your strengths, and create an action plan aligned with your capacity and values. Learn more at: https://gradschoolfemtoring.com/coaching/

Connect with today’s guests

• Connect with Reem Salem on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reem-yasser-salem

Free resources

• Download the Career Development Brief for STEM PhDs: https://gradschoolfemtoring.com/career-development-brief-stem-phd-students/
• Download the Grant-Writing Toolkit for STEM Graduate Students: https://gradschoolfemtoring.com/grant-writing-toolkit-stem-graduate-students/
• Download your Grad School Femtoring Resource Kit: https://gradschoolfemtoring.com/kit/

Explore more

• Listen to more episodes on Career and Professional Development: https://gradschoolfemtoring.com/podcast_catergory/career-and-professional-development/ 
• Support the podcast with a one-time or monthly donation: https://donate.stripe.com/bJedR8dGRcs6ewGdwq38401 
• Access transcripts and additional resources: https://gradschoolfemtoring.com/podcast/
• Audio and transcript edited by Yessi Sanchez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yessisanchez/
• This podcast is a proud member of the Genuina Media network.
• The Grad School Femtoring Podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy or other professional services.

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