The Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students Rocks!
I just returned from the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) that was held in Orlando from November 5-8, 2008. The annual meeting, which is configured like most life sciences conferences with plenary oral sessions and poster presentations, is primarily intended to expose minority students to possible career opportunities in the life and biomedical sciences. I was at the meeting working for FASEB Careers as a career development and resume critiquing consultant.
I have to say that this year's ABRCMS was one of the most exciting and motivational meetings that I have attended in my career as a scientist and educator. Part of the excitement and upbeat feeling at the meeting may have been a direct result of last Tuesday's historic election of Barack Obama (who wasn't excited?). Nevertheless, I met countless numbers of bright, highly motivated and talented minority students who want to pursue careers in science, medicine and sometimes both! I was pleasantly surprised to learn that many of the undergraduate students who attend this meeting are actively engaged in basic research in laboratories at their institutions. Further, unlike many of their non-minority counterparts, most of the students who I chatted with were well informed about their intended careers and had divined well thought out strategies to help them realize their career goals and aspirations.
Kudos to the conference organizers and their sponsors! I look forward to attending next year’s conference in Phoenix, AZ.
Until next time…
Good Luck and Good Job Hunting!!!!!
Great article and insights!