Wendy Thomas always felt free to be herself, and grew up in a community that embraced individuality. So being a mentor to those in the LGBT community was a natural role for the associate professor of bioengineering at the University of Washington.

Thomas shared her story at the newly-created LGBT Dessert Social which took place Wednesday night following the BMES welcome reception.

For Thomas, "Being gay makes me a better bioengineer because I can mentor people. Especially to students coming out in college, they value having a role model."

It is important to have mentors who understand the issues mentees face, she told the packed room.

Thomas' encouraged all faculty members to be active in fulfilling the role of mentor. "You need to be available so people who are searching can find you," she said.

The event was sponsored in part by Georgia Tech and Emory University, University of Massachusetts, Rice Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering, University of Washington and other anonymous donors. 

BMES' Match-up Mentoring Networking event took place Wednesday afernoon at the Annual Meeting in Tampa.

The event brought together seasoned BMES members and those just starting their careers. 

Mentors and mentees met in small groups to discuss a series of topics such as "How to fine the best PhD program for you; How to get a Job in Industry; Translational Research; and many others.  

Nearly a hundred candidates and dozens of employers attended the Meet-the-Faculty Candidate poster session Wednesday. The forum provides an opportunity for faculty, recruiters, and Department Chairs to speak directly with current graduate students and postdoctoral researchers who are seeking faculty positions.

8 am - How to Find a Job in Industry - Ballroom A                                        

The biomedical engineering field is growing rapidly. Biomedical engineering opens the door to an ever-growing amount of job opportunities in industry. Hear from experts in human resources and BME professionals how to search for industry jobs and what to do when you find them.

 

9:15am - BME Careers in Industry, Government, and Academia - Ballroom A  

Biomedical Engineering professionals from industry, government and academia will share their career paths, educational training, insight into the hiring market, and suggestions for students and recent graduates.

2 pm - 4 pm - Rapid Resume Review and Critique - Room 24                        

Experienced BME professionals or BME related disciplines will review an electronic or hard copy of your resume and work with you to edit and improve your resume. While this has been done successfully at past meetings in a roundtable format, recommendations were made to revise the format so attendees can seek more one-on-one advice.

 

4pm - 5:30pm - Transitioning from Academia to Industry Panel - Ballroom A    

This session will explore the industry career paths available to biomedical engineers, what companies look for when hiring undergraduate and graduate students, the interview process, and desired skills of an entry -level biomedical engineer.

Explore Tampa beyond the BMES meeting

8 - University Receptions