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Mid-Career Transitions: Choices and Challenges
Sponsored by APS Careers Opportunities in Physiology Committee
Career Development Track

Many career-oriented symposia are devoted to early-career transitions; however, mid-career transitions are also common and may involve equal or greater challenges and opportunities than those of early-career scientists.  Further, mid-career scientists account for a significant proportion of the membership of APS and other FASEB societies. This symposium will focus on this relatively underemphasized group of scientists, and will address how to manage and approach various types of career transitions.  The first topic will be an overview of how to deal with career transitions, emphasizing voluntary as well as involuntary changes. A synopsis highlighting transitions between academia and industry will follow and will provide information on the similarities and differences between scientific careers in these two environments, and strategies to facilitate the transition. A similar approach will be used to discuss career opportunities in the government and military. Finally, strategies for assuming leadership/administrative positions (e.g., Department chair, Dean, etc.) while maintaining an active research program will be discussed. A greater understanding of the unique aspects involved in various types of career transitions is expected to provide mid-career scientists with highly relevant information to facilitate these career changes. While the symposium is targeted for mid-career scientists, several aspects may be of interest and relevant to scientists at other stages of their career.