LifeCareerJob   -   Podcast   -   #1 - Introduction
 

Introduction

Episode #1

In this episode

 

"Hello listeners, I am Dr.Yamina Berchiche, Founder of Dr. GPCR, co-founder of the LifeCareerJob Ecosystem, and your host. 

 

I’d like to introduce myself in this introductory episode and tell you why we’ve created the LifeCareerJob Ecosystem and this podcast.

 

I am a molecular pharmacologist by training and got hooked onto a class of proteins called G-Protein Coupled Receptors, in short GPCRs. I’ve spent 20 years training and working on GPCRs …. the largest superfamily of cell surface proteins that control virtually every physiological function in the body, making them attractive drug targets. 

 

For the longest time, I thought I wanted to become a professor. Then I realized that it may not be for me. It took me time to realize that I can be a scientist without being a professor and that I can do meaningful work daily without setting foot in the lab. My journey to today was not easy, I am not complaining as I feel lucky and content. That being said, I know how daunting it can be not to know which way to go post Ph.D. and how to navigate a demanding career. 

 

In 2020, I founded Dr. GPCR, an ecosystem built to help foster relationships between various stakeholders in the field both from academia and industry. Part of Dr. GPCR’s success is the Dr. GPCR podcast that I host. I’ve spoken to scientists in the field that I would have never dreamed of talking to had I not started Dr. GPCR. Among my guest were industry and academic scientists with highly successful careers. In case you’d like to listen to the Dr. GPCR podcast, visit Dr. GPCR.com/Podcast and take a peak. 

 

Today, we have over 50 recorded episodes, over 3000 followers on social media, and we’ve received compliments from all over the world. Perhaps the one that comes to mind as I am talking to you, what was it? It said Dr. GPCR is the Oprah of the GPCR world. I work hard at maintaining, building, and reinventing Dr. GPCR every day but it’s the most fulfilling job I ever had. 

 

But why I am talking to you about my other podcast and Dr. GPCR?

 

Simply because it’s the best example I have to show you that you can find what you love in life and create a unique career for yourself. I started Dr. GPCR with the idea that I wanted to talk to every scientist working on GPCRs. 

 

I believe each of us has strengths and weaknesses and that finding what makes us get out of bed in the morning is important.

 

That’s why I co-founded the LifeCareerJob Ecosystem. We want to help Ph.D. students find their way to non-academic jobs and create their dream careers while building a fulfilling life. 

 

We’ll help prepare you for that first job in the industry and support you through your career while you navigate it and create the life that enables you to get out of bed each morning. 

 

How will the program look? Well, it’s composed of 4 parts. 

 

Number 1, the training materials that you can go through at your own pace. These materials will be composed of 5 parts to help you do some introspection, learn about career opportunities out there, be ready to interview, negotiate your way into a job, and what to do once you get that job. The training material is a living breathing set of documents that we will update regularly and we need your feedback to do so. 

 

Number 2, when you join the LifeCareerJob Ecosystem, you are automatically invited to our private LinkedIn group. The goal is to help each other and learn from each other in the group. We ask you to keep it positive, help others and ask for feedback. You can also find a buddy in the group to support each other on a more personal basis.

 

Number 3, regular live training/ Q/A’s during which we’ll talk in more detail about the various aspects covered in the training materials. For example, we’ll have a session in which we’ll discuss how to leverage LinkedIn to network. These events will be recorded and you’ll be able to watch these as many times as you need.

 

Number 4, this podcast. An integral part of the LifeCareerJob ecosystem is this podcast. Starting in September 2021, we’ll release episodes in which we’ll talk to various guests, including scientists like you who work in the industry, recruiters, hiring managers, and everything in between. The goal of the podcast is to inspire you and help you take that next step and have a fulfilling career.

 

We have a short survey on our website that you can fill out, which will allow us to contact you when the program becomes available. Once in the program, you will be able to leave us suggestions and tell us what you need so that we can adapt the training to your needs. The first 50 subscribers will get free access to the program. 

 

Subscribe to the LifeCareerJob Podcast and Visit us today at  LifeCareerJob.com. "