Careers in conversation: connecting academia and industry
Sixteen leading life science and IT companies, all-new livestreamed presentations, and an informative career panel made for a successful EMBL Industry Day in its second year
By James Barlow, Administrative Officer, Office of Resource Development
Back by popular demand, EMBL Industry Day once again opened its doors to scientists and company representatives alike.
This latest edition of Industry Day – hosted onsite at EMBL Heidelberg’s Advanced Training Centre (ATC) on Monday 10 November – was more ambitious in its scope and scale than the previous edition, with 16 leading life science companies and 150 participants (including in-person and online attendees).
Building on the momentum of its first iteration in 2024, Industry Day extended its reach even further this time: presentations were livestreamed from the ATC Klaus Tschira Auditorium to scientists at different EMBL sites, connecting companies and researchers across borders.
Similarly, invitations were extended to other regional institutions – such as the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the University of Mannheim, and the University of Heidelberg – to support career networking opportunities.
Abuzz with energy and conversation throughout the afternoon, the ATC Foyer offered participants a space to socialise and try out innovative new life science products. The ATC Klaus Tschira Auditorium and Helix Room A, meanwhile, provided companies with platforms to share information about their work and career opportunities in even greater detail.
One new key element to this year’s Industry Day was the career panel, chaired by Rachel Coulthard-Graf from the EMBL Fellows’ Careers Service.
Panelists from across the life science industry spectrum shared their professional insights, highlighting both the experiences which had provided them with a competitive edge as well as the things they may have done differently if given the chance.
According to the panelists, sourcing high-quality business management courses, taking time to practice networking, and understanding your own scientific and professional skills are all important first steps to finding a job which you can be passionate about.
“Take time to understand how your skills translate into industry,” Coulthard-Graf advised, “And speak with people in roles that interest you to learn how your expertise is applied and what employment options exist.”
In addition to networking and information sharing, Industry Day also offered a ‘Stamp Quest’. The most industrious event participants who had successfully collected ten colourful stamps from different company booths were entered into the prize draw.
EMBL Industry Day is organised each year by the EMBL Corporate Partnership Programme (CPP) and EMBL’s International Centre for Advanced Training (EICAT). The event provides a forum for presentations and conversations on the topic of industry careers for EMBL scientists, EMBL Corporate Partners, and other company representatives. For these participating companies, it offers valuable opportunities to form connections with EMBL scientists and learn more about new research being conducted onsite.
EMBL Industry Day will return again next year, with more opportunities for fruitful interactions, building connections, and learning more about academia-to-industry pathways.
