Navigating Alternative Careers: Working for a Startup After Graduating

This episode is hosted by the Early Career Professionals Committee, featuring panelists Dr. Heena Puri, Dr. Mary Wallace, Dr. Swati Mishra, and Miles Maxcer discussing their experiences transitioning directly from graduate programs to roles at agricultural biotech startups focused on innovative pest control solutions like biopesticides and RNA technology. Using a Jurassic Park analogy, they defined startups as high-risk, high-reward ventures with dynamic workloads, limited resources, and opportunities for broad skill-building in fast-paced environments. The discussion covered job-finding strategies, leveraging academic backgrounds, positives like creativity and growth versus challenges like uncertainty, and advice on assessing company health and work-life balance.

Hosted by the Early Career Professionals Committee

Moderator: Lidia Gual Gonzalez

Panelists: Mary Wallace, Swati Mishra, Heena Puri, Miles Maxcer

Learn more about our panelists here. You can watch the screen recording on our YouTube here.