What is Post-Synaptic Careers?
What can one do after Graduate Studies in Neuroscience?
This informal discussion series will address this question through a series of conversations with individuals with a background in neuroscience who have gone on to successful careers who are now successful in the non-academic world. The series will compliment IPN’s Pathways and Connections, which is the academic equivalent of Post-Synaptic Careers. This is your chance to talk to those who were once where you are. Ask the guest speakers about the often difficult decision to leave academia and the important, but sometimes serendipitous, connections that led them to where they are now.This is your chance to talk to them about the often circuitous pathways and the important, but often serendipitous, connections that led them to where they are now.
Our Next Event:
To be announced.
Past Events
Thursday, December 12, 2013, 6:00 pm, deGrandpre, MNI: Dr. Rosanne Seguin, Clinical Project Manager, Montreal Neurological Institute
"After completing a post-doctoral fellowship at the MNI where she was researching multiple sclerosis, Rosanne joined the biotech Celmed, Ville St. Laurent, as a scientist in the team developing stem-cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease. A few years late, she moved to Topigen Pharmaceuticals in the Angus technoparc in the east end of Montreal, initially in the role of Group Leader, developing antisense oligonucleotides and small molecules as therapies for respiratory diseases including asthma and COPD. During her time at Topigen, Rosanne became Director of Immunology and Development Support where besides working with chemical manufacturers, contract research organizations and regulatory agencies, she closely interacted with the Clinical Research team to translate the results of basic research from the bench to patients. After the acquisition of Topigen by the Australian company, Pharmaxis, Rosanne returned to the MNI in her current role of Clinical Project Manager where she is coordinating a Phase IV study in multiple sclerosis."
Poster: post-synaptic_careers_-_roseanne_seguin.pdf
Thursday, November 14, 2013, 6:00 pm, deGrandpre, MNI: Dr. Mario Rivero-Huguet, Science and Innovation Officer, British Consulate General
"Mario is currently working for the British Consul General in Montreal as UK´s Science and Innovation Officer. He possesses a Master’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Leipzig in Germany, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Health from McGill University. Mario worked in Ottawa for Canada’s International Development Research Centre as a specialist in Environmental Health, committed to action-oriented and community based research approaches as a sustainable solution to today’s most pressing social, health and environmental issues. He has also worked as McGill Faculty lecturer and Senior Consultant for the Commission for Environmental Cooperation in North America."
Poster: post-synaptic_careers_-_mario_rivero-huguet.pdf
Thursday, October 17, 2013, 6:00 pm, deGrandpre, MNI: Dr. Francesca Thierault, Biology Professor at Dawson College:
"Francesca is a tenured biology professor at Dawson College, where she chaired the Biology Department for over 4 years. She was Coordinator of the Science Program for over 3 years and currently has numerous roles in Science Program development. She started her teaching career while finishing her PhD research on the role of the transcription factor Runx1 in neuronal development in Dr. Stefano Stifani’s lab at the MNI. The years during which she finished her research, wrote and defended her thesis, got her doctoral degree in Neurological Sciences (which evolved into IPN) in 2007, and started full time teaching at Dawson in 2004, were hectic, to say the least! However, the satisfaction Francesca feels in her chosen career is beyond what she had hoped for when first deciding that her future lay in teaching."
Poster: post-synaptic_careers_-_francesca_theriault.pdf
Thursday, June 20, 2013, 6:00 pm, deGrandpre, MNI: Stephanie, Laroche-Pierre:
"After falling in love with the rush of a successful research, project and going by the course descriptions in the program, I entered the Biochemistry program at McGill University. Although I was in the major program, I did get the opportunity to do a short research program in Dr. Jerry Pelletier’s laboratory in my final year. Of note, during my undergraduates studies, I did have the opportunity to work at MDS Pharma Services in the summer prior to my final year.
"A lifelong interest in the brain directed me to pursue graduate studies in the (at the time) Graduate Program in Neurological Sciences, again at McGill. My Master’s research project revolved around structure-function studies on the Prion protein and its links to apoptosis in certain types of cells. After submitting, and with my name on a couple of publications, I started looking for work in the Life Science industry. That was in the fall of 2008, at the dawn of the Great recession. I took a job at an economic development agency I had never heard of before, Montreal International - “temporarily”. Over four years later, I am still there. My responsibilities went from updating databases on foreign companies (life sciences or other) with a presence in Montreal, to coordinating prospection trips to get companies to consider Montreal as part of their next strategic move in their growth to helping foreign companies to choose, settle and grow in the Greater Montreal Area."
Poster: post-synaptic_careers_-_stephanie_laroche-pierre.pdf
Two useful resources shared by Stephanie:
Map of Life Sci and med tech companies and research centers in the greater montreal: http://www.geografix.ca/map/svts
Profile of Montreal's Life Sciences and Health Technologies Industry (March 2013): http://www.montrealinternational.com/content/uploads/files/12022013/Profil_svts2013-en.pdf
Thursday, March 28, 2013, 6:00 pm, deGrandpre, MNI: Dr. Ian Hellstrom:
Ian Hellstrom is currently a Production Coordinator at IC Axon, a training agency for pharmaceutical sales staff. After completing a B.Sc.Hon. in Neuroscience from the University of Toronto, he began an M.Sc. in Neurological Science (which became IPN) at McGill, where he studied electrophysiology and neuroimmunology under Drs. Giamal Luheshi and Sylvain Williams at what is now the Douglas Institute. Staying at the Douglas, he started work as a technician with Dr. Michael Meaney which developed into a Ph.D. project. Ian’s doctoral work centred around the mechanisms by which early life environment affects gene expression throughout life. Ian was an active member of the student community at the Douglas, and helped to spearhead many student initiatives during his tenure there. Months before defending in 2011, Ian began a job search that eventually led him to a position as a Medical Writer at IC Axon, a local Montreal business. Their teams work with multinational pharmaceutical companies to produce training materials for their sales staff in a variety of media, encompassing topics such as the underlying science of disease states and drug actions, clinical trial data, and selling strategies. He recently transferred into project management role, coordinating members of internal departments and interacting with clients and members of their support teams to deliver projects and to exchange knowledge.