Sarah Wilkinson Invited to Participate in Undergraduate Career Panel

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Sarah Wilkinson, University of Arizona Superfund Research Program (UA SRP) Research Translation Coordinator, was recently invited to participate in a career panel for students in the UA’s Undergraduate Biology Research Program (UBRP).

UBRP provides opportunities for undergraduate students to participate in mentored, self-directed research and to hone their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. In addition to performing laboratory research with UA faculty members, the students participate in a professional development/career exploration class with other undergraduates interested in exploring different careers. The class includes career panels that illustrate how they might use their scientific education more broadly than they might think. Dr. Wilkinson was invited by UBRP Director Carol Bender to describe her job in research translation, and what path she took to get there from her first experiences as a bench scientist. Other panelists included a USDA scientist performing bee research, the development director for a local refugee non-profit organization, and a partner in a local cancer drug discovery company. Following panel presentations, students had the opportunity to ask questions about panelists’ career experiences and the non-linear paths that brought them to where they are now.

Dr. Wilkinson says of the experience, “I always enjoy talking to students, and demonstrating that there is no cookie-cutter approach to becoming a scientist. It was also fascinating to hear from the other panelists about their scientific journeys.”