Choosing a career and deciding on the right path is one of the biggest challenges in the life of any researcher. There is no dearth of opportunities in fields like science and especially cancer research, but due to a lack of proper direction and guidance at the right time, many young scientists and researchers remain confused about their careers. In such a situation, the Career Crafting Workshop of IACR 2025 is bringing a unique opportunity for researchers. This is a pre-conference program, which is specially designed for those researchers who want to clarify their career outline, understand their strengths and use them in the right direction and want to strengthen their professional identity in the field of science. This workshop is not only a platform for learning but also an experience that will impact the life and career of researchers in the long run.
Special focus on career development
In today’s time, only academic knowledge or research work is not enough to pursue any career. Strategic thinking, professional networking and presenting your capabilities effectively are equally important for success. The main objective of the Career Crafting Workshop is to teach the participants not to leave their professional life to the circumstances but to set a clear and strong direction based on their goals. In this workshop, the participants will get an opportunity to understand how to define their professional identity and how to create an attractive career narrative so that they can make their place not only in the academic world but also in the industry.
Unique interactive learning experience
The impact of any workshop is deep only when the participants are not limited to just listening but are actively involved. Career Crafting Workshop has been designed from this point of view. Here the participants will get an opportunity to analyze their past experiences and achievements through guided reflection. Also, group discussions will give the participants an opportunity to share ideas with like-minded people and learn new perspectives. Additionally, each person will get personal feedback through coaching exercises so that they can identify their weaknesses and work on them. Thus, this workshop is not limited to imparting knowledge but also provides participants with a practical opportunity to move forward towards self-discovery and development.
Skill Development: Foundation of the Future
Skills play a vital role in career advancement. Whether you are a research scientist, a postdoctoral fellow or looking for opportunities in the industry, your skills are your biggest asset. In this workshop, participants will learn how to present their strengths clearly and confidently. In addition, they will also be taught how to build a strong professional network and use it to advance their career. This workshop will also teach participants how to confidently handle situations such as career transitions, such as moving from academic research to industry or changing research areas. Practicing these skills will help researchers not only face current challenges but also enable them to seize future opportunities.
Invaluable guidance from professionals
The best part of the Career Crafting Workshop is that it will not only teach theory, but participants will also get an opportunity to meet and learn directly from experienced professionals from academia and the industry. These experts will share their personal experiences, challenges, and successes. Their real-life stories will inspire participants as well as teach them how to move forward even in difficult situations. This guidance is much more useful than books or lectures, as it gives participants a direct experience of the practical world. Also, in these panel discussions, participants can ask their questions and get their doubts resolved, which will further strengthen their confidence.
Personal Career Development Plan: Roadmap to the Future
The main objective of this workshop is that every participant prepares a personal career development plan. This will not be just a document but a roadmap that will determine the direction and progress of their career. This plan will include their career goals, strategies to achieve those goals, and solutions to potential challenges. By the end of the workshop, participants will have a clear and practical plan, which will enable them to pursue the next steps in their career with confidence.
Who is this workshop for?
The Career Crafting Workshop is designed primarily with master’s and PhD researchers in mind. Young scientists often have many questions at this stage of their early career: What field should I research next? Should I pursue an academic career or move to the industry? How do I strengthen my skills? All these questions will be answered in this workshop. Apart from this, this workshop is also very relevant for researchers who want to make a change in their career and are looking for new possibilities.
Significance in the context of IACR 2025
This Career Crafting Workshop is part of the 44th Annual Conference of the Indian Association for Cancer Research (IACR), being held from 16th to 18th January 2025 in Kolkata. The workshop is being hosted by IndiaBioscience. This workshop at a prestigious platform like IACR will not only provide researchers with an opportunity to learn but also give them a great opportunity to connect with other scientists, clinical experts and faculty members and strengthen their network. Thus, this workshop further strengthens the overarching objective of IACR 2025—to bridge fundamental and translational approaches.
Conclusion
In short, the Career Crafting Workshop @ IACR 2025 is not just a training program but an experience that will help researchers decide their career path. The workshop will provide participants with new skills, clear strategies and real-world guidance. Most importantly, it will inspire the participants to plan their future and move forward in their careers with confidence.
For all the young researchers who want clarity, confidence and purposeful progress in their careers, this workshop is a priceless opportunity. It would not be wrong to say that this workshop is going to give new dimensions to their career journey.