Over spring break, 14 students from the College of Arts and Sciences had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., for a three-day career development experience focused on science and policy. Jason Wang, a first-year mathematics major who participated in the trip, shared, "This experience helped me realize the vast spectrum of skills and talents that federal employers are seeking."

 

On the first day, students visited the AstraZeneca US headquarters in Gaithersburg, MD. Here, students engaged with two Ohio State University graduates from the Chemical Engineering Ph.D. program, Dr. Raghavan Venkat and Dr. Mike Mollet. Various recruiters and senior scientists discussed various aspects of drug development and manufacturing, and how they developed the skills and competencies that got them to AstraZeneca. Following this, the group met with a panel of senior leaders and early talent representatives at the US Department of State, representing the Office of the Chief Economist and the Office of Global Health Affairs. The speakers elucidated on how their work contributes to the work of other agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and National Institutes of Health (NIH), and primarily focuses on laying the groundwork for successful policy discussions concerning international health outcomes.

 

The second day included a visit to the National Institute of Health (NIH), where students toured the Clinical Center and met with representatives from the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), including agencies such as the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), in addition to the CDC and NIH. Students engaged in ample networking opportunities showcasing the many different careers in HHS—they also spoke with two alumni, Melissa Smith and Dr. Jordan Gladman about the journey from Ohio State to their current roles at the NIH. The day concluded with a mixer held in conjunction with the D.C. Alumni Society and the Washington Academic Internship Program (WAIP), offering students the chance to connect with alumni working in policy, government contracting, advocacy, and consulting. Carli Genova, a second-year molecular genetics major, reflected, "I learned that career paths are rarely straightforward, and it's possible to find a unique job that combines all of your passions."

 

The final day began with a visit to the NASA Goddard Visitor Center and tours around the National Mall. At the Visitor Center, students heard from Allison Chartrand, an alumna of the Glacier Dynamics Research Group at Ohio State, and Andrea Portier, a 2012 B.S. graduate in Geological and Earth Sciences. They discussed their career paths from Ohio State to NASA and highlighted opportunities available at Ohio State for students to enhance their future careers. OSTEM Career Recruiters additionally provided insights into pursuing internships and careers at NASA, before embarking on a comprehensive tour of the facility. Students even got to see scientists and engineers begin to assemble the Nancy Grace Roman Telescope inside the world's largest clean room! Special thanks to Shirley Wu for leading this group!