Many Mentors Career Fair

Engaging scientific interest in today’s youth is essential for future progress in STEM fields. To inform students of possible career opportunities in science and provide a road map for obtaining scientific careers, Dr. Wilson, who is a Postdoctoral Associate in the Targeted Proteomics Core, attended a STEM Career Fair on April 11, 2017 that was organized by Many Mentors at Wilbur Cross High School in New Haven, CT. There, she presented a poster that focused on three main topics: 1) “What do I do?”, 2) “What education is required for my job?”, and 3) “What are the future opportunities for my career?”. Hundreds of high school students were in attendance, and Dr. Wilson spoke with several students who expressed great interest in becoming scientists. Their questions were thoughtful and challenging, and Dr. Wilson was quite impressed with their enthusiasm for science! It seemed that many students were unaware of the vast possibilities for scientific careers or the paths one can take to become a scientist. The majority of students also assumed that becoming a scientist requires the highest level of education, deterring many from considering science as a future career. Collectively, Dr. Wilson believes that the information and clarifications that she provided during the STEM Career Fair were successful in encouraging students to explore future opportunities in scientific careers.