Name: Anne-Sophie Bohrer (she/her)
PhD: Plant Biology, Universite of Paris-Sud, 2012
What was your main area of research?
During my PhD and postdoc, I focused on the study of plant metabolism. More specifically, during my PhD, I studied the redox regulation of metabolic enzymes in the chloroplast and, during my postdoc, I studied the regulation of sulfur metabolism in the plant model Arabidopsis. Later in my postdoc, I studied the primary metabolism of the bioenergy crop switchgrass in response to abiotic stresses, more specifically in response to cold.
What is your current job?
I am the Career and Professional Development Program Manager for Postdoctoral Fellows in the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
In this new role, I am to lead career and professional development programs and services for postdoctoral research fellows. This includes overseeing the career coaching and programming for our office, collaborating with partners on campus, and developing assessment tools, while also developing the strategic plan for the office.
I love being able to help postdocs navigate their experience at the university and guide them as they plan for their next career, whether they need support identifying the career they see themselves pursuing or helping them achieve the career goals they set for themselves.
How did you find this position? What were the career steps you took to get to where you are now?
I found this position via my professional network.
PhD graduate ➡️ Postdoc ➡️ Training Coordinator ➡️ this job
Why did you decide to not pursue a career in academia?
My decision to not pursue a faculty career in academia came from my decision to stay in the US rather than go back to my home country (France). It took me a few years to know and decide which career path I wanted to follow, and it wasn't an easy decision to make. First, I had to become more familiar with the type of careers I could pursue with a STEM PhD but also better understand what I valued in order to find a job that would align with them. Although I steered toward a career in higher education early on, it took me a long time to grieve my career as a scientist. Ultimately, I realized that my STEM background and extensive postdoc experience were strengths that I could leverage in this type of career, as I am able to relate to the experience of the postdocs I work with.
What advice do you have for someone getting their PhD and looking to pursue a career outside of academia?
Be transparent about your process - whether you already know the career you want to go into or not, it is important to discuss with your PI early on to set expectations for the both of you.
Find support outside your lab. Your PI might not be able to directly help with your future career, but they might be able to connect you with others who would. It is also important to be curious about the opportunities that exist on your campus (career coaching and professional development programs) or online to support your career transition
Plan for your next career step early! The sooner, the better - the job search will coincide with the time you will write your dissertation and defend your PhD, which will already be a stressful time. The process of finding the career that suits you best, finding job opportunities, and applying for jobs is long and can sometimes be tedious. The more prepared you are, the most likely you are to succeed!