Program Coordinator Chose a Career That Supports Her Life

Name: Imon Candelaria (she/her)

PhD: Cancer Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, 2021

What was your main area of research?

I studied the role of a protein machinery called the FACT complex which is an attractive anti-cancer target. We "deleted" FACT in mice and found that its loss is deadly, especially for stem cells in bone marrow and large intestine.

Our results demonstrated that FACT helps keep chromatin "stable" during transcription. Furthermore, our study implies that in cancer cells, the chromatin structure is "unstable," making them more reliant on FACT, which could help us design highly targeted cancer drugs.

What is your current job?

I am a Program Coordinator (Research Operations & Advanced Degree Programs) at University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine in Buffalo, New York.

I manage graduate degree programs - PhD and MS (academic progress tracking, course support, registration and documentation) and tuition/scholarship processing. I also oversee research operations by providing support for NIH grants (K-12, D43, T32), track award outcomes, monitor progress of research activities, and organize conferences.

What is your favorite thing about your job?

The best part is that I get to interact with students/faculty. I also love the sense of fulfilment, structure and routine, and GREAT work-life balance!

What is the most important skill you developed or experience you had during your PhD that now helps you in your current position?

Understanding the "flow" of research - conducting literature review, generating a question, forming a hypothesis, designing experiments to address questions and "reading" data.

How did you build the skills necessary for your current role?

I have always been interested in research administration. However, management is a natural part of the PhD process, so no additional training was needed :)

I also love interacting with and assisting students and faculty members.

How did you find this position? What were the career steps you took to get to where you are now?

I found the job through Indeed.

After graduating, I worked as a scientist in the industry for about 3 years. I decided I needed greater structure and work/life balance. Also, a research-based career comes with constant uncertainties and that was not for me. So I decided to change my career and transition toward research/graduate school administration.

PhD Graduate ➡️ Industry Scientist ➡️Program Coordinator

If someone is interested in a similar role, what would you recommend they start doing now to prepare?

Find what you like/dislike and discover your strengths and weaknesses. What are your goals in life?

Be mindful and well-informed about the job market but please be true to yourself.

Why did you decide to not pursue a career in academia?

It came very easily to me. The PhD graduate -> postdoc -> PI route is one that is never ending. There is a constant struggle for grants and a steady uphill battle for tenure. Unless someone is willing to live their passion every waking moment, this life may not be for everyone.

I wanted a career that supported my life, not the other way round. :)

What advice do you have for someone getting their PhD and looking to pursue a career outside of academia?

Please think about your long term goals and know if a PhD is something that will help you achieve it. :)

What is important to you? High pay? Position? Work/life balance? Solid family time? Your passions/hobbies? Know your priorities.

Are there any components of your identity you would like to share, including how they have impacted your journey?

I prefer a job that supports my life and not the other way round. I value traveling, work/life balance and family. While I am fiercely pro-science and consider myself a scientific professional, a research-based career was hindering my life-goals. So I chose a career that helps me facilitate research, while catering to my own goals.