Career Week

Online Workshop

Connect with Purpose: Building professional relationships that matter

10.00h – 12.00h

by Denitza Denkova.

In science and other knowledge-intensive environments, we naturally focus on developing research expertise. Yet many of the opportunities that shape our careers and professional growth, including productive collaborations and professional networks, emerge through our interactions with others. Successfully navigating such interactions requires a different set of skills, rooted in the ability to find common ground across diverse perspectives and to build meaningful professional connections.

This is not a workshop about learning networking tricks, negotiating transactional collaborations, or mastering small talk. Nor is it about approaching professional relationships in ways that feel forced or inauthentic. Instead, through highly interactive discussions and practical exercises, we will reflect on how different perspectives and expectations shape our professional interactions. We will explore some of the grounding principles that can help us navigate these differences, while staying true to ourselves and respectful of others. It is from such relationships that productive collaborations, stronger professional networks, and new opportunities naturally emerge.

Online Round Table

Pathways to leadership in academia

15.00h – 16.30h

With the participation of:

• Gabriel Gomila Lluch – Group leader at IBEC.
• Javier Rodriguez Viejo – Group leader at ICN2
• Beatriz Prieto Simón – Group leader at ICIQ.
• Erin Tranfield – Head of BioImaging Core at VIB Ghent

Moderated by: Damjana Kastelic – Head of training and academic office at CRG.

Online Workshop

Strategic career planning for researchers

10.00h – 12.00h

by Iris Köhler.

A reflective workshop designed to help participants clarify career goals, evaluate different options, and make informed professional decisions at different career stages.

Online Round Table

Professional careers in science

15.00h – 16.30h

With the participation of:

• Sonia Saborit – Head of preaward at La Caixa Research Institute.
• Asli Raman Martín Dombrowski – Senior Technology Transfer and Business Development Manager at IBEC.
• Marta Martín García – Science Communication at ICFO.

Moderated by: Anastasia Herrero – Section head of academic office at IRB.

Online Workshop

Identifying transferable skills, CV & cover letter writing

10.00h – 12.00h

by Chaperone

This 2-hour masterclass will explore tools to identify and articulate transferable skills, understand how to further develop them, and explore how these competencies can be applied across a range of professional contexts. The session will also address how to translate academic experience into language that resonates beyond academia, highlight strengths effectively, and avoid common pitfalls. Participants will then be guided through key principles for crafting a clear and compelling CV and cover letter, with a focus on structure, content, and tailoring applications for both academic and non-academic career paths.

Online Round Table

Transition from academia to industry

15.00h – 16:30h

With the participation of:

• Luisa Vigevani – Senior Field Applications Scientist at Oxford Nanopore Technologies.
• Marc Azagra – Project Evaluation Specialist at Esteve.
• Adrián Torres – CSO at Aptadel Therapeutics.
• Celia Ximenes – Assay Development Scientist at Werfen.

Moderated by: Carlota Odena – Academic Officer at IRB Barcelona

Online Workshop

Mastering job interviews: Prepare and perform to land your dream job

10.00h – 12.00h

by Carol Marí (Head of people management at IBEC)

You have been called for a job interview. Now you have to prepare yourself to ensure you make a good impression and leave the hiring manager with a positive feeling about your candidacy. In this session, we’ll provide an overview of how to succeed in an interview, sharing practical tips and recommendations for each stage: before, during, and after the interview.