Attending my first #FORLeads meeting! My phone died, so the only pic I'll have is this one from my cheap laptop, but I'm definitely here and happy @Addgene was able help sponsor this event!

Keynote speaker @KennyGibbsPhD on applying for a life changing @aaas fellowship: "Never self-eliminate. You gotta put yourself out there," #FoRLeads

The first post in the @Addgene Transferable Skills Guide for scientists is (almost) hot off the presses: http://blog.addgene.org/transferable-skills-guide-career-planning-resources #forleads

Harkening back to suggestions from @KennyGibbsPhD at the #FoRLeads talk, here's my new @addgene blog post on why and how scientists should build their teamwork skills: http://blog.addgene.org/transferable-skills-guide-teamwork

Trainee objectives for the #modernPhD according to @KennyGibbsPhD: Working in teams, communicating, and career transition skills (btw, all topics coming up on the @Addgene blog in the coming month!). #FoRLeads

Second keynote speaker, @nshockey from @SPARC_NA, talks about #opencon (another @addgene friend!). #FoRLeads

. @nshockey on learning lessons on diversity from the first #opencon: representation in the room is not enough--the organizing committee and speakers needed to be diverse, too. #FORLeads

? from @jessicapolka for @nshockey : How can we monitor whether underrepresented people who manage to get on boards are actually being heard? #forleads

Impressive panel consisting of @editor_traceyd @MPritsker @Dykstra_S @HappyStemCell @keerthisheety talking about how they are being (or supporting) early career researchers. #forleads

. @HappyStemCell advice for improving confidence and people skills: Realize that the people in your cohort also have good ideas and want to talk about them. @Dykstra_S adds that "You have to be somewhat fearless" #FoRLeads

How to overcome barriers, from @Dykstra_S : it's important to have champions and sponsors. @addgene executive director @JKamens would advise to start early and choose a mentor carefully. http://blog.addgene.org/choosing-a-good-mentor-for-scientists #forleads