When?
September 22-23, 2026
Where?
RÓMULO - Centro de Ciência da Universidade de Coimbra
Departamento de Física da FCTUC - Piso R/C Rua Larga | 3004-516 Coimbra | Portugal
About
Overview
Training program for early-career neuroscience researchers, focused on transversal skills, non-academic employability, knowledge transfer, and entrepreneurship. The program is highly interactive, delivered in English, and tailored to predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers. It also features inspiring career stories from professionals who have successfully built careers beyond academia, offering participants first-hand insights into diverse career pathways and opportunities.
Manolo Castellano, PhD
Talent Consulting & Professional development for scientists, Spain
Gonçalo Lopes, PhD
From Academia to creating a company to promote open source resources - NeuroGEARS, UK
Cindy Poo, PhD
From Academia to nonprofit research at the Allen Institute, USA
Nicolas Morgenstern, MD, PhD
From Academia to work on a start-up to develop innovative health tools - Virtuleap, PT
Goals
- Identify and articulate their key technical and transversal skills, and understand how these are transferable beyond academia.
- Recognize and challenge limiting beliefs that hinder exploration of alternative career paths.
- Translate their skills and achievements into an effective CV and LinkedIn profile oriented to non-academic roles.
- Understand how recruitment processes and applicant tracking systems (ATS) work, and how to position themselves strategically for non-academic opportunities.
- Gain an initial understanding of knowledge transfer mechanisms, including spin-offs, licensing, consulting, and entrepreneurship.
- Apply the Business Model Canvas to either a potential research-derived venture or a personal consulting or freelance model.
- Reflect on and discuss career pathways for pursuing science within and beyond academia.
Preliminary Program
Registration
Limited to 25 participants, CiBB members.
Save your spot!
Registration on a first come first served basis (priority will be given to researchers and students from The Neuroscience and Disease Research Area)
Deadline for registration: September 9, 2026
Selected candidates will be notified by the 14th of September (the latest).
Session 1 - Transversal Skills, self-knowledge, transferability
Session 2 - CV, LinkedIn, recruitment, ATS
Session 3 - Knowledge transfer, consulting, entrepreneurship
