Career Development for Graduate Students

From experimental skills training to mentorship with professionals in the industry, academia and beyond, your education is about more than what you learn in the classroom or the lab. Our career development services are personalized, and will complement your education; our goal is for our graduates to experience a well-rounded educational experience that truly prepares them for everything that comes next.

The program offers:

  • Opportunities for students to grow their venture with access to the UBC ecosystem, services, and research facilities
  • Tailored programming for successful venture creation (product-market fit, customer discovery, business model validation)
  • A network of industry mentors
  • Opportunities to gain dilutive and non-dilutive funding
  • A partnership ecosystem: access to a multitude of service providers, including lawyers, tax, and financial advisory services
Experimental Skills Training

This hands-on and highly interactive course provides students with the knowledge and skills to overcome difficulties or obstacles in their work, ensures they know how to access the people and resources they need to successfully complete their research projects and strengthens their confidence.

 

MODULE LECTURER(S)
Introduction to SBQMI - Overview of the Institute, Research Groups, Facilities and Infrastructure, How to Access to ResourcesAndrea Damascelli
Introduction to Physics of Quantum Materials and Future TechnologiesAndrea Damascelli
Introduction to SBQMI's Machine Shop - Machine Shop operations, How to submit a Job to the Machine Shop, Hands-on Practice, Matching Materials to RequirementsHarish Gautam
Using Electronic Equipment - Resistance Measurements, Lock-in TechniquesTBA
Introduction to Ultra-High Vacuum Equipment and TechniquesPinder Dosanjh, Mario Beaudoin, Silvia Luescher-Folk
Using SBQMI's High-Performance Computing System - Computational Techniques / Modeling Nanoscale Systems / HPCJoerg Rottler, Alireza Nojeh
Introduction to Micro- and Nanofabrication TheoryKostis Michelakis, Mario Beaudoin
Introduction to Micro- and Nanofabrication Theory + Clean Room - Lithography, Metal and Insulator Deposition, Dry EtchingKostis Michelakis, Mario Beaudoin
Health and Safety in Laboratories - General QMI-AMPEL, Cryogenics, Laser Safety, High Voltage, Compressed Gases, Flammables, etc.James Day, Pinder Dosanjh
Tips and Techniques in Packaging - Hands-on Training in Soldering Wiring, Wire Bonding, Epoxies, Connections, Dicing, UHV/Vacuum/Cry-Compatible, Connectors, etc.Pinder Dosanjh, Lukas Chrostowski, Silvia Luescher-Folk, Hossam Shoman
Working with Low-Noise, High-Precision Electrical Circuits - Sensitive ElectronicsTBA
Materials Synthesis Including Chemical Vapor DepositionMark McLachlan
UHV with SAES Getters (mandatory for all students)Pinder Dosanjh
TRIUMFPublic tour

Scientific Talks

Each month, students have the opportunity to practice their presentation skills by presenting their research project to an audience of peers at our Scientific Talks. Students practice answering questions about their work while receiving feedback from other students, as well as from one of Blusson QMI’s scientific staff and the Manager, Programs and Careers.

 

These sessions are for students only – other than the two feedback coaches, faculty and staff do not attend. This provides a safe environment in which to practice.

Career Services

Our Manager, Programs and Careers meets with each of our new students to understand their aspirations and determine how Blusson QMI can best help them. Individualized career advice is also offered at any point in a student’s time with us. Our support includes tips and feedback on resumé and cover letter writing, interviewing skills, and networking.

Career panels

Blusson QMI has a wide network of academic and industry professionals and entrepreneurs with experience in technology, interdisciplinary research, applied sciences, and electronics, and with a focus on quantum matter applications and research. Throughout the year we invite people from this network to participate in panel discussions where students have the opportunity to speak directly with people who are established in the field and ask for advice.

Mentorship

Our mentorship program pairs Blusson QMI students with academic and industry mentors in a structured relationship. Mentors share their professional experiences and personal insights. Students have the opportunity to ask questions in a confidential and supportive framework.

The program is aimed at continuing Blusson QMI students in their second year of MSc; or second, third, or fourth years of PhD study.

Benefits to Students

  • Opens new career prospects through a greater understanding of career opportunities
  • Builds familiarity with the workplace environment and employer expectations
  • Helps to refine aspirations when career planning
  • Increases confidence

Benefits to Mentors and Their Organizations

The program provides mentors, alumni, and their organizations with opportunities to:

 

  • Share their professional experiences with motivated students who are interested in the alumnus’s field of expertise
  • Develop transferable mentoring and coaching skills for future people management or leadership responsibilities within their own careers
  • Gain satisfaction from helping motivated students to increase their confidence and progress with their career choices and ambitions
  • Promote their sector and profession directly to students, along with potential career opportunities within their organization
  • Build a strong link with Blusson QMI at the University of British Columbia

The Mentor Role and Support from SBQMI’s Career Development

The role of a mentor is to support and encourage students, helping them to best use their time at Blusson QMI and develop their professional skills; this includes advice on preparing for the next stage in their career.

 

The standard time commitment for a mentor is a minimum of six interactions over the duration of the partnership. At least two of these should be face-to-face meetings (either at the mentor’s workplace or at Blusson QMI, although for international mentors these meetings can take place using videoconferencing tools). The mentee will be responsible for organizing these meetings.

 

Before starting, mentors are provided with our Guide to Mentoring, which provides a more detailed outline of the division of responsibilities within the mentor/mentee relationship, mentor/mentee expectations, logistics, and an overview of support provided to mentors from Blusson QMI. Mentors will also be invited to an introductory workshop to meet with their mentees.

 

At this time both will receive brief training on:

 

  • Roles and responsibilities
  • Key mentoring and coaching skills
  • Standard expectations and commitments
  • Goal setting
  • Planning and structuring contact
  • Support from Career Development.

If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please contact our Manager, Programs and Careers at natalia.bussard@ubc.ca

Work Shadow

Observing a professional in the workplace creates understanding and insight into challenges and rewards that come with a career or profession. By spending time in a workplace our students experience the realities of a professional environment and have the opportunity to question and learn from professionals to help inform their career plans.

Who can work shadow?

Blusson QMI graduate students study quantum computing, condensed matter theory, solar energy, solar fuels, solar electricity, high purity crystal growth, application of scanning probe microscopy techniques, integrated photonics, and electronic properties of complex systems in which valence electrons self-organize into novel ground states substantially different from those of conventional metals and insulators.

 

Their research topics include electron spin, topological states of quantum matter, laser source technology, quantum materials and their interfaces, cuprate high-temperature semiconductors, development of new organic and inorganic materials with interesting properties that may find applications in electronics, photonics, catalysis, and other applications.

 

They are building skills in fabricating nanostructures, structural and mechanical properties of materials, and developing new organic and inorganic materials with applications in electronics, photonics, catalysis, and other applications.

 

Benefits to host organizations

Work Shadowing provides a unique opportunity to:

 

  • work with Blusson QMI students and help them to shape their career plans.
  • develop employees by giving them the responsibility of being shadowed
  • network with potential future talent
  • build a relationship with Blusson QMI

We welcome applications from host organizations in industry, schools, colleges and entrepreneurial companies. If you are an alumnus, industry or school representative, or other friend of Blusson QMI, please let us know if you are willing to host a student (or students) at your place of work by emailing: natalia.bussard@ubc.ca

When will work shadowing take place?

Work shadowing can take place any time that suits both you and the student and will be agreed on between you and the student, coordinated by Blusson QMI’s Manager, Programs and Careers.

How much does it cost?

Work shadowing has no cost for the host organization. There are no salary costs and, where applicable, Blusson QMI will cover reasonable travel costs and expenses.

 

However, host organizations will need to have relevant insurance and provide a health and safety orientation.

How to apply?

If you are interested in supporting our Work Shadowing program, please contact our Manager, Programs and Careers at natalia.bussard@ubc.ca

Services at UBC

Graduate Pathways to Success in UBC’s Faculty of Graduate Studies offers a variety of services to students including orientations to UBC, guidance on doctoral exam preparation, thesis submission, and effective writing skills.

 

Mitacs Professional Development Programs (STEP) offers an engaging program for selected students, with excellent materials and superb instruction from leading business and industry professionals. The STEP program helps participants bridge the gap between university learning and career success through professional skills development in Leadership & Management, Communication & Relationship Building, Personal & Professional Management, and Entrepreneurialism. Current Course Offerings.

 

e@UBC offers programs and support for all stages of venture creation, from ideation, through business model creation, to company building. Its goal is to support the next generation of UBC entrepreneurs and help future leaders develop the skills they need for success.