Students joining BCMB in fall 2018 or later will participate in the OPTIONS curriculum, offered through the Professional Development and Career Office (PDCO). OPTIONS is designed to give students the opportunity for career exploration, professional development training, career skills building, and career experiences.
- In Years 1 and 2, students attend at least four sessions of the iCAN (Investigating Careers and Networking) series to learn more about the range of careers open to PhDs and network with professionals.
- In Year 3, students join an OPTIONS Career Community to gain a deeper understanding of the careers within that field and practice the skills required to be successful.
- In Years 4 and beyond, students meet with a career coach to create a plan, and they gain experience in their chosen career by applying for a grant, joining a student group, or participating in an externship or internship.
More senior students have the opportunity to join OPTIONS if they wish, and/or attend other professional development workshops.