tel: 303-586-1875
E-mail:
dgiltner@comcast.net
Web: www.dgiltner.com
Area of Expertise
Coaching students and early career scientists on building a rewarding career in industry
Biography
David Giltner has worked for fifteen years in the photonics industry, developing laser-based products for SDL, Inc. JDS Uniphase, Ball Aerospace, and currently Zolo Technologies. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Photonics Industry Association and was the president of CPIA during 2008-2010. David holds a Ph.D. in Physics from Colorado State University where he performed research in precision laser spectroscopy and atom interferometry. In 2009 he began interviewing scientists who have also pursued careers in industry. From these interviews he compiled a book titled Turning Science into Things People Need, which serves as a guide for other scientists seeking to pursue a similar career path.
Lecture Title(s)
Can a scientist find a rewarding career in industry? When considering an opportunity to pursue a career in industry, many graduate students in science face real challenges. Here are a few difficult questions they may ask:
- What skills do I have that are useful in industry?
- How is work in industry different than academia?
- Will I enjoy working at a company instead of a research lab?
- What do I need to learn in order to be successful in this new environment?
- What kind of jobs do scientists hold in the private sector?
- Can a scientist become a successful entrepreneur?
To find answers to these questions, the speaker has interviewed many people who have successfully made the transition from research scientist to industrial scientist or successful entrepreneur. This talk will discuss what he learned form these interviews regarding:
- The roles a scientist can play in industry,
- The skills and attributes of a scientist that are particularly useful in an industry environment, and
- The new skills and patterns of thinking that a scientist may need to develop to be successful in industry.
For the student considering a rewarding career in industry, this talk will provide valuable insight into how to launch a successful and rewarding career in the private sector.
