Weekly Resources from the Catalyst Community: Week of August 18th

Welcome to our weekly showcase featuring a curated selection of valuable resources shared by our community. We explore various topics, including professional development, diversity, equity, and mentorship. We enjoy sharing these resources and hope they will benefit you as much as they have benefitted us.

Whether you're a recent graduate or an experienced professional, there's never been a better time to pursue a career in biotech. The industry is booming, and there's a wealth of opportunities available for job seekers and career changers alike. That being said, competition is fierce, and it takes more than just technical knowledge to succeed in the industry. In this post, we outline five essential career development skills that every biotech professional should master.

Deaf scientists who use American Sign Language (ASL) often find themselves communicating in more than one language. While they turn to English for written communication, they use ASL for non-written communication. However, there is a lack of ASL models for technical content,

resulting in a dearth of language modeling for deaf scientists in STEM fields.

This has led deaf scientists to develop scientific lexicons, incorporating new technical signs and experimenting with best practices for communication, resulting in a shift in science communication. The experiences of these scientists highlight the potential for advanced scientific discourse in ASL, given the opportunity for deaf individuals to contribute to the scientific community.

Could taking a nap during the workday be the key to unlocking productivity and brain health? Recent research suggests so. Studies have found that regular napping can improve brain volume, decrease rates of dementia, and enhance cognitive performance, particularly for alertness.

Experts suggest that short power naps of 10 to 20 minutes can fight fatigue, boost creativity, and improve mood. Some believe that with flexible work models, napping during the workday will become more common, pointing to a new approach to work-life balance that prioritizes individual needs over traditional mental models of work.

Thanks for reading! If you have any interesting resources we should share in our next roundup, let us know at [email protected].