Snapshot: Briana Konnick

Position: Program Coordinator, Office of Career and Postdoctoral Services, The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), Florida campus.

Responsibilities: The newest member of the Career and Postdoctoral Services staff, Konnick provides professional development programming, career-related workshops and personal career advisement to postdoctoral scholars and graduate students. Her goals include increasing accessibility to career development opportunities for all TSRI scientists and creating connections between the Scripps Florida community of trainees and local scientific businesses and institutions.

Background: Konnick grew up in Wellington, Florida, located a short distance from the TSRI Jupiter campus. A graduate of Vanderbilt University with a BA in Molecular and Cellular Biology, she earned a PhD from TSRI’s graduate program, working in the Tellinghuisen lab. While a student and postdoctoral fellow at TSRI, Konnick was involved with a variety of activities and organizations, including reaccreditation, Network for Women in Science, Society of Research Fellows, graduate student committee work, mentoring, and philanthropy events with local community groups.

Awards/Accomplishments: At TSRI, Konnick received the 2011 Glenn W. Bailey Graduate Fellowship Award and a 2012 pre-doctoral National Ruth L. Kirschstein Service Award.

Arrived at TSRI: June 2009

Reflections on the Program Coordinator job: As a PhD-trained scientist transitioning into the field of career and professional development, Konnick will use her background to establish immediate and relevant connections with Scripps Florida trainees and to facilitate their advancement.

Thoughts on TSRI: Konnick values “the unique environment at Scripps that blends industry and academic styles to constantly push forward basic research and technological advances.”

Professional and Volunteer Groups: Konnick is a member of the National Postdoctoral Association and the Graduate Career Consortium.

Extracurricular Activities: Konnick and husband, Mike, a TSRI staff scientist, were married earlier this year. In addition to caring for their “slightly crazy, seven-year young cocker spaniel Jasper,” she is a barre class “fanatic” and enjoys do-it-yourself projects.

Send comments to: press[at]scripps.edu