INFORM February 2026

16 INFORM FEBRUARY 2026 , VOL. 37, NO. 2

of kid were you?’ From that conversation, you can see it is exactly what they are doing now—only with much more experience.” That lends many scientists an edge they can use in a tight job market: a good story. Duncan encourages people to zero in on a career narrative. That includes not only an origin story that demonstrates your passion but conveying your accomplishments in an easy-to-digest format. Because science is always conducted in project form, Duncan says she takes clients through the exercise of listing key projects. What was the project? What was your role? What was the outcome, and what did you learn? “Remember, you are writing a resume for HR people in STEM who are not STEM professionals,” she says. “My project-based resumes are working like a charm. They are so much easier to read.” You knew this advice was coming: There is really no way around the need to network. Once you have created that presentation of your story and your goals, Duncan says, “That has got to be delivered in front of an individual. Find the company that is hiring and find somebody there that is in your network. You can get to people easily through Linkedin.” Here is where the informational interview comes into play. Duncan coaches her clients on how to approach prospects, propose a 20-minute Zoom

call, and get results. “Most people do informational interviews wrong,” she says, warning against simply asking questions of your interviewer. “The purpose is to gather information to help you make a decision, leave a good impression, and garner referrals.” Always write a thank-you note, and be sure your LinkedIn profile is hyperlinked from your e-mail signature.

outright, Briggs says that informational interviewers will often mention a job that has not been posted yet and share the interviewee’s resume with the hiring manager. “Happens all the time,” she says. A MOVEMENT TO PROTECT SCIENCE The federal cutbacks have led many scientists to protest, support each other, and share ideas. In June 2025, nearly 500 NIH researchers published the Bethesda Declaration, a letter decrying cuts at the agency. “We urge you as NIH Director to restore grants delayed or terminated for political reasons so that life-saving science can continue,” they wrote to Jay Bhattacharya. On the social media platform Bluesky, US researchers are speaking out and sharing updates using hashtags such as #fedstrong and #whywestay. Groups including Stand Up for Science and the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) are organizing rallies and discussing ways to keep research moving. Noting the dismissal of advisory bodies at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the EPA, and authors of the sixth national climate assessment, UCS President and CEO Gretchen Goldman wrote , “The US science community can build independent alternatives to these institutions, with several promising models for success.” And while the federal funding cuts can be discouraging and scary, the need for science has not changed. Duncan says:

Briggs says she often encounters clients—especially early career candidates— who are reluctant to network because they are afraid of imposing on someone or being rejected. “It is not like you are reaching out to these people and saying, ‘I want a job. Do you have any options?’” she says. “You are saying: ‘I am interested in transitioning from academia to industry, and I see that you have done that. I would love to hear your journey story and what advice you might have for me.’” Briggs says that when she pushes clients to take that step, they often come back to her surprised at how willing people are to help. And while it is bad form in an informational interview to ask for a job