Good morning, STEM enthusiasts!  Quick history drop! On June 6, 1960, a medical team led by William Chardack changed the game by implanting the very first fixed-rate heart pacemaker. It didn’t just help one patient—it sparked a whole new wave of life-saving tech that’s still evolving today! 💓💓

Today’s issue:
🔎Career Spotlight: Vet Techs: Wizards Behind Drug Breakthroughs
💡Skills Spotlight: How to Handle Feedback Like a Leader
🔥Career Glow-Up Challenge: Interview Confidence Challenge (5 Days)
💼Resource: Breaking into Biotech: A Guide to the Biotech & Pharma Industry

An entry-level Veterinary Technician in a biotech or pharmaceutical setting supports research teams by providing care for laboratory animals involved in preclinical studies. They monitor animal health, assist with procedures, maintain detailed records, and ensure all animal welfare standards are met, often under strict regulatory guidelines.

They play a key role in drug development by ensuring that animal studies are conducted ethically, safely, and in compliance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) protocols.

🎓Major:
- Veterinary Technology / Veterinary Technician Program, Animal Science, Biology, Biomedical Science (with lab animal experience), Zoology, or other related science degrees.

Job functions:
📈A Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst plays a crucial role in transforming raw data into actionable insights that drive strategic business decisions. Some key responsibilities include:
🔎Monitor the health and behavior of lab animals (e.g., rodents, rabbits, dogs, primates)
🔎Administer medications, collect samples (blood, urine), and assist with surgeries or necropsies
🔎Maintain clean, compliant environments and accurate health records
🔎Prepare and sterilize equipment and surgical tools
🔎Work with veterinarians and researchers to support preclinical studies
🔎Ensure all procedures meet animal welfare regulations and GLP standards
🔎Support regulatory inspections and audits

🧠Skills Needed:
Technical:
- Animal handling and clinical procedures
- Lab equipment use and sterilization techniques
- Knowledge of animal welfare guidelines (e.g., IACUC, OLAW, AAALAC)
- Understanding of research protocols and GLP
- Basic lab data recording and electronic systems

Soft Skills:
- Strong attention to detail
- Compassion and ethical care for animals
- Communication and teamwork
- Ability to follow strict protocols
- Time management in fast-paced lab environments

💰Salary Landscape:
- The salary range varies depending on factors such as location, experience, and skill level.
- You can expect an annual salary ranging from $24,673 to $65,136, with an average of $44,553 per year in the United States. Source: Zip Recruiter) 

✨✨Let’s be honest—feedback can sting!

Even when it’s meant to help, it can feel personal. And in STEM, where precision and performance are everything, feedback can hit extra hard.

But here’s the truth:
Feedback isn’t failure. It’s a career growth tool.

The most successful professionals—the ones who get promoted, trusted, and remembered—aren’t the ones who never get feedback…
They’re the ones who know how to use it.

Here’s how to handle feedback like a leader:

💡1. Don’t take it personally—take it seriously.
Detach from the emotion and look for the value. The feedback is about your work, not your worth.

💡2. Ask for clarity, not just compliments.
“Thanks for that—can you share an example so I can better understand what you mean?” turns vague input into actionable advice.

💡3. Use it publicly, not just privately.
Show your team or manager how you’ve applied what you learned. That’s how you turn feedback into visible growth.

💡4. Ask for it intentionally.
Want to get better at presentations? Ask: “Can you share one thing I did well and one thing I could improve next time?” Boom—growth unlocked.

💡5. Remember: asking for feedback is a power move.
It shows confidence, maturity, and leadership potential—even if you're still early in your career.

🎯This week’s challenge:
Ask for feedback from one colleague or manager. Reflect on it.
What landed? What surprised you? What will you apply next?

Need help wording your ask? Just reply to this email—I’ll send you a few quick scripts.

You’ve got this. Feedback is how you level up.

🔥🎤 Interview Confidence Challenge (5 Days)
Goal: Build readiness, reduce anxiety, and show up to interviews feeling confident, clear, and empowered.

Day 1: Conquer the Tough Questions
Focus: Practice answering 3 of the most challenging interview questions.
Common examples
🎤Tell me about yourself.
🎤What’s your biggest weakness?
🎤Describe a time you failed and what you learned.

Tip: Write out your answers using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
🎯🎯Bonus: Record yourself or say it aloud to hear your tone and pacing!

Day 2: Record & Review Your Elevator Pitch
Focus: Sharpen your personal pitch with clarity and impact.
🎤Record a 60-second video of you answering: “Tell me about yourself.”
🎤Watch the playback to review:
- Confidence in your body language
- Filler words (“um,” “like,” etc.)
- Natural tone and rhythm

🎤Reflection: What’s one thing you did well? One thing to improve?

Day 3: Mock Interview Time!
Focus: Practice in a safe setting.
🎤Ask a friend, mentor, or AI chatbot to run through 3–5 typical questions with you.
🎤Take notes on feedback (both content and delivery).
🎤Focus on clarity, specific examples, and staying calm under pressure.

Day 4: Power Posing & Visualization
Focus: Prep your mindset and body language
🎤Spend 2 minutes doing “power poses” before mock interviews or practice sessions (hands on hips, standing tall, chin up).
🎤Visualization: Close your eyes and mentally walk through a successful interview—what you’re wearing, how you speak, the confidence you feel.
🎤Write an affirmation: “I am prepared, professional, and ready to own the room.”

Day 5: Confidence Journaling & Wrap-Up
Focus: Reflect, reinforce, and prepare for the real deal.
🎤Journal prompts:
- What do I feel most confident about now?
- What interview moment am I most excited to showcase?
- What advice would I give my past self before an interview?
🎤Create a quick "Interview Prep Checklist" (resume copies, outfit, questions to ask them, etc.)
🎤Celebrate your progress—you’re officially interview-ready!