Justin Fair (Madia Department of Chemistry, IUP) and Kelly Neiles and Pamela Mertz
from St. Mary’s College of Maryland coauthored an edited book titled Integrating Professional
Skills into Undergraduate Chemistry Curricula.
Becoming a professional in any field requires learning how
to both navigate entry and move as a professional within it. To do this,
undergraduate students must become proficient both in the technical skills of
their chosen discipline and also many other non-technical skills necessary for
being an effective scientist. These professional skills include, but are not
necessarily limited to, career skills (job searching, resume writing,
networking, and having a professional mindset), scientific thinking (critical
thinking, problem-solving, and big picture thinking), scientific identity
development, learning skills (self-regulated learning, initiative, study
strategies, etc.), communication skills, and interpersonal skills such as
teamwork and leadership development.