Episodes

  • AI Agents vs Skills vs Automations: What Every Bench Scientist Needs to Know

    AI Agents vs Skills vs Automations: What Every Bench Scientist Needs to Know
    Apr 17 2026
    AI agents, skills, and automations. You keep hearing these terms, but nobody has clearly explained what they mean for someone actually working in biotech. In this episode, Carina sits down with Stu Angus, founder of Scriptome.AI and an AI consultant who works with small biotech companies every day, to break down exactly what each of these tools is, when to use one over another, and why getting this wrong leads to a lot of wasted time.Stu has 15 years of experience in biotech R&D and business development. He now helps small biotechs bridge the AI adoption gap that has opened up between them and big pharma, and he built Pavlov GPS, a free searchable database of 500+ AI tools for biotech R&D. If you have felt pressure to add AI to your workflow but had no idea where to start, this episode is the clearest, most practical answer you will find.What you will learn in this episode:The real difference between an AI skill, an agent, and an automation, and when to use eachWhy small biotechs are getting left behind on AI adoption and what that means for your careerHow to tell if your workflow is a good candidate for an agent or if a simple skill would do the jobThe “AI Slop cannon” problem and how to avoid automating your way into a messHow a team of five agents can wake you up every morning with tailored job applications already draftedWhy Whisper Flow is the most underrated AI tool for bench scientists right nowHow Stu built Pavlov GPS starting from a spreadsheet, and how you can do the same with your own dataStu also weighs in on Copilot vs Claude, shares a spicy take on the most overhyped AI tool in biotech today, and tells us what he thinks every biotech professional will need to know how to do within five years.stu@scriptdo.aiMeet your AI team | NotionWispr Flow2026 Biotech AI Report | BenchlingThe Fast and the Curious — AI Upskilling for Biotech ScientistsPavlov-GPS | AI Tools Navigator for Biotech R&DScriptome.AILearn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:Join our Skool CommunityTake the Free 7-day Interview Sprint ChallengeCheck out our sister podcast: Building BiotechsSend Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!Stay connected with us:🌐 Website📱 Facebook📷 Instagram💼 LinkedIn00:00 What the AI adoption gap in biotech actually means for your career03:00 How small biotech companies are navigating board-level AI pressure with no roadmap06:00 Big pharma vs small biotech and why the AI strategy divide is widening07:30 Copilot vs Claude and how to advocate for the AI tools you need at work12:00 How to develop a builder mindset and spot workflows worth automating13:30 How a five-agent job search system handles company research and resume tailoring automatically15:00 Agents vs skills vs automations defined for bench scientists with real examples21:30 The slop cannon trap and how to avoid automating your way into low-quality output27:00 What the Benchling 2026 AI report reveals about where AI is actually working in biotech R&D29:30 How to build an AI tool from a spreadsheet using Pavlov GPS as a model
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    42 mins
  • Win Over Every Interviewer (Even the Skeptics)

    Win Over Every Interviewer (Even the Skeptics)
    Apr 3 2026
    Are you walking into biotech panel interviews and talking to every person the same way? That approach can cost you the offer, even if your science is solid.In this episode, Carina Clingman and returning guest Stacey Tannenbaum, PhD break down how to build rapport with each type of interviewer you'll meet on a panel day, from the VP who hasn't read your CV to the peer scientist who feels threatened by what you bring to the table.In this episode, you'll learn how to:Talk to senior leaders about strategic impact instead of getting stuck in technical detailsShow hiring managers you want this specific role, not just any job, and why that distinction is the number one thing they evaluateRecognize the three reasons peer interviewers become skeptics: fear of change, territorial expertise, and feeling intimidated by what they don't understandUse empathy, curiosity, and "I need your help" to turn resistant colleagues into alliesFrame your science in terms that matter to cross-functional interviewers from other departmentsAsk better questions at every stage to make interviews feel like a two-way conversationLeverage your hiring manager as an ally to get intel on difficult personalities before you walk in the roomUse presentation techniques like reading facial expressions, spotting "thought bubbles," and asking for feedback to build real connection during job talksStacey has spent 20+ years leading teams in pharmacometrics at companies including Astellas, Metrum Research Group, and Novartis. She's sat on both sides of the interview table and now coaches scientists and technical professionals on communication and leadership through her consultancy, SJTPharm LLC.Whether you're preparing for your first biotech panel interview or your tenth, this episode gives you a practical playbook for winning over every person in the room.Connect with Stacey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacey-tannenbaum-phd-fisop/Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:Join our Skool CommunityTake the Free 7-day Interview Sprint ChallengeCheck out our sister podcast: Building BiotechsSend Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!Stay connected with us:🌐 Website📱 Facebook📷 Instagram💼 LinkedIn00:00 How to build rapport with different interviewer types in biotech01:30 Why panel interviews require you to context switch between personalities02:30 Talking to senior leaders without getting stuck in the technical weeds05:00 Showing strategic impact when you're two or three levels below the VP06:00 Using the job description as your North Star for every interview conversation08:00 How to stand out when every early career CV looks the same09:00 Building rapport with the hiring manager from the first screening call11:00 Why telling your career story beats reading your CV out loud13:30 The number one reason hiring managers reject candidates after screening calls16:30 Why interviews are like dates and how to interview the company back19:30 Why peer scientists are actually the scariest people on the interview panel21:00 Three reasons peer interviewers become skeptics in your interview24:00 Using empathy and "I need your help" to break down resistance28:00 The "I thought that too" technique for handling pushback without getting defensive31:00 Leveraging your hiring manager as an ally and getting intel before interview day33:00 Planting questions and finding allies during your job talk35:30 Reading the room and calling out thought bubbles in small group presentations37:00 How to ask for feedback after a presentation the right way (Adam Grant method)39:00 Building rapport with cross-functional and culture carrier interviewers43:30 Translating your science into language that matters to other disciplines
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    48 mins
  • How Bench Scientists Are Getting Ahead With AI

    How Bench Scientists Are Getting Ahead With AI
    Mar 13 2026
    You keep hearing about AI, but nobody is telling you how it actually fits into a biotech career or a job search. That changes today.In this episode, Carina sits down with Heather Karner, a bench scientist with a background in RNA biology who works alongside machine learning researchers in the Bay Area. Heather is actively job searching and has quietly become the go-to AI resource for her lab and her network, not because she is a tech expert, but because she started experimenting and never stopped.Together they share the exact AI use cases they are running right now: a personalized daily brief that flagged Gilead and Eli Lilly RNA acquisitions before they hit LinkedIn, a literature review workflow built for scientists, how to use AI as a tireless teacher for coding and lab protocols, AI note taking that surfaced 10 action items from a 10-minute meeting, and how to turn a rambling brain dump into a clear, professional message.🤖 Use Cases Covered in This EpisodeHeather's Use Cases:Personalized Daily Brief: Build a morning brief agent in Notion (using Claude Sonnet) that scans for job search signals: funding announcements, acquisitions, clinical trial updates, and new papers in your area of interest. Heather's brief flagged Gilead and Eli Lilly RNA-related acquisitions and a new AlphaFold Nature paper before it hit LinkedIn.Literature Review & Knowledge Management: Tools like Cheiron can do literature reviews, rank journals, and summarize papers in a clean interface built for biotech. Pair with Notion or NotebookLM for ongoing knowledge management.AI as a Tireless Teacher: Use your LLM to learn new things (coding, GitHub, lab protocols) without frustrating a real colleague. Ask it to do a session handoff when the context window gets long. Just ask your LLM to write a handoff prompt, paste it into a new chat, and keep going.AI Note Taking: Heather uses Notion's built-in AI note taker. After a 10-minute meeting, it surfaced 10 action items she had forgotten. Game changer for staying present and accountable.Brainstorming & Communication Clarity: Have your LLM critique your writing, don't just ask if it's good. Prompt it to assess from a specific perspective (e.g., "You are an editor at Cell..."). Great for cross-functional communication and helping scientists write for non-science audiences.Carina's Use Cases:Business Development / Job Search Brief: Similar to Heather's daily brief, but built on OpenClaw (advanced setup) to track funding announcements and generate LinkedIn networking target lists. Easily adaptable for job seekers tracking companies and building connections before roles are posted.PDF & Document Knowledge Base: Store all your protocols, papers, and references in Notion or NotebookLM (free with a Google account). Query across everything, generate slide decks, outlines, and even a podcast-style audio conversation about your documents.Use AI to Learn AI: Grab a YouTube transcript (free Chrome extensions can do this), paste it into your LLM, and ask it to teach you anything mentioned in the episode. Start with what you don't know. It'll find resources, explain concepts, and meet you at your level.Diplomatic Reply Drafting: Voice dump your real (snarky) frustration using Wispr Flow, then ask your LLM to translate it into a professional, diplomatic reply. Therapeutic and practical.Clarifying Your Own Story: If you're flustered, anxious, or telling a tangled story (career situation, job search frustration), brain dump via Wispr Flow and ask your LLM to help you find the clear, linear through-line before bringing it to coaching or a conversation.Grammarly: Free AI Writing Assistance - Free (and paid) writing assistant. Non-negotiable for job seekers. Every communication is part of your interview.Fathom AI Notetaker - Never Take Notes Again - Robust free AI note taker for Zoom, Meet, and Teams meetings.NotebookLM - Free Google tool for uploading PDFs, websites, and documents; query across them, generate podcasts, outlines, and slide decks.cheiron - AI-powered literature review and science knowledge platform built for biotech.Meet your AI team | Notion - All-in-one workspace with built-in AI, agents, and note taking. Try a free Business trial (includes Notion AI). ~$24/month after trial.Wispr Flow - Dictation tool that works in any text box, anywhere on your computer. Formats, corrects, and organizes as you speak. Life-changing.Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:Join our Skool CommunityTake the Free 7-day Interview Sprint ChallengeCheck out our sister podcast: Building BiotechsSend Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!Stay connected with us:🌐 Website📱 Facebook📷 Instagram💼 LinkedIn00:00 Why scientists resist AI and what happens when they finally try it02:30 How Heather became the go-to AI resource for her lab and her network05:00 Notion as your AI home base: one subscription, every major LLM07:00 Building a daily brief that tracks job ...
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    47 mins
  • How Versatility Made Her the Scientist Every Team Wants | with Heer Shah, Gene Therapy Scientist

    How Versatility Made Her the Scientist Every Team Wants | with Heer Shah, Gene Therapy Scientist
    Feb 26 2026
    Are you holding yourself back from biotech roles because you don't check every box on the job description? You're not alone, and it's costing you opportunities.In this career chat, Carina sits down with Heer Shah, a Scientist in cell and gene therapy at Ensoma, a Boston-based biotech developing precision gene therapies using synthetic viral vectors and gene editing technologies. Heer has over seven years of biotech experience spanning vaccines, AAV, lentiviral vectors, VLPs, and LNPs, with roles at Merck, Intellia Therapeutics, Ring Therapeutics, and Sana Biotechnology. Heer holds a Master's in Biotechnology from Northeastern University, where the co-op program launched a career built on hands-on industry experience from day one. Today, Heer does vector engineering and gene editing optimization for programs targeting sickle cell disease and immuno-oncology.Heer shares how foundational lab skills and a big-picture mindset opened doors at every stage, and what it really takes to build a long-term biotech career across multiple modalities.Key takeaways from this episode:Why job descriptions are wish lists, not checklists, and why hiring managers value learning ability over a perfect resume matchHow to position diverse experience across biotech modalities as a competitive advantageThe difference between specialists and integrators, and why companies need bothWhat it's like surviving multiple rounds of biotech layoffs and how to build career resilienceHow the Northeastern co-op program helped Heer explore different company sizes and career paths before committingWhy behavioral interview questions often matter more than technical onesHow international scientists can navigate visa pathways, including the National Interest WaiverThe career advice Heer wishes someone gave earlier: tell your story soonerWhether you're early in your biotech journey or navigating a career transition, this conversation is packed with practical advice on building transferable skills, staying adaptable, and landing roles you're excited about.Want scripts, practice drills, and feedback from peers in biotech?Join our Biotech Career Coach Skool community: https://www.skool.com/biotech-career-coach/aboutConnect with Heer on LinkedInLearn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:Join our Skool CommunityTake the Free 7-day Interview Sprint ChallengeCheck out our sister podcast: Building BiotechsSend Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!Stay connected with us:🌐 Website📱 Facebook📷 Instagram💼 LinkedIn00:00 Meet Heer Shah, Scientist in cell and gene therapy at Ensoma01:30 Why the Northeastern co-op program is a biotech career accelerator03:00 How co-ops at Merck and small biotechs shaped early career decisions04:30 Building transferable skills across vaccines, AAV, lentiviral, VLP, and LNP06:30 Specialist versus integrator, two paths in biotech and why both matter08:00 Why job descriptions are wish lists and you should stop self eliminating09:00 What recruiters and hiring managers actually look for beyond the resume12:00 A day in the life of a cell and gene therapy scientist14:00 Staying motivated through long drug development timelines15:30 How international scientists can plan careers around visa considerations18:00 The National Interest Waiver, a green card path most people don't know about21:30 Lightning round, best career decision, biggest regret, and advice for grad students
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    25 mins
  • Presentation Skills Can Make or Break Your Career

    Presentation Skills Can Make or Break Your Career
    Jan 16 2026
    Your technical skills might be perfect, but if you can't present them clearly, you won't get the job. Most scientists treat presentations like data dumps, and it costs them opportunities.In this episode, I sit down with Stacey Tannenbaum, PhD, a presentation skills consultant with over 25 years as an industry pharmacometrician and leader. Stacey has coached scientists across biotech to move beyond overly technical talks and become visible, credible communicators who actually advance their careers.What you'll learn:-Why job talks are completely different from conference presentations (and what hiring managers are really evaluating)-The biggest mistakes scientists make in presentations (dense slides, burying the lead, reading scripts, being monotone)-How to handle interruptions and questions you don't know the answer to without losing credibility-Practical techniques to add energy and clarity to technical presentations without dumbing down the science-Why your slides need to stand alone after you present them (and how to make that happen)-The one thing you must memorize before any high-stakes presentation-How to know when you're giving the audience too much technical detail versus the strategic insights they actually needWhether you're preparing for a job talk, presenting to leadership, or speaking at a conference, this episode will help you communicate your science in a way that opens doors instead of closing them.Join our Biotech Career Coach Skool community for scripts, practice drills, and feedback from peers navigating the same challengesLearn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:Join our Skool CommunityTake the Free 7-day Interview Sprint ChallengeCheck out our sister podcast: Building BiotechsSend Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!Stay connected with us:🌐 Website📱 Facebook📷 Instagram💼 LinkedInWatch another great interview with Stacey!MORE tips on communicating and presenting virtuallyStacey's tips on communicating via Zoom/VideoListen to another great podcast interview with Stacey!Connect With StaceyStacey's Website01:00 What pharmacometrics is and why it's a career path worth knowing about05:00 How networking and volunteering at conferences can profoundly change your career trajectory08:30 Why asking for help as a new leader actually builds credibility instead of undermining it12:30 The pivot from corporate pharmacometrics to consulting on presentation skills17:00 Job talks are about you, not the science (what hiring managers are really evaluating)20:30 How to handle interruptions and questions you don't know during a job talk27:00 Common presentation mistakes that cost scientists job offers33:00 Dense slides kill presentations (build content gradually or break it up)38:30 Why your slides need a life outside of you (annotate with take-home messages)43:00 Practice until you're bored, then memorize the first 30 seconds
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    49 mins
  • Quick Momentum For Your 2026 Biotech Career Goals

    Quick Momentum For Your 2026 Biotech Career Goals
    Jan 2 2026

    January brings fresh biotech hiring budgets, energized hiring managers, and real momentum after a tough 2025. If you've been waiting for the right time to level up your biotech career, this is it.

    In this episode, you'll discover:

    1. Why January is the best month to apply for biotech jobs after a slow December
    2. How the December Networking Challenge helped members grow their LinkedIn reach and profile visibility
    3. The Application Challenge launches January 6th with five days of live teaching to build daily job search habits
    4. An annual career planning session on January 12th to map your 2026 goals
    5. A presentation skills workshop that can accelerate both job offers and promotions
    6. A 10-week AI course to help you work smarter and meet employer expectations in 2026
    7. The Fire Horse approach to bringing bold, unstoppable energy to your career goals

    Whether you're job searching, seeking a promotion, or building new professional skills, this episode gives you the roadmap and momentum to make 2026 your breakthrough year.

    Join our Biotech Career Coach Skool community and start the year with structure, support, and a community that gets it.

    Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

    Join our Skool Community

    Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

    Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

    Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

    Stay connected with us:

    🌐 Website

    📱 Facebook

    📷 Instagram

    💼 LinkedIn

    00:00 Biotech hiring outlook for January 2026 and market momentum

    00:30 Office updates and the community move to Skool platform

    01:00 Seven Day Interview Accelerator and weekly Q&A with office hours

    02:00 December networking challenge results and evergreen access

    03:00 December interview challenges versus networking opportunities

    04:00 January Application Challenge launch with five days of teaching

    05:00 Annual planning session and presentation skills workshop details

    06:00 Ten week AI course for automation and employer expectations

    07:00 Fire Horse energy and setting bold intentions for career progress
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    10 mins
  • LinkedIn Networking for Biotech: Give First to Get Better Results

    LinkedIn Networking for Biotech: Give First to Get Better Results
    Dec 12 2025

    Networking in biotech doesn’t have to feel awkward or transactional. In this episode, Carina shares how giving first is the simplest way to build authentic biotech networking on LinkedIn that actually leads to stronger relationships and better opportunities.

    If you’re an introvert, early-career professional, or making a career change, this is your practical roadmap to connect with confidence.

    In this episode, you’ll learn:

    • Why “give first” makes networking feel easier (and work better)
    • How to add value even if you’re early in your career or switching fields
    • What to say when you feel you’ve got nothing to offer
    • The biggest outreach mistakes that make messages feel transactional
    • Simple LinkedIn actions that build visibility and trust over time
    • Insights from the Biotech Career Coach community’s December networking challenge (and what drove major reach growth)

    Want support, templates, and challenges to stay consistent?

    ✅ Join the Biotech Career Coach Skool community to connect with peers, access templates, and take part in challenges to grow your LinkedIn presence and your biotech network.

    Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

    Join our Skool Community

    Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

    Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

    Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

    Stay connected with us:

    🌐 Website

    📱 Facebook

    📷 Instagram

    💼 LinkedIn

    00:00 December networking challenge and results from the community

    00:30 Why introverts struggle with networking and common fears

    01:00 The psychology of giving first and why people enjoy helping others

    02:00 Reciprocity as a natural instinct and how to nurture contacts

    03:00 Building reputation by engaging meaningfully on the platform

    04:00 You have more value than you think as an early professional

    05:00 Strategic introductions and becoming a connector

    06:00 Using PubMed and Google alerts to share relevant content

    07:00 The power of genuine enthusiasm and gratitude

    08:00 Networking is a long game that pays off over years

    09:00 Tracking metrics and seeing platform reach grow

    10:00 Common pitfalls to avoid when networking
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    12 mins
  • I Challenge You: Build your Biotech Network in 28 days

    I Challenge You: Build your Biotech Network in 28 days
    Dec 5 2025

    Biotech networking doesn’t have to feel random. In this video, I’ll walk you through a 28-day biotech networking challenge you can actually stick to.

    Perfect for biotech job seekers who want a clear, daily plan to grow their biotech career network in December and beyond.

    Here’s what you’ll learn:

    -Why December is secretly a powerful month for biotech networking

    -How to track your LinkedIn analytics so you know what’s really working

    -A simple system to map out target companies, teams, and hiring managers

    -How to send authentic, personalised connection requests that don’t feel salesy

    -Easy ways to nurture existing connections without being pushy or awkward

    -How to create and share quick LinkedIn content that expands your reach

    -Strategies to comment on posts so you stand out (without sounding generic)

    -Exactly how to ask for coffee chats that open doors in biotech

    -How to keep each step under 30 minutes a day so you can stay consistent

    -Turning this 28-day challenge into a repeatable, year-round networking habit

    This 28-day biotech networking challenge is the same one we’re running inside my Biotech Career Coach Skool community. You can join in with us or follow along solo – it’s designed so your “Day 1” can start whenever you’re ready.

    By the end of the challenge, you’ll have:

    -A stronger biotech network

    -More visibility to recruiters and hiring managers

    -Clearer data on what’s working in your job search

    -Real momentum heading into interview season

    👉 Ready to start your biotech networking challenge?

    Join the Biotech Career Coach Skool community and jump into the challenge any time.


    Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

    Join our Skool Community

    Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

    Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

    Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

    Stay connected with us:

    🌐 Website

    📱 Facebook

    📷 Instagram

    💼 LinkedIn

    00:00 Why biotech networking beats job applications during the chilly December hiring season

    00:30 Join the evergreen biotech networking challenge in our community

    01:00 Track your LinkedIn for biotech analytics to measure networking impact

    02:30 Build strategic biotech networking connections at target companies

    03:30 Personalize LinkedIn for biotech connection requests with authentic messaging

    05:00 Nurture your biotech networking relationships without being pushy

    06:00 Expand your LinkedIn for biotech reach by creating shareable content

    07:00 Master thoughtful engagement for biotech networking on LinkedIn

    08:30 Turn biotech networking into coffee chats with proven ask templates

    09:00 Build sustainable biotech networking habits in under 30 minutes daily
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    11 mins