BioHive’s University of Utah Chapter Event – November 2025
BioHive shows up on campus for one big reason: to invest in Utah’s next generation of scientists, innovators, and leaders.
Our latest University of Utah student chapter event did exactly that, bringing students face-to-face with three professionals who didn’t sugarcoat the realities of networking or job hunting, but also made it feel more doable, strategic, and human.
Learn from our experts:
- David Bruce, Managing Partner at Bruce & Associates, a veteran recruiter and networking expert who has spent decades matching talent with opportunity.
- Dominic Militello, Career Strategist at the University of Utah’s Career Success Center, former professional athlete, and a leading voice in redefining the job search process.
- Dr. Aaron Duffy, PhD scientist turned business development leader at Seek Labs, with firsthand experience transitioning between academia, industry, and entrepreneurship.
From shaping your online presence to rethinking how you approach the job search, the night was packed with insights students could put to work immediately.
1. Your Network Is Your Career Engine
David Bruce kicked things off by reminding students that everyone already has a network—and that it’s growing all the time.
Every club, class, job, professor, internship, and even personal connection adds another thread to your professional circle. Your network isn’t something you start “someday.” It’s something you can build and nurture today.
“People help the people that they know and remember.” – David Bruce
Whether you’re joining honor societies, attending lectures, volunteering in your field, or simply asking a professor for advice, each human connection increases the odds of someone thinking of you when an opportunity arises.
“Networking really boils down to who you know and who will reply to your message.” – David Bruce
👉 Action: Pick one professional you admire, a professor, recruiter, peer and send a short, respectful cold email. Express gratitude, ask one clear question, and open a door.
2. Your Online Identity Is Your First Impression
Like it or not, recruiters and hiring managers will check your LinkedIn before they check your résumé. David encouraged students to invest in their online presence and build a profile that clearly communicates who they are, what they care about, and what they can do.
He also shared a sobering story: a brilliant PhD candidate lost a job offer because of a single old Facebook photo. It wasn’t the joke that mattered—it was the perceived judgment about judgment.
“Your digital footprint should match the professional you want to become.” – David Bruce
👉 Action: Audit your LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook with one question in mind: Would I hire this person? Ask a friend to review it with fresh eyes.
3. Rethink the Job Search: You’re Not Just “Looking for a Job” You’re a Professional Choosing Where You Fit
Dominic Militello’s keynote challenged one of the biggest myths students carry: the idea that you are a “recent graduate looking for a job.”
Instead, he offered a reframe that landed with the entire room:
“You’re a young professional. You bring tremendous value to the marketplace. You’re looking for the right opportunity with the right organization.” – Dominic Militello
Dominic believes that most job seekers let the market decide their future. Instead, he urged students to approach finding a job like buying a house or a car.
You wouldn’t hand a dealership $100,000 and ask them to choose your car. You wouldn’t buy a house without walking through the rooms.
So why would you choose a job without researching the company, team, culture, and expectations first?
This analogy reframes the job search into something you direct rather than something that happens to you.
👉 Action: Before applying to any job, talk to at least one person who has worked there. Ask what they loved, what they struggled with, and what they wish they’d known earlier.
4. Believe in Your Value, Even When the Market Is Tough
Students asked an important question: What if the market, particularly in biotech, isn’t hiring? What if everyone I know is struggling too?
Dominic acknowledged that markets fluctuate, but emphasized this essential truth:
“Every company is always experiencing change. People retire, move, get promoted, or transition. Opportunities appear even in down cycles.” – Dominic Militello
The key is staying visible and connected so that when openings arise, you are the first person they think of.
He also shared an important distinction between “a job” and “the job”: sometimes you take a job to stay active, pay bills, and maintain momentum. That doesn’t mean you’ve stepped off your career path, it means you’re staying in motion.
👉 Action: Stay engaged with your field, even if temporarily working outside it. Volunteer, attend talks, publish insights, or mentor other students. Connection keeps you in the flow of opportunity.
5. Interviewing Is About Fit, Not Perfection
Dr. Aaron Duffy brought hard-earned industry wisdom from his own journey through academia, biotech startups, and business development leadership roles. He reminded students that:
- Interviews aren’t about knowing everything. They’re about showing how you think, learn, and solve problems.
- And just as companies are evaluating you, you should be equally evaluating them.
One of his most reassuring messages was that your career won’t be linear. Aaron himself transitioned from science to tech transfer to industry leadership. Those pivots, he explained, are both normal and powerful.
He encouraged students to embrace the full scope of who they are, and who they have the potential to be: parents, leaders, volunteers, athletes, caregivers and more. These roles all shape resilience, communication skills, and leadership readiness.
👉 Action: When preparing for interviews, ask yourself:
What does this team truly need—and how can I show that I can grow with them?
6. Stay Connected, Stay Remembered
One of David Bruce’s final lessons echoed throughout the event: networks don’t thrive on first contact alone they thrive on nurturing.
He joked about having 40,000 names in his database, each person assuming he remembers every detail. While impossible, he emphasized a crucial point:
“People remember you when you give them reasons to remember you.” – David Bruce
A simple holiday message, a quick update, or a note of thanks can keep your professional relationships warm for years.
👉 Action: Before the semester ends, send a short “thank you” message to three people who influenced, supported, or inspired you. You’ll be surprised how far this goes.
The BioHive Takeaway
At BioHive, we’re committed to empowering Utah’s future STEM leaders with tools, community, and opportunities that help you grow with confidence. Careers grow at the intersection of self-awareness, strategy, and connection. There’s a place for YOU in the BioHive.
Whether you’re just beginning your professional journey or navigating a transition, remember:
- Your network is a living system, nurture it.
- Your online and offline presence shape your opportunities.
- You are not “just a student” — you are a rising professional.
- The job search is not a lottery, it’s a process you can design.
- Your value isn’t diminished by a tough market.
- Interviews are conversations, not exams.
- And sometimes the most important thing you can do is simply show up and stay connected.
