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Jessica S. Merlin

My mission is to improve the lives of mid-career and senior academic scientists through career coaching and consulting. I provide strategic support for scientists who want more – and deserve it.

My passion for career coaching and consulting comes from my own experience as a senior scientist, and from helping my mentees navigate the (sometimes treacherous) landscape that is academia. I also have a particular passion for negotiation, which is often necessary to ensure the resources that are necessary to survive, much less thrive, in this environment.

My ideal clients are individuals who are figuring out what comes next in their careers. This could mean you’re going on the job market, negotiating internally or externally for the resources that reflect your value and goals, or navigating a career transition. 

My background: I am a physician-scientist and Professor with Tenure at a major US academic medical center. My training includes

  • MD, University of Pennsylvania

  • MBA, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

  • PhD in Health Behavior, University of Alabama at Birmingham

  • Residency in internal medicine (Penn), clinical fellowship training in infectious diseases (Penn), palliative care (the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine)

  • Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) fellowship program

My scientific accomplishments:

  • PI or contact MPI on $20+ million in NIH and foundation grants

    • including an NIH center grant and T32 post-doctoral fellowship

  • Mentor to dozens of individuals, including mid-career and senior scientists