{"id":2995,"date":"2017-03-20T17:17:00","date_gmt":"2017-03-20T17:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/abg.asso.fr\/2017\/03\/20\/maria-givony-project-manager-at-firendo\/"},"modified":"2026-10-08T10:17:59","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T10:17:59","slug":"maria-givony-project-manager-at-firendo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/abg.asso.fr\/en\/2017\/03\/20\/maria-givony-project-manager-at-firendo\/","title":{"rendered":"Maria Givony, project manager at Firendo"},"content":{"rendered":"

Why did you choose to opt for science communication after your PhD?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nMaria Givony (MG):<\/strong> I did a PhD in genetic immunology until 2013 at
\nH\u00f4pital Necker in the unit \u201cimmune system development\u201d. I decided to embark on
\nscience communication right after my thesis defense: the key factor for my
\ndecision was during my third year, when I had to present my research project in
\n5 minutes with only 3 slides, in front of an interdisciplinary audience. Until
\nthat moment, I have always paid attention to the design of my presentations in
\nfront of my colleagues and the graphic design was already part of my hobbies.
\nBut it is really at that moment that I got constructive feedback and many
\nencouraged me to disseminate my presentation on social media!<\/p>\n

\nIn the meantime, you participated in the career
\nworkshop by ABG, \u201cPostdoctoriales<\/a>\u201d (1).<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nMG<\/strong>: I heard about ABG during a career fair,
\nRencontres Universit\u00e9s Entreprises<\/a> in 2014. On its exhibition booth, I
\ndiscovered its training sessions and among them, \u201cPostdoctoriales\u201d. What makes
\nthis workshop appealing to me was the opportunity to have many information on
\njob market and career options after a PhD, which is difficult to get in
\nlaboratories or from our PIs. The second asset was the opportunity to discuss
\nwith professionals from different fields. What struck me the most was the
\nimpact of network and I learned how important it is to develop and maintain it.
\nI also enjoyed the exercises and more specifically the simulation of job
\ninterviews. We are told that the more we get invited for interviews, the better
\nwe are. That\u2019s why it was really interesting to be in the shoes of a candidate,
\nthen of a recruiter and of an observer, to help us to analyse the body language
\nof participants. Another impact for me was the design of a poster that should
\npresent who we are, where we come from, what we like and dislike\u2026 It was an
\ninsightful exercise because the ABG trainers made me aware that the graphic
\ndesign was not particularly highlighted on my CV. A pity because it could be an
\nasset for my job search. I applied in September 2014 for the position I have
\nnow at Firendo<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What is Firendo?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nMG<\/strong>: It is a French network of stakeholders
\ninvolved in endocrine rare diseases. We gather all the professionals dealing
\nwith endocrine rare diseases: researchers, MDs, representatives of patients
\nassociations.<\/p>\n

\nLet\u2019s talk about your job: what do you
\ndo exactly?<\/strong><\/p>\n


\nMG<\/strong>: As project manager at Firendo, I am under
\nthe responsibility of Pr. J\u00e9r\u00f4me Bertherat<\/a>, chief of the division of
\nendocrinology at Institut Cochin. My job entails three main activities:<\/p>\n