Still Point Coaching & Consulting

What Clients Say

“Chris has made great contributions to my productivity as well as the overall productivity of my lab over the past twelve years. His consulting on both tactical and strategic matters can make a significant difference in a scientist’s career. I heartily recommend him.”

—David C. Page, MD, Director, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research (MIT). Howard Hughes Investigator, Member, National Academy of Sciences and Institute of Medicine.

“I recommend Still Point professional coaching with Chris Edwards. He offers practical solutions to problems with time management, staff relations, bureaucracy, communication with superiors and peers, contract issues, infrastructure resources and financial matters… From personal experience, I confidently endorse his services.”

—Henry Querfurth, MD, PhD, Chief, Neurological Research, Caritas St. Elizabeth’s Medical Ctr., Associate Professor, Neurology and Neuroscience, Tufts University

“I want to express my admiration for the way you guided this project to successful completion. This was no ordinary book project. No less than the President of Korea, Kim Young-sam, took an interest in its success. I am confident that if the publisher doesn’t let us down this book will make its mark on both Korean and U.S. policy. You will deserve a major share of the credit.”

—Lewis M. Branscomb, PhD, Aetna Professor in Public Policy & Corporate Management, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

“Throughout my work with Dr. Edwards, he recognized how my cultural background affected my ability to communicate my work. He helped me to appreciate differences between Asian and American approaches to thinking and writing about science. As a result, I am able to communicate with my colleagues much more effectively. I offer my highest recommendation for his work on many aspects of a scientists’s career.”

—Miyoung Chun, PhD, Millennium Pharmaceuticals

“His guidance ultimately helped me to connect with what was important to me and how to make my current work become a reflection of my true goals. Chris saved me a great deal of trial and effort, energy, and time. I wholeheartedly recommend him as a trusted coach and advisor.”

—Maria Britain, Medical & Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine

“Chris has helped me immensely during time I have been working with him. Chris helped get me out of my malaise and into focusing on possibilities and my interests and goals… He seems to be a master of resources and has electronic feelers and connections ‘out there.’ He knows a lot of people and got me to go beyond my comfort zone to network with people in the field of my interest. …I am happy with the progress I have made on all fronts, thanks to Chris’s gentle but persistent coaching.”

—Dale P. Kline, CPA, Cambridge, Massachusetts

“Without Chris Edwards’ help, there wouldn’t be a Ph.D. after my name. He got me through the tough times of writing a thesis with just the right mix of insight, humor, and encouragement.”

—Rick Borovoy, PhD (Media Lab, MIT), inventor, founder of nTag Inc.

“Chris has made an immense difference in how I think about work. I now see that I can enjoy what I do, and that I can get paid what I am worth. From working with him, I have learned new ways to network with people — ways that I doubt I would have identified on my own. I have approached potential employers with far more confidence than I ever would have before. I feel a lot more resilient and able to push for challenging work.”

—Laura Newman, Medical Writer

“I have been extremely happy with Chris’s overall professionalism, his attention to detail, his perseverance, and the consistently high quality of his work. I recommend his services without reservation.”

—Robert G. Burrows, Director of Corporate Communications, Gene Logic, Inc.

“I wasn’t too sure about the idea of hiring a coach when I started working with Chris. Having a coach seemed so unusual. But I knew I needed sound advice in moving from science into consulting. And look what he’s done. He’s raised my rate by half. He’s introduced me to high-paying markets I didn’t know existed. And Chris has made my marketing far more effective. Thanks to him, working for myself is a lot more fun. I’m only sorry I didn’t know about him years ago.”

—Tom R. Hollon,PhD, Consultant

Comments on Still Point Seminars

“We needed to increase both the quality and efficiency of our scientific reporting. I’m glad we found the Still Point team of Beth and Chris. They did a fantastic job of connecting to the diverse individuals in our research team. They were careful to understand our needs. They gave candid and constructive advice about teamwork, management clarity and writing. The scientists’ feedback was uniformly positive. Reporting is up more than 50%.”

—Peter Kaplan, PhD, Director of Measurement Science, Unilever R&D

Comments from Beth’s Clients

“Beth’s work with our junior faculty has been astonishingly effective. She has managed to refocus career paths and aid in grant preparation in an efficient and practical fashion. Feedback has been universally positive.”

—Charles Lockwood, MD, Chairman and Professor, Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University School of Medicine

“My first reaction to the thought of a grantwriting coach was, “yeah, yeah… I already know how to write, and what’s the big deal in reading and responding to study section reviews?” Then I met with Beth Schachter for an initial consultation, and I came away very impressed. For one thing, she listens, and getting me to talk through my thoughts and ideas, I got a lot clearer on them… But most important of all, she initiated a discussion of “the bigger picture” – how was this grant going to be part of an overall strategy to obtain project funding and where would it fit in terms of career moves? It was a bracing dose of reality, and encouraging and motivating at the same time. I’d definitely recommend it”

—Harris Huberman, MD, Director, Growth and Development Project, Dept. of Pediatrics, NYU School of Medicine

“Beth Schachter gave two presentations to our Faculty Development Program… Her presentations were lively and filled with nuggets of wisdom that were clearly delineated and easy to apply. The evaluation forms asked, “Would you recommend this speaker to colleagues and students?” The answers were unanimous: “Yes!” “Definitely!” “Absolutely!””

—Sandra K. Masur, PhD, Assoc. Dean for Faculty Development, President, Women Faculty Group , Mount Sinai School of Medicine

Comments on Beth’s Writing

“Dear Beth: Thanks so much for your efforts in organizing and writing the Blue Ribbon Panel report on NIMH this past spring. I’ve worked with numerous professional writers on similar projects over the years and have never before encountered someone with your skills, energy and consummate accomplishment.”

—Solomon H. Snyder, MD, Dept. of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins Medical School

“Thanks for having me participate in discussions around this article ["The Explosive Science of RNAi" in Update Magazine]. I like it very much and I think I will use its structure for seminars related to teaching RNAi or providing “historic” overviews.”

—Thomas Tuschl, PhD, Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Laboratory of RNA Molecular Biology, The Rockefeller University

“I am impressed by the depth of your write-up [of my talk at the NYAS] and the clarity and ease with which you make scientific information accessible to lay people. I also find the Still Point Coaching & Consulting website very useful! Thank you.”

—Wei Yang, PhD, Section Chief, Structure and Mechanism, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, NIDDK, NIH

“Thank you very much for writing this wonderful piece [an eBriefing for NYAS] on our work. It is clearly written and captures the main points that I covered in my talk.”

—Danesh Moazed, PhD, Professor, Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School