UChicagoGRAD invites you to browse the calendar of upcoming workshops, conferences, info sessions, and career fairs. Register for all events in GRAD Gargoyle. Read some tips for navigating GRAD Gargoyle.
Flagship Career Events
Treks
UChicagoGRAD treks provide interactive exposure to career paths through coordinated employer site visits.
GRADUCon
GRADUCon is the university’s annual spring career conference for graduate students, postdocs, and recent graduate alumni. The event features a full day of career-themed panel discussions and informal networking opportunities.
The Data Science and Analytics Career Fair is an annual recruitment event for advanced degree students and postdocs with analytical and computational skills.
STEM Master’s Career Fair
The STEM Master’s Career Fair supports UChicago master’s students who seek engineering or scientific research careers.
Consulting Spring Training
Consulting Spring Training is a week-long event for graduate students and postdocs interested in careers in consulting. It culminates with “Meet the Firms,” an opportunity to network with consulting alumni and recruiters.
Academic Job Market Summer Camp
The Academic Job Market Summer Camp, held each July, supports graduate students and postdocs as they prepare to apply for their first academic positions.
College Teaching Careers Mini-conference
The College Teaching and Teaching Careers mini-conference provides graduate students and postdocs with opportunities to explore what it means to pursue a faculty career at a teaching-focused institution.
UChicagoGRAD treks provide interactive exposure to career paths through coordinated employer site visits. Trek participants learn about the work of several organizations and have opportunities to network with alumni and professionals in a given field. The theme and location of each trek differs, providing a narrowed focus for students with specific career interests.
PAST TREKS
2023
Industry and Tech Trek, Seattle
Learning Design Career Exploration Trek, Chicago
PATHS Media and Publishing Trek, New York City
2022
PATHS Humanists in Industry Trek, Virtual
PATHS Careers in D.C. Trek, Virtual
2021
PATHS Careers in Media and Publishing, Virtual
PATHS Careers in Foundations Trek, Virtual
2020
PATHS Think Tank Trek, Virtual
High School Teaching Trek, Chicago
Media, Arts, and Entertainment Trek, Los Angeles
2019
International Affairs Trek, New York City
Literary Careers Trek, New York City
Think Tank Trek, Washington D.C.
Kreisman Fellows Housing Trek, Atlanta
2018
High School Teaching Trek, Chicago
Think Tank Trek, Washington D.C.
GRID Trek, Washington D.C.
Arts and Culture Trek, Philadelphia
2017
Data Science Trek, San Francisco
Think Tank Trek, Washington D.C.
GRADUCon is the university’s annual career exploration conference for graduate students, postdocs, and recent graduate alumni. Each year the conference brings together hundreds of participants for a full day of career-themed panel discussions and one-on-one conversations with UChicago alumni mentors. By centering the stories and advice of alumni, GRADUCon inspires students and postdocs and empowers them to achieve their professional goals.
GRADUCon 2025 will take place on March 28, 2025.RSVP for GRADUCon or scroll down to see the full event schedule.
The annual Science and Engineering Industry Expo is an intimate recruitment and career exploration event that connects employers in industry and government to UChicago PhD students and postdocs in biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, molecular engineering, physics, quantum science and engineering, and related disciplines. Employers promote their organizations and screen candidates via one-on-one and group interactions. Past events have included short company presentations, panel discussions, networking, and speed chats or interviews.
EMPLOYERS
The 2024 Science and Engineering Industry Expo is scheduled to take place in a two-day format: virtually on September 10, 2024, and in person on September 11, 2024. The agenda will include short company presentations, speed chats, networking opportunities, and a poster session. For those unable to come to campus, we are offering a virtual version of the event on Tuesday, September 10.
If you are interested in participating, please register here by August 23, 2024. It is free to attend, though there are sponsorship options that come with various perks (including the ability to attend both days of the event at Silver Sponsorship level).
This event is hosted in collaboration of the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, the Physical Sciences Division, and UChicagoGRAD. Interested in learning more about the event? Please contact:
The Industry Expo is open to PhD students and postdocs in the biological and physical sciences and in engineering fields.
You do not need to be actively applying to jobs to attend. Employers from industrial and governmental settings will promote their organization through short employer presentations, speed interviews/chats, networking lunch, a poster session, and more!
Employers in attendance: Adimab, Argonne National Laboratory, Central Intelligence Agency, Ecolab, Fuchs Lubricants, IBM, Infleqtion (Coldquanta – Super.tech), Institute for Defense Analyses, Intel Corporation, Legend Biotech, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, Numorpho Cybernetic Systems, Quantinuum, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, UL Research Institutes
Facilitated 107 one-on-one speed interviews between employers and PhD students and postdocs
Over 120 PhD students and postdocs attended the 2023 event
INDUSTRY EXPO 2022 RECAP – August 30-31, 2022
Employers in attendance: Abbott Molecular, Adimab, Amgen, Atom Computing, Central Intelligence Agency, Corning, Evozyne, Fuchs Lubricants, Google, HRL Laboratories, IBM, Institute for Defense Analyses, Intel Corporation, memQ, Merck & Co, Molex, Nalco Water (an Ecolab Company), PPG Industries, Quantinuum, Sysmex Group
Facilitated 200 one-on-one speed interviews between employers and PhD students and postdocs
Over 140 PhD students and postdocs attended the 2022 event
INDUSTRY EXPO 2021 REACP- SEPTEMBER 9-10, 2021
Employers in attendance: Amgen*, Argonne National Laboratory, Ecolab, IBM Quantum, Institute of Defense Analyses, Intel, Sony, Super.tech, and Tempus! (*sponsor)
Facilitated over 80 one-on-one speed interviews between employers and PhD students and postdocs
INDUSTRY EXPO 2020 RECAP – September 11, 2020
Employers in attendance: Argonne National Lab, BMS, Cabot Microelectronics, Citrine Informatics, D.E. Shaw Research, Google, Honeywell, IBM Quantum, Institute for Defense Analysis, Nalco Water, PPG Industries, Sinocare
Facilitated over 100 one-on-one speed interviews between employers and PhD students and postdocs.
70+ PhD students and postdocs attended the event
INDUSTRY EXPO 2019 RECAP – September 6, 2019
Employers in attendance: Argonne, Cabot Microelectronics, Citrine, Ecolab/Nalco, IBM Quantum*, Intel, Shimadzu, Solvay, and Tempus (*sponsor)
Facilitated 90 one-on-one speed interviews between employers and PhD students and postdocs.
Employer survey highlights:
100% agreed that they are interested in participating again
100% agreed that attending was a good use of their time
100% agreed that the people they interviewed were appropriate and a good match
Over 80 PhD students and postdocs attended the 2019 event. Trainee survey highlights:
81% either agreed that they would recommend this event to a peer
INDUSTRY EXPO 2018 RECAP – September 21, 2018
Employers in attendance: Argonne, BASF, Cabot Microelectronics, Citrine, Civis Analytics, D.E. Shaw Research*, Honeywell, IBM, Nalco/EcoLab, Shimadzu, Solvay*, and Tempus (*sponsor)
Facilitated 160 one-on-one speed interviews between employers and PhD students and postdocs
Employer survey highlights:
100% agreed or strongly agreed that they are interested in participating again
100% agreed or strongly agreed that attending was a good use of their time
80% agreed or strongly agreed that the people they interviewed were appropriate and a good match
Over 70 PhD students and postdocs attended the 2018 event. Trainee survey highlights:
97% either agreed or strongly agreed that they felt satisfied with the event overall
95% either agreed or strongly agreed that they would recommend this event to a peer/friend
Data Science and Analytics Career Fair
The Data Science and Analytics Career Fair is a specialized career fair focused on graduate students and postdocs in quantitative and computational disciplines. The 2025 Data Science and Analytics Career Fair, a two-day event, will be held virtually on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, and in-person on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at the Gleacher Center in downtown Chicago. Registration will be available in early January.
EMPLOYERS: If you are interested in participating in a the 2025 fair or would like more information, please visit the employer information page.
Consulting Spring Training is a week-long event for graduate students and postdocs interested in careers in consulting. We begin with a session on the landscape of the consulting industry; offer workshops on resumes and cover letters, behavioral interviews, and case interviews; and finish the week with “Meet the Firms,” an opportunity for attendees to connect with recruiters and consultants from a variety of firms. Whether you are just starting to explore consulting or are working on job applications, this series can help you prepare for the next step in your process.
Social Science Research Careers off the Tenure Track
Social Science Research Careers off the Tenure Track showcases how UChicago social scientists can apply their research skills in careers in industry and nonprofits. The event features short presentations by alumni working in leading research organizations, including NORC and Mathematica. It also provides opportunities for students and postdocs to receive tailored career advice via one-on-one chats with presenters.
Academic Job Market Summer Camp
The last AJM Summer Camp was held July 15-19, 2024.
Are you curious about the academic job market, or are you planning to apply for academic jobs this fall? Build your knowledge and confidence by attending UChicagoGRAD’s Academic Job Market Summer Camp. You’ll receive advice from UChicagoGRAD and Chicago Center for Teaching and Learning advisors as well as faculty from a range of institutions in the US and beyond.
Monday: Introduction; Hiring Committee Panel; CV Best Practices
Tuesday: Cover Letters; Teaching Statements; Managing Your Academic Job Search
Wednesday: Research Statements; Diversity Statements; Academic Websites
Thursday: Interviewing Best Practices, Demystifying Job Talks, and Interview Stories from Recent Hires
Friday: International Academe, Teaching Positions, Postdocs, and Considering Positions at Mission-Driven Institutions
The College Teaching and Teaching Careers mini-conference will be held Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
Navigating from a graduate program or postdoc into a teaching-focused faculty position can be an exciting professional and intellectual experience as well as a challenging, uncertain transition. This mini-conference will provide graduate students and postdocs with opportunities to explore teaching best practices, as well as what it means to pursue a faculty career at a teaching-focused institution.
Are you a UChicago master’s student interested in pursuing an engineering or scientific research career?
Attend the STEM Master’s Career Fair, an opportunity to engage with employers for internship and full-time recruitment opportunities. The 2024 STEM Master’s Career Fair will be held on Thursday, November 14, 2024, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. CT. The fair will take place on Zoom and feature short employer presentations as well as opportunities to connect with recruiters in one-on-one and group settings. RSVP for the 2024 event.
The event is a partnership between the University of Chicago Master’s programs in the Biological Sciences Division, the Physical Sciences Division, the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, and UChicagoGRAD.
Employers: If you are interested in participating in the 2024 fair or would like more information, please visit the employer information page.
Questions about the event? Please contact Monica Barry, monicabarry14@uchicago.edu for more information.
Especially for international graduate students, postdocs, and recent graduate alumni, GRADUCon International features virtual panel discussions with UChicago alumni who have built careers in the United States and beyond. By centering the career decision-making processes and practical advice of alumni, GRADUCon International provides students and postdocs with touchpoints for navigating immigration systems, cultural norms, and more as they discern and pursue their professional goals.
GRADUCon International 2025 will take place on April 4 and April 10, 2025.
8:30 – 8:45 a.m. — Welcome and Outcomes Discussion
8:45 – 9:45 a.m. — Careers in Europe
Shreya Gautam (she/her, they/them): Research and Evidence Manager, London Funders (MA International Relations ’20)
Shreya is a Research and Evidence Manager at London Funders – a community of public & private funders investing in London’s civil society. She leads their research and insight portfolio to provide evidence driven advice to funders. Prior to that, Shreya worked at IDinsight – an international development research and advisory firm – advising development funders across India, Indonesia, Kenya and the US to make high-impact investments in the government & community capacity building and digital gig-economy sectors.
Menachem (Nachi) Stern (he/him): Group leader, AMOLF (PhD Physics ’19)
Menachem (Nachi) Stern is a theoretical physicist exploring learning in physical systems, particularly in the context of biologically inspired and physically realizable learning rules. His research established such learning rules for flow networks, elastic networks, and self-folding origami, highlighting their potential as designer multi-functional, dynamically controlled metamaterials. He holds a Ph.D. in physics from The University of Chicago.
Jue Hou (he/him): Consultant, ReD Associates (PhD Social Thought and Comparative Literature)
Born and raised in China, Jue obtained his PhD in Social Thought and Comparative Literature from the University of Chicago in 2024. His doctoral research focused on modern Japanese literature and intellectual history. During his graduate studies, he spent two years as a visiting scholar in Tokyo. He currently works as a strategy consultant in Paris at ReD Associates, a boutique consultancy rooted in the social sciences and humanities.
Francis McKay (he/him): Research Lead, Health Determinants Research Collaboration, Gateshead Council (Joint PhD Anthropology and the Conceptual and Historical Studies of Science ’16)
Francis McKay is a medical anthropologist specializing in the social and ethical impacts of new digital health technologies, particularly those driven by advances in AI. He is a research lead for the Health Determinants Research Collaboration at Gateshead Council’s Directorate of Public Health and an Associate Researcher at Newcastle University’s Population Health Sciences Institute, where he specializes in digital health inequalities. From 2020-2023, he was a Research Fellow in the Social and Ethical Implications of Digital Health at the University of Oxford’s Ethox Centre. From 2019 to 2020 he was a post-doctoral scholar at the Berkeley Center for New Media and a research fellow for the Berggruen Institute’s “Transformations of the Human” Project. From 2016-2019 he was the Earl S Johnson Instructor in Anthropology for the University of Chicago’s Master of Arts Program in the Social Sciences. His areas of research interest are moral and medical anthropology, science and technology studies, AI ethics, and virtue ethics.
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. — The US Job Search (Humanities and Social Sciences)
Yi (Lisa) Li (she/her): Project Coordinator, Midwest Asian Health Association (MPP Public Policy ’24)
Yi (Lisa) Li is a Project Coordinator at the Family Advocacy Center within the Midwest Asian Health Association. She earned her master’s in public policy from the University of Chicago in 2024. With a strong commitment to community advocacy and public service, Lisa works to support families through resource coordination, case management, and program development. Her passion lies in promoting equitable access to social services and fostering community well-being.
MengChen Chung (he/him): Senior Developer, TransUnion (MA Computational Social Science ’22)
I am a data scientist with expertise in machine learning, predictive modeling, and big data analytics, with a focus on using analytics to understand social systems and behaviors. I’ve worked on high-impact projects in industries like finance, using tools like Python, C++, and SQL to drive insights and innovation.
Luiza Osorio G. Silva (she/her): Assistant Professor of Art History, Archeology, and Visual Studies, Art History, University of California, Irvine (PhD ‘23, Egyptian Archaeology (NELC); MA ‘20, Egyptian Archaeology (NELC))
Luiza Osorio G. Silva is an archaeologist of ancient Egypt. Her main research interests include ancient Egyptian kingship, monumentality, and the contexts and audiences of ancient Egyptian art. Kings from Below, her current book project, focuses on the non-royal experience of kingship in the Middle Kingdom (ca. 2030-1650 BCE). Luiza is the Assistant Director of the Mastaba of Akhmerutnisut Documentation Project (Giza, Egypt) and an archaeologist for the Memphis-Kom el-Fakhry Archaeological Project (Memphis, Egypt) and the Petra Terraces Archaeological Project (Petra, Jordan). She is also a member of the team working on the development of Kiosk, an open-source integrated iPad recording platform and browser-based data for field archaeology. As a Brazilian Egyptologist, she is committed to further developing Egyptological studies in Brazil and Portugal, as well as making the ancient world more accessible to diverse audiences. To that end, she co-hosts a podcast with two colleagues about ancient Egypt in Portuguese, titled “Três egiptólogues entram num bar.”
Samantha Fan (she/her): Assistant Dean for Education, Biological Sciences Division, University of Chicago (PhD Psychology ’15)
Dr. Fan is the Assistant Dean for Education in the Office of Master’s Education (OME). At OME, she works with faculty and University partners on program creation, development, and implementation of master’s degrees and other educational offerings, as well as curriculum development and management, and faculty affairs.
Dr. Fan was previously an Associate Instructional Professor in Psychology and Assistant Director of the Master of Arts Program in the Social Sciences (MAPSS) at the University of Chicago, and has expertise in pedagogy, academic advising, program development, and student-alumni relations.
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. — The US Job Search (STEM)
Siyi (May) Gu (she/her): Scientist II, Lycia Therapeutics Inc (PhD Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics ’18; UCSD, Postdoctoral Fellow Pharmacology ’23)
Siyi (May) Gu Ph.D., is an in vitro pharmacology scientist at Lycia Therapeutics, specializing in assay development and mechanistic studies for targeted protein degradation. She earned a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Chicago (2012-2018), focusing on antigen recognition mechanisms of unconventional T cells, followed by postdoctoral training in pharmacology at UC San Diego (2018-2023), where she investigated structure and functions of chemokine receptors. At Lycia, she leverages her expertise in biophysical, biochemical and cellular assays to advance drug discovery, driven by a passion for translating cutting-edge science into innovative therapeutics.
Fabián Araneda (he/him): Visiting Research Scientist, National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (MS Computational Analysis and Public Policy ’23)
Fabián A. Araneda Baltierra is a Research Software Engineer at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His work focuses on data analysis, software engineering, and the development of scalable computing solutions for astrophysical surveys and multi-messenger astronomy. Fabián’s research and professional interests span computational data analysis, software development, data visualization, machine learning, and computing education.
Ankur received his PhD from the University of Chicago before entering the quantum industry. He has full-stack experience in the research and development of superconducting qubit-based quantum processors, gained through both his PhD and recent work at Quantum Circuits. In his current role, he collaborates with the system deployment team to develop and characterize large quantum processors that run novel algorithms in partnership with external organizations. Previously, he worked as a research scientist at the AWS Center for Quantum Networking, where he focused on building a quantum-safe internet.
Andriy Neshchadin (he/him): Principal Scientist, Phlow Corp. (PhD Chemistry ’20)
Andriy Neshchadin is a chemist born and raised in Ukraine. After getting his Bachelors and Masters from Ivan Franko National University of Lviv he joined Luping Yu group at the University of Chicago, where he completed his PhD on organic synthesis of conjugated polymers for electronic applications. In 2021 Andriy accepted the position at CONTINUUS Pharmaceuticals in Boston as a process chemistry scientist, where he gained experience in flow chemistry and continuous manufacturing as well as leading a multidisciplinary project team. In 2023 Andriy was recruited by Phlow Corp. as a Principal Scientist in the Manufacturing Science and Technology Department, working at the interface of flow chemistry, automation, and process chemistry to combat drug shortages and supply chain issues of critical medicines. In his free time Andriy plays chess and dances Argentine tango.
Desen is a results-driven data scientist with a strong foundation in engineering and advanced analytics. With experience at companies such as Goldman Sachs and Ecolab, Desen has built a track record of leveraging data-driven insights to solve complex challenges across financial services, sustainability, and technology. Holding a master’s degree in data science from the University of Chicago, Desen is continuously refining expertise in machine learning, predictive analytics, and large-scale modeling. Early in their career, Desen contributed to pioneering research at Argonne National Laboratory. As an early team member at Bova ESG Technology, Desen played a key role in shaping the company’s data strategy. Now at Samsung Semiconductor, Desen remains focused on learning, innovating, and driving impactful solutions in the ever-evolving semiconductor industry.
Zhenru Zhou (she/her): Postdoctoral Fellow, Tsinghua University (PhD Art History ’23)
Zhenru Zhou is a Post-doctoral Fellow at the School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. She received a Ph.D. degree in art history from the University of Chicago, and architectural degrees from Tsinghua University and Princeton University. She specializes in premodern Buddhist art and architecture in China and along the eastern Silk Roads. She also explores the visual cultures of architecture in the medieval world and digital built heritage. Her current book project examines the architectural and historical intricacies of monk patrons’ merit caves in late-medieval Dunhuang.
Avani Solanki (she/her): Marketing Content Associate, Amazon Global Selling (MA Divinity ’24; MA English ’22, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi)
Avani Solanki is a Marketing Content Associate at Amazon Global Selling, India, where she combines data-driven insights with creative storytelling to develop content strategies for sales, lead generation, and product launches. With a background in English literature and a Master of Arts in Divinity from the University of Chicago, she brings a deep understanding of communication and audience engagement. She has previously worked in education and remains passionate about knowledge-sharing. Outside of work, she enjoys writing, reading, knitting, and going on adventures with her dog, Daisy.
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Social Science Research Careers off the Tenure Track
This event will next be held on January 18, 2024. Learn more and register in GRAD Gargoyle.
Social Science Research Careers off the Tenure Track showcases how UChicago social scientists can apply their research skills in careers in industry and nonprofits. The event features short presentations by alumni working in leading research organizations, including NORC and Mathematica. It also provides opportunities for students and postdocs to receive tailored career advice via one-on-one chats with presenters.