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.
Mx Research Career Fair
The Mx Research 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 2024 will be virtual and take place on March 22, 2024.Registration is now open. See the full conference schedule below.
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. Typically, companies have 1-2 representatives participate, though more are welcome to participate. While not all companies are actively recruiting for specific positions, they utilize the event to create more awareness for their company and to build connections within our trainee population. There is a no cost option for employers to attend, though we also offer a variety of sponsorship options with perks.
If you are interested in learning more about this event or have questions, please contact hiregrad@uchicago.edu
PHD STUDENTS AND POSTDOCS
The Industry Expo is open to PhD students and postdocs in the biological and physical sciences and in engineering fields.
INDUSTRY EXPO 2023 RECAP – August 29-30, 2023
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 2024 Data Science and Analytics Career Fair will be held at UChicago Gleacher Center on February 22.
EMPLOYERS: If you are interested in participating in a the 2024 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 next AJM Summer Camp will be held July 15–19, 2024. More information and registration link forthcoming.
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.
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 last College Teaching and Teaching Careers mini-conference was held on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
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.
Mx Research Career Fair
Are you a UChicago master’s student interested in pursuing an engineering or scientific research career?
Attend the Mx Research Career Fair, an opportunity to engage with employers for internship and full-time recruitment opportunities. The 2024 Mx Research Career Fair will be held on Thursday, January 25, 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.
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.