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
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 myCHOICE BSD Alumni Career Forum is an annual event focused on career exploration for biological sciences PhD students and postdocs. Every year, we bring back 20+ alumni with a range of career paths to share their perspective and advice.
Data Science and Analytics Career Fair
The Data Science and Analytics Career Fair is an annual recruitment event for advanced degree students and postdocs with analytical and computational skills.
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.
Pathways to College Teaching Careers
The Pathways to College 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.
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 2023 will take place on March 31, 2023, in Ida Noyes Hall.Conference registration is now open for graduate students, postdocs, and recent graduate alumni. Scroll down to see a list of 2023 panel topics and speakers.
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 a variety of one-on-one and group interactions. Past events have included short company presentations, panel discussions, networking, and speed chats or interviews.
EMPLOYERS:
The next SEIE is currently being planned for August 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:
Eligibility: The Industry Expo is open to PhD students and postdocs in biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, molecular engineering, physics, and quantum engineering (and related disciplines)
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
Event took place in a hybrid format, with one day being online and one in-person
Facilitated ~200 1-on-1 speed interviews between employers and PhD students/postdocs
Over 140 PhD students and postdocs attended the 2022 event between both days
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)
Event took place entirely online
Facilitated over 80 1-on-1 speed interviews between employers and PhD students/postdocs
60 student and postdoc attendees
INDUTRY 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
Event took place entirely online
Facilitated ~100 1-on-1 speed interviews between employers and PhD students/postdocs
Over 70 PhD students and postdocs attended the 2020 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 1-on-1 speed interviews between employers and PhD students/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
100% agreed or strongly 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:
75% either agreed or strongly agreed that they felt satisfied with the event overall
81% either agreed or strongly agreed that they would recommend this event to a peer/friend
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 1-on-1 speed interviews between employers and PhD students/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
BSD Alumni Career Forum
The myCHOICE BSD Alumni Career Forum is an annual event sponsored by UChicagoGRAD, myCHOICE, and the University of Chicago Medical & Biological Sciences Alumni Association. It is a day focused on career exploration for biological sciences PhD students and postdocs. Every year, we bring back 20+ alumni with a range of career paths to share their perspectives and advice through panel discussions and industry round-table chats. Next year’s myCHOICE-BSD Alumni Career Forum is currently in planning stage. Info about the 2022 event can be found here.
BSD alumni Bryan Clay, Gail Farfel, Mike Seiler, and Patty Ward share the hiring manager perspective during the "What Employers Seek" panel.
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.
ACADEMIC JOB MARKET SUMMER CAMP The next AJM Summer Camp will be held July 10-14, 2023. RSVP in GRAD Gargoyle.
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.
Sample schedule:
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 First Year as Faculty Panel
The next Pathways to College Teaching Careers mini-conference will be held on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. Learn more and register.
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 what it means to pursue a faculty career at a teaching-focused institution.
