Panelists discuss at GradUCon

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 2026 will take place on April 2, 2026. Sign up today!

SCHEDULE

8:45–9:45 a.m. — Careers in Canada and the UK

10:00–11:00 a.m. — The U.S. Job Search (Humanities and Social Sciences)

11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. — The U.S. Job Search (STEM)

8:00–9:00 p.m. — Careers in Asia

Panelist Bios

Careers in Canada and the UK

Elizabeth Creighton (she/her) | Founder & Principal, Brazen Consulting (The University of Chicago, MA in Psychology ’09 The University of Chicago, PhD in Psychology ’13)

With 13 years of experience conducting impactful user research, Elizabeth has shaped the design of 100+ websites, apps, services, and physical products for companies such as Shopify, Instacart, Mozilla, and Autodesk. Her experience is complemented by a PhD in Psychology, which gives her a deep understanding of how users learn, remember, and think. Outside of work, she’s a black-belt martial artist and mediocre banjo player — though in reality she spends most of her free time chasing after her two small kids.

Ali Syed (he/him) | Associate Economist, Water Services Regulation Authority- Ofwat (Kings College London BsC Politics, Philosophy and Economics ‘21 UChicago MA International relations, ’22)

Ali Hamza Syed is an Economist at Ofwat, The economic regulator for water in England and Wales. His team supports Ofwat and other UK Government departments in accelerating the development of nationally significant water resource infrastructure. As an economist his responsibilities include economic appraisals, benchmarking, and policy design to ensure value for money and long-term resilience across the UK water sector.   Before joining Ofwat, Ali worked at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) in several policy roles spanning nuclear regulation, fusion policy, and private investment into net zero. His portfolio included designing financial instruments, leading cross-government investment pipelines, and producing economic evidence that informed ministerial decisions.   Ali holds an MA in International Relations from the University of Chicago and a BSc in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from King’s College London. His interests lie in political economy, regulatory design, and the role of economic evidence in shaping public policy.

Corina Fung (she/her) | Senior Analyst, ImpactEd Group (University of Chicago, Master of Public Policy ’24)

Corina is a Senior Analyst at ImpactEd Group, working on research and impact evaluation projects for education organisations across the UK. She is an economist and holds a Master of Public Policy from UChicago’s Harris School of Public Policy. Corina’s career spans economic consulting in her home country of Venezuela, government monitoring and evaluation in Colombia, and research in the US at the Behavioral Insights & Parenting (BIP) Lab, before transitioning to the UK education and social impact sector. Her professional interests include applying both quantitative and qualitative methods in research and policy analysis, and translating complex data into actionable insights.

Chloé Pelletier (she/her) | Curator of European Art (before 1800), Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (Master’s Degree in Art History, 2016 – University of Chicago PhD in Art History, 2021 – University of Chicago)

Dr. Chloé Pelletier is Curator of European Art (before 1800) at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, where she stewards a collection of +1600 paintings, sculptures and works on paper. Originaly from Texas, she earned a BA from Johns Hopkins University and her MA and PhD from the University of Chicago. She came to the MMFA in 2022 after holding positions at the Art Institute of Chicago and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.. She recently curated the exhibition Bad Girls Only: Women and the Seven Deadly Sins, and is currently working on a major exhibition about the Renaissance workshop.

Moderator: Victoria Umutoni (PhD Student in Public Health Sciences)

Oya Topcuoglu Judd (she/her) | Associate Professor of Instruction, Northwestern University (University of Chicago, PhD in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations [now Middle Eastern Studies], ’16)
The U.S. Job Search (Humanities and Social Sciences)

Oya Topçuoğlu Judd is an Associate Professor of Instruction in the Middle East and North African Languages Program at Northwestern University. Drawing from her diverse background, she teaches on a range of subjects, including modern Turkish language and culture, and the history and archaeology of the Middle East. She is an archaeologist by training, who specializes in the art, archaeology, and history of ancient Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. Her research addresses issues of social identity and cultural exchange, and the effects of political change and ideology on the material record of the ancient Middle East. She also studies the looting and illegal trafficking of antiquities from Iraq and Syria, the political uses of the ancient past, and its role in the formation of national identities in the modern Middle East.

Ariel Azar  (he/him) | Research Scientist, Meta (University of Chicago, PhD in Sociology ’23) 

Ariel Azar is a Research Scientist on the Demography & Survey Science team at Meta, where he collects and analyzes survey and behavioral data to inform decisions across a wide range of topics. Originally from Chile, Ariel completed his PhD in Sociology at the University of Chicago before joining Purdue University as a tenure-track Assistant Professor, a position he held for two years before transitioning to industry. His methodological expertise spans survey design, multilevel modeling, causal inference, and data visualization, developed across academic and applied roles at institutions including the UN, the World Bank, and Analysis Group. Before joining Meta, Ariel navigated the transition from an academic career to industry, a path he is happy to share with current international graduate students. 

Ariel Azar

Saloni Bhardwaj (she/her) | Data Strategist, Chicago Public Schools (University of Chicago, Masters of Public Policy)

Saloni Bhardwaj is a Data Strategist at Chicago Public Schools, where she works at the intersection of data, policy, and operations to support instructional and assessment systems across 600+ public schools. She leads cross-functional efforts to translate complex data into actionable insights that drive leadership decision-making and program implementation. Saloni holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago, with a focus on data analytics, and began her career in India’s education and nonprofit sector, where she developed a deep interest in systems change and education equity that continues to shape her work today.

Serhii Shadrin (he/him) | Senior Partnership & Account Manager, Trendly (Jellysmack spin-out) (University of Chicago, MA in Digital Studies ’24)

Serhii Shadrin is a content strategy and partnerships professional working at Trendly, a creator-economy company spun out of Jellysmack. He manages partnerships with leading digital creators, helping them grow audiences and monetize their content globally. Originally from Ukraine, as an international student, he navigated the transition from graduate school to the US job market and now works at the intersection of media, technology, and the creator economy in New York. He is passionate about helping creators and media brands scale their impact across platforms and borders.

Moderator: Aijia Li (MACSS Student)

Emily Fogarty | Medical Science Liaison, Veracyte (University of Chicago, PhD Microbiology)

I am a PhD-trained scientist and Medical Science Liaison at Veracyte, where I serve as a genomic and disease-state expert supporting clinicians in the use of Prosigna to inform breast cancer treatment decisions. I am passionate about translating complex molecular and clinical data into clear, actionable insights that help physicians, and ultimately patients, to make life-changing decisions.   At Veracyte, I partner closely with healthcare providers, key opinion leaders, and cross-functional internal teams to advance understanding and adoption of innovative genomic diagnostics. My work includes scientific exchange with academic and community physicians, support of investigator-initiated studies from concept through publication, conference engagement, and the development of high-impact educational programs.   Prior to joining Veracyte, I built a strong foundation at the intersection of translational research, clinical strategy, and medical affairs. I bring experience across the full product lifecycle, including biomarker discovery and validation, clinical trial data interpretation, physician education, regulatory preparation, and strategic biopharma partnerships. My contributions have supported NCCN guideline submissions, FDA filings, and external collaborations, with a consistent focus on aligning scientific evidence with clinical and commercial objectives.

May Gu (she/her) | Scientist, Lycia Therapeutics (University of Chicago, PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics ’18 University of California, Postdoctoral Fellow in Pharmacology ’23)

May (Siyi) Gu, is a scientist at Lycia Therapeutics located in South San Francisco, CA. She earned her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Biophysics from the University of Chicago, followed by post-doctoral training at Dept of Pharmacology, UCSD. At Lycia, she focuses on developing Lysosomal Targeting Chimeras (LYTACs), which are specific and potent protein degrading therapeutics that bind disease-causing proteins and transport them into the cell for degradation by the lysosome, leveraging the cell’s natural waste disposal process.

Wushi Dong (he/him) | Software Engineer, Meta (University of Chicago, PhD in Physics ’19)

Wushi Dong is a Software Engineer at Meta, where he focuses on optimizing LLM inference frameworks and compiler runtime efficiency for Meta’s custom AI accelerator. Previously, he was an Applied Scientist at AWS, working on improving LLM inference and ML performance using compiler and high-performance computing techniques. His work focuses on AI infrastructure, with an emphasis on efficient large-scale AI, including building LLM inference systems for custom accelerators from the ground up and scaling distributed training to supercomputing levels. He is particularly interested in pushing the limits of AI efficiency to enable real-world impact. He holds a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree from the School of the Gifted Young (SGY) at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC).

Aditi Verma (she/her) | Research Associate, Northwestern University (University of Chicago, MS in Biomedical Informatics ’24; Indian Institute of Science, PhD in Neuroscience ’18; Jawaharlal Nehru University, MS in Life Sciences ’11)

Aditi Verma, PhD is a Research Associate in the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Northwestern University. She received her PhD in Neuroscience from the Indian Institute of Science (Bangalore, India), where her research focused on elucidating molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. She subsequently completed postdoctoral training in neuroscience at the same institution. She later served as a Scientific Officer at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (Mumbai, India), where she utilized multiphoton microscopy to investigate vesicular neurotransmitter release. Dr. Verma earned a Master’s degree in Biomedical Informatics from the University of Chicago, with a concentration in bioinformatics. Her current research focuses on the analysis of multi-modal sequencing data to characterize immune pathways in food allergy, integrating bioinformatics and machine learning approaches. In addition to her research, she has experience in scientific communication as an editor and science writer.

Moderator: Tina Oberoi (PhD Student in Computer Science)

Careers in Asia

Hao Huang  (he/him) | Director of BD & Venture Fund, AstraZeneca (University of Chicago, PhD in Chemistry ’15) 

Dr. Hao Huang joined AstraZeneca since 2020, responsible for the investment and portfolio management of AZ-CICC Fund. In addition, he also facilitates AstraZeneca’s R&D BD and collaboration in China, with representative deals including SyneronTech, Cullgen, etc. Prior to joining AstraZeneca, he had worked at Roche, Hengrui, and Nan Fung Life Sciences, with over ten years of experience and a composite background in drug discovery, BD, and venture investment. Hao holds a B.S. in Biology from Peking University and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from University of Chicago, with his thesis work on RNA biochemistry and RNA-protein interactions at Joseph Piccirilli lab. 

Kasvi Bhardwaj  (she/her) | Assistant Manager- Business Solutions (Integrated Sustainability Solutions), Re Sustainability Ltd. (University of Chicago, Masters of Arts Program in Social Sciences) 

I am a sociologist with a strong interdisciplinary foundation in sustainability, environmental policy, and data-driven research, currently working at the intersection of business solutions and impact. I bring both academic training from UChicago and grounded experience across environmental compliance, health and safety systems, and waste management strategies. My work spans policy research, corporate sustainability, and grassroots development, ranging from designing net-zero and waste optimization solutions for industry clients. I combine quantitative precision with qualitative depth to generate actionable insights. I am particularly driven by the challenge of translating complex social and environmental problems into scalable, inclusive, and impactful solutions. 

Sneha Anaravappu  (she/her) | Assistant Professor of Sociology, Dept of Sociology and Anthropology and South Asian Studies Programme, National University of Singapore (University of Chicago, PhD in Sociology ’20) 

Sneha Annavarapu is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the Department of Sociology and Anthropology and the South Asian Studies Programme at the National University of Singapore. Her research interests centre around the politics of transportation, infrastructure, class relations, and gender in urban India. She has published articles in International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Area, Social Problems, Social Change, Journal of Historical Sociology, and Journal of Consumer Culture and is currently working on a book project titled On The Move: the politics of driving in India. 

Moderator: Linyun Fu (PhD Student in Social Work)