Careers Beyond Academia

Career Paths in Pre-Clinical Development
2025-09-25 12:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | Online
Join scientists involved in preclinical development at Merck for a session where you will learn how a variety of disciplines are involved in bringing pharmaceuticals from discovery, through development, and to the clinic. You’ll hear from Merck scientists about their career paths and how you might leverage your training for exciting positions in pharmaceutical development. The session will include a Q&A session with Merck scientists, and you’ll learn how to stay up to date about openings in Preclinical Development. Broadly, this session will be of interest to trainees in a variety of fields of biological sciences, chemistry, and/or data science who would like to learn more about careers in the pharmaceutical industry.
Hosted by Merck in collaboration with Cornell, Rutgers, Brown, and the University of Chicago.
Registration
Register for this online event by joining the Merck community. The meeting will be used on Microsoft’s Teams platform, so be sure to download access beforehand. It is optional to upload your resume.
About the panelists
Rupesh P. Amin, PhD,is an Executive Director in Nonclinical Drug Safety at Merck. He has 23 years of experience from both small and large pharmaceutical companies across various aspects of toxicology, investigative toxicology, nonclinical drug discovery and development across multiple therapeutic areas and modalities. Rup has successfully supported the advancement of Cardiometabolic, Anti-inflammatory, Oncology and RNA therapeutic drugs. In his current role as Head of Program Development, Dr. Amin provides nonclinical drug safety scientific, operational, and strategic oversight for Merck’s development programs across all therapeutic areas and modalities. His team supports programs entering Phase 1 through registration and post-marketing, ensuring nonclinical drug safety aspects support the clinical program. Additionally, Dr. Amin’s team provides oversight of Occupational Toxicology aspects of Merck’s portfolio. This involves critically assessing the potential hazardous effects of chemicals and drugs to guide the implementation of measures to protect employee health and safety. Before joining industry in 2002, Dr. Amin completed a Ph.D. in Toxicology at the Joint Graduate Program in Toxicology at Rutgers University/Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He further pursued a post-doctoral fellowship applying toxicogenomic approaches to elucidate molecular mechanisms in drug-induced renal toxicity and studied cell cycle defects at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Rup enjoys travelling, hiking and exploring diverse cuisines with his wife and 3 kids.
Melissa Dsouza, PhD, is a Director in Digital Operations and Innovation within Nonclinical Drug Safety at Merck Research Labs. She specializes in applying data science and machine learning to drug safety assessment. She earned her Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Auckland in New Zealand in 2015, where she also completed her B.Tech in Biotechnology with First-Class Honors.
With over 10 years of experience spanning academia and the microbiome industry, Melissa brings her expertise in bioinformatics, microbial ecology, and statistical modeling to her role at Merck. Before joining Merck in 2021, she held leadership positions at microbiome therapeutics companies, including Vedanta Biosciences and Commense Inc., where she developed novel analytical methods for microbial drug characterization and led clinical bioinformatics efforts supporting Phase 1/2 trials for live biotherapeutic products. At Merck, she provides technical leadership for data science initiatives, builds predictive models using diverse datasets, and collaborates across research teams to develop AI solutions for drug safety assessment. She is passionate about leveraging historical datasets and advanced analytics to generate meaningful insights that advance drug development.
Kara Pearson, PhD’00 Chemistry, is the Director of Analytical & Biochemical Toxicology in the Investigative Toxicology group within Nonclinical Drug Safety at Merck where she manages a group of analytical chemists, biochemists and cell biologists who perform investigative studies to understand mechanisms of toxicity and support development of alternative models for safety testing. During her 24 years in Nonclinical Drug Safety, Kara has worked at the bench, lead interdepartmental investigations into mechanisms of toxicity, and served as a departmental representative to program Discovery and Development Teams. The challenges of drug development are always evolving, so interdisciplinary collaboration is key to our success and one of the most rewarding aspects of the job. Ensuring the safety of our new therapeutics is another. Kara completed her PhD in bioorganic chemistry at Cornell University in 2000 and followed that with postdoctoral research in the NIH’s National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Lab of Biophysical Chemistry before joining the Merck team.
Kristen A. Roosa, PhD’15 Biological and Biomedical Sciences is an Associate Principal Scientist in the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology group, part of the Nonclinical Drug Safety division, at Merck. She conducts animal studies to assess potential risks of new pharmaceuticals to human fertility, embryo-fetal and postnatal development and serves as a subject matter expert for teams developing strategies for nonclinical safety assessment programs. She completed her PhD in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences program at Cornell in 2015, started her career in academia at a primarily undergraduate institution, and then made the move to industry in 2021.
Ketal Shah, BA, is an Associate Principal Scientist at Merck with over two decades of experience in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and CRO sectors. She specializes in biochemistry, molecular biology, and immuno-analytical techniques, with a strong track record of leading outsourcing collaborations and advancing complex research programs. Throughout her career, Ketal has held scientific roles at Roche, Elusys Therapeutics, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, and Tandem Labs before joining Merck in 2014. She is recognized for her critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and ability to build effective cross-functional partnerships in fast-paced environments. Ketal holds a B.A. in Biochemistry from Rutgers University.
Event Date, Time and Location
Online: Thursday, September 25, 2025 , 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM (EDT)
The event is a follow-up to a successful Cornell University campus visit in 2023, broadening it this year to include additional university collaborators and partners.

Fellowship Grant Applications
2025-09-29 15:00 - 17:00 | Online
The University of Pittsburgh will host an online session in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on Fellowship grant applications. This event is open to trainees nationwide, will be held on Sept. 29th from 3-5pm, and will feature NIH presenters sharing insider guidance to help them:
✅ Identify the right NIH fellowship
✅ Navigate the peer review process
✅ Connect with NIH program officers
✅ Strengthen their application strategy
Space is limited. Registration link: https://pitt.zoom.us/meeting/register/pZJjTBykTI6vroHBfm6cSQ#/registration

Explore Careers Outside Academia
2025-10-01 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
In today’s day and age, more and more postdocs and graduate students are open to the idea of careers beyond academia. Have you ever wondered how to start this transition and what are some things you need to think about before taking action? In this session, we will talk about how to start exploring career options outside of academia and some of the thought process behind it. Register to attend.
Presented by Graduate School Career and Professional Development staff and aimed at Ph.D. students and postdoctoral scholars.
Presenters: Christine Holmes, Director of Postdoctoral Studies; and Susi Varvayanis, Executive Director of Careers Beyond Academia

From Lab to Industry Funding Panel
2025-10-01 13:30 - 15:00 | Atkinson Hall rm. 121
In-person panel to learn strategies from colleagues who have successfully partnered with industry. Panelists will share success stories and discuss how to navigate funding opportunities, leverage Cornell’s expert support staff, and amplify research impact. This session applies for faculty in any research field and college/school, including but not limited to those with wet/dry lab and field-based research. Wednesday, Oct. 1, 1:30-3 p.m. EDT. Registration required. Remote participation only for Cornell Tech and AgriTech campuses.
Brought to you through a partnership of the Provost’s Office of Faculty Development & Diversity, AAD University Foundation Relations & Corporate Philanthropy, and Cornell Research & Innovation.

Panelists

Alyssa Apsel
Laura Batten
Lawrence Bonassar
Phillip Milner
Marius Weigert
Fengqi You

Ellis L. Phillips Sr. Director of Electrical and Computer Engineering; IBM Professor of Engineering
Director of Strategic Partnerships, Cornell Bowers College of Computing & Information Science
Daljit S. and Elaine Sarkaria Professor in Biomedical Engineering and in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Associate Professor of Chemistry & Chemical Biology
Director of Innovation and Engagement, CALS Office of Research and Innovation
Roxanne E. and Michael J. Zak Professor in Energy Systems Engineering; CIDA and AI +Science Institute, Co-director

Note: If you’re looking to connect your research with industry partners, explore new pathways for collaboration, or brainstorm strategy, schedule a meeting with Kat Schaff, interim director of strategic external engagement.

U.S. Immigration Options
2025-10-06 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
The Arkell Immigration Team at Dunn Law
Cornell University presentation on U.S. immigration options and updates
Oct 6, 2025, 12:00 PM Eastern time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84200475453
Meeting ID: 842 0047 5453

Nucleate Activator insider session for future life science startups
2025-10-07 18:00 - 19:00 | Online
Are you an academic trainee (Post-doc/DVM/PhD/MBA/MD/JD/MS/MEng) eager to build a life science startup? Whether your passion lies in therapeutics, diagnostics, medtech, synthetic biology, or fields like food, energy, agriculture, or consumer products, this is your opportunity to transform your research into a groundbreaking venture! Applications for Nucleate’s Flagship Activator Program are NOW OPEN!
To learn more, sign up for a virtual info session or Live Q&A session with Activator Alumni and Mentors:

Virtual Info Session: Thursday, September 18, at 12 PM
Nucleate Activator – Insider Session: Tuesday, October 7, at 6 PM
Alternatively, join Nucleate at events in NYC: Connect and Collab: Fall Mixer with NYAS Thursday, September 25, at 6 PM at NYAS

The Offer:

Completely Free: Nucleate never takes equity or charges fees for its programs
Mentorship from Industry Leaders: Receive guidance from experienced mentors.
Comprehensive Educational Programming: Learn from the best in workshops and seminars.
Global Community: Join a network of peers, alumni, and leaders across 18+ cities worldwide.
Investor Introductions: Get connected with investors ready to support your breakthrough.
No Forced Incorporation: Focus on your venture at your own pace.

If you have an idea (i.e., you’re an Inventor), you can apply for either the Bio or Eco track:

Bio Track: For innovators in therapeutics, diagnostics, or tools.
Eco Track: Focused on food & agriculture, chemicals & energy, or consumer products.

Don’t have an idea yet? No worries! You can still join a team as a scientific, business, or clinical contributor through Nucleate’s matching process.
Got a team already? Your collaborators can come on board as team affiliates, so you all get the chance to learn and build together.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis through October 20. Early submission is encouraged for early team matching.
Check out Nucleate’s FAQs page if you have any questions.
What about IP? Nucleate Activator is an education-focused, non-dilutive program that does not take any equity or IP, and all programming is designed to be non-confidential. Inventors applying to the program must secure approval from their PI and TTO before final acceptance.
About Nucleate
Nucleate is a student-run nonprofit organization that facilitates the formation of new life science ventures. Nucleate’s equity-free Activator program supports emerging bioentrepreneurs coming from academia who plan to tackle the biggest challenges in human health (Bio Track) and sustainability (Eco Track) by building life science companies. Since inception seven years ago, Nucleate has guided 600+ scientific teams through their earliest stages, leading to the formation of more than 180 companies that have collectively raised over $500M. Alumni of the program are commercializing breakthrough technologies such as protein sequencing (Glyphic), AI drug design (Manifold Bio, Concerto), biomanufacturing (Foray Biosciences) and many more.
Apply
Apply here before October 20th, 2025.
To learn more about Nucleate visit Linktree
Questions
Adithya Prabakaran (ap767@cornell.edu) is happy to help answer questions!
Adithya Prabakaran
B.S. ‘25 Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University
PhD Student, Cancer Engineering, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Technology Sourcing Lead | Nucleate New York

Learn about career opportunities in Denmark
2025-10-08 11:00 - 12:30 | Online
Attend this online information session to explore research and industry career opportunities in Neuroscience, Biosolutions (Biotech), Power-to-X (Green Energy) and most recently Quantum (thanks to a project expansion by the Novo Nordisk Foundation) in Denmark. Join Science Hub Denmark for this event with Cornell University’s Office of Career and Professional Development. Hear from the Head of Science Hub Denmark Alexander Watts, Power-to-X and Biosolutions Project Manager Ralph Johannesen and Neuroscience Project Manager Caitriona Organ as they discuss careers and life in Denmark. The information session will be immediately followed by a casual Q&A.
Discover how Denmark is shaping the future of science, and explore exciting career paths within a thriving research and innovation ecosystem. Learn about Denmark’s world-renowned work-life balance, vibrant research environment, and high quality of life—making it an ideal place to build your career and enjoy life beyond work. Whether you’re interested in academia or aiming for a career in industry, this event will be insightful.
Prior to the program, explore open research positions and industry jobs in Denmark.
Calling all PhDs and Post Docs – Tune in to learn about career opportunities in Denmark
Please register for this online event using this link
This event is open to graduate students and postdocs. Held online Oct 8 @ 11am-12:30pm
More information at research.state-of-denmark.com and Copenhagen Capacity
This event is being hosted by the Office of Career and Professional Development in the Graduate School at Cornell University. Facilitated by Christine Holmes, Director of Postdoctoral Studies and Susi Varvayanis, Executive Director of Careers Beyond Academia.
Denmark ranks:
#1 European Commission, “European Innovation Scoreboard 2024”
#1 Time Out: “Happy City Index 2025”
#2 United Nations “World Happiness Report 2025”
#1 The Economist, “The World’s Most Liveable Cities 2025”
#4 IMD, “World Competitiveness Ranking 2025”
#3 United Nations, “Sustainable Development Report 2025”

DOE Office of Science Graduate Student Research
2025-10-09 14:00 - 16:00 | Online
Have you wondered how to explore career options in national labs? Perhaps you are a Ph.D. student looking to energize your dissertation with world-class scientific power at a Department of Energy (DOE) laboratory or facility. Attend the upcoming workshops to learn more about the DOE Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) program, receive application guidance, and field questions to program area scientists.
The DOE Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) program is now accepting applications for 2025 Solicitation 2, due November 5, 2025, 5:00 PM ET Get a leg up directly from program area scientists to increase your chances of success by attending these workshops on abstract preparation, selecting a priority area that aligns with their mission, on application and proposal guidance.
Workshop 1: DOE SCGSR Program Overview, Abstract Preparation, and Selecting a Priority Area
September 11, 2025, 2:00-3:00PM ET
Register here for workshop 1
Workshop 2: Application and Proposal Guidance
October 9, 2025, 2:00PM-4:00PM ET
Register here for workshop 2

Networking@Rev: Food and Ag Innovations
2025-10-09 18:00 - 20:30 | Rev: Ithaca Startup Works, 314 E State St, Ithaca, 314 E State St, Ithaca, NY
Discover the latest innovations from food and ag startups with insights into sustainable farming and cutting-edge food tech.Join Jenn Smith, Director of Food & Ag Innovation Programs at the Center for Regional Economic Advancement, Todd Schmit, Faculty Director of the Cornell Agricultural Marketing Research Program, and Maureen Ballatori, Founder and CEO of Agency 29, a creative agency for food, beverage, and agriculture brands, for a fireside chat about agriculture innovation as a strategy for economic development. After the discussion, enjoy elevator pitches and tabling by top food and ag startups from New York State.
Network with 2025 Grow-NY Food & Ag Business Competition finalists and Rev member Agritech startups. Connect with innovators, collaborate, and explore opportunities within Rev: Ithaca Startup Works’ entrepreneurial ecosystem while staying up to date with the food and agriculture sector.
Questions? Contact rev@revithaca.com.
Thursday, October 9 | 6 – 8:30 PM ET
314 East State Street, Ithaca, NY
Register now
Accessibility:
Please contact rev@revithaca.com at least one week prior to the event with any accessibility needs.
Agreement:
By registering for this event, you acknowledge and agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
Getting to Rev:
For information on getting to Rev, such as where to park, transportation options, and more, visit revithaca.com/getting-to-rev/.
Rev Community Guidelines:
Create a positive and inclusive learning and working environment
Act as responsible citizens of the Rev community by:
Treating each other with fairness, dignity, and respect
Fostering a culture that underscores the importance of accountability, trust, and open communication
Maintaining a professional work environment
Anyone part of the Rev community must hold themselves to the highest standards and are expected to act appropriately at all times.

Disclosure and Accommodations in the Career Search Process-with P&G
2025-10-15 15:00 - 16:00 | Online
This session, in partnership with Procter & Gamble, will focus on why and how to disclose and request accommodations in the career search process. During your job or internship search and on the job, you want your talents to shine through and the focus to be on all the things you CAN do. We will also have a panel with P&G employees sharing their experiences with the disclosure and accommodations process. Register here
Neurodiversity Dialogues: Disclosure and Accommodations in the Career Search Process
October 15, 3-4 pm.
Questions? Email neurodiversity@cornell.edu

Biotechnology Resource Center User Trainee Poster Symposium
2025-10-16 10:00 - 13:00 | Biotechnology Building, G01, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
Showcase Your Research! Network with colleagues and BRC staff!
Presenters: Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students, or Postdocs that have performed any part of their research using any BRC facility
Attendees: Not presenting a poster? Show support for your and learn about exciting research enabled by the BRC Core Facilities
Registration Deadline: Register by October 10th!
Event details
Thursday October 16, 2025
10AM- 1PM (Lunch and awards 12-1PM)
Biotech Building Atrium & G01
Poster Rules: Present a scientific poster of your research that utilized BRC core(s).
Acknowledge the core(s) using the corresponding Research Resource Identifiers (RRID). What is an RRID?
Prizes: $100 BRC voucher awarded to top three posters
Extras: VWR and each BRC core will have a staffed table to ask any ongoing or future project related questions
Attendance and Poster Registration are free thanks to VWR and the Biotechnology Resource Center!
Learn more and register
Additional information and Registration

Cubist / Point 72 lunch and learn with PhDs
2025-10-22 12:00 - 13:30 | Biotechnology Building, G01, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
Interested in the world of quant finance? Join Cubist Systematic Strategies for a Q&A panel over lunch with PhDs. They will be hosting a Lunch and Learn on Wed, October 22nd in Biotech G01. Learn more via this link in Handshake to meet with researchers and recruiters, learn more about internship and full-time opportunities at Cubist, pick up the latest swag, and of course enjoy lunch! Spots are limited. Please do not sign up if you are not in a PhD program or are a postdoc.
Meet Cornell doctoral alumni Pascal Tomecek PhD’07 and Yujia Zhang BA’19, PhD’24 and Cubist campus recruiter Hali Simons.
Target audience
Doctoral students and postdocs from any quantitative field including STAT, MATH, CS, Physics, ORIE, and Applied Math who have an interest in applying their problem solving skills beyond academia through data.
About Cubist Systematic Strategies
Cubist designs and implements systematic, computer-driven trading strategies based on rigorous research to invest across multiple liquid asset classes. Our teams around the world develop their investment theses from our extensive access to a wide range of publicly available data. Our colleagues come from other firms, related fields, and directly from academia. Whatever your background, here we all share a passion for problem solving, strong technical skills, and a commitment to the highest professional and ethical standards.
This event represents a partnership between Cubist Systemic Strategies, Engineering Recruiting and Careers Beyond Academia in the Graduate School.
Sign up now!

Innovation & Eship Workshop: Great Value Propositions
2025-10-23 11:45 - 13:00 | Online
Your value proposition communicates the unique benefits your product or service provides customers, especially compared to your competitors. A successful entrepreneur builds their business strategy around an excellent value proposition, attracting customers and investors by proving their product-market fit.
How do you create a compelling value proposition? Attend this free workshop to find out!
Moderated by Cornell Entrepreneur in Residence Brad Treat, MBA’02 the panel discussion will feature:

Susan Fleming, MS’08, PhD’10 Cornell Entrepreneur in Residence and former senior lecturer in the Nolan School of Hotel Administration
Amy Cheney, MBA Cornell Entrepreneur in Residence
Peter Mintun, BA’14 Associate at ARCH Venture Partners, PhD in Molecular Engineering

Register Now
Contact:
Questions? Contact crea@cornell.edu
Accessibility:
Please contact crea@cornell.edu at least one week prior to the event with any accessibility needs.
Agreement:
By registering for this event, you acknowledge and agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
Tell us what you think:
We welcome thoughts and feedback anytime. If you have a comment now or would like to share feedback after the event, share it here.

Cornell Sports Research Conference IV
2025-10-24 09:00 - 16:00 | Physical Sciences Building, 245 East Ave, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
The Cornell Sports Research Conference (CSRC) allows students to share sports-related research while networking with industry experts, professional athletes and academic experts. Research topics are interdisciplinary, addressing areas such as action anticipation, analytics, architecture, artificial intelligence, collective bargaining, economics, interaction inference, law, psychology, sociology, turf science and more related fields in sports. Conference IV on October 24, 2025 will feature research by students and faculty from inside and outside Cornell in addition to panel discussions, industry roundtables and sports technology demonstrations.
Sample of employers attending:

Oak View Group
CAA
Atlanta Hawks
MLB
NFL
NHL
Mets
Global Critical Logistics
NY Islanders
HBSE Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment

Attendee Registration

Lab to Impact series
2025-10-29 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-11-18 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-12-16 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
This fall, the Center for Technology Licensing (CTL) invites you to Lab to Impact, an educational series designed to help Cornell researchers, inventors, and partners take their innovations from lab to marketplace.
We’re starting the season with a foundational session focused on intellectual property and the full journey of technology commercialization. Whether you’re new to IP or already navigating disclosure, this virtual session will offer tools, examples, and guidance tailored to Cornell innovators.
What you’ll learn
🗺️ The commercialization roadmap: Understand the full lifecycle — from invention disclosure to licensing and beyond.
💡 IP fundamentals, simplified: Get grounded in patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.
✨ Telling the story of your tech: Learn how CTL positions innovations to attract licensees, collaborators, and investors.
🤝 How CTL supports your journey: Hear directly from CTL leadership about the resources available to help bring your work to the world.
About the Series
Explore real-world paths to impact this fall, with sessions grounded in Cornell’s 13 technology pillars and led by internal and external experts:

Monday, Sept. 15: Understanding the Technology Commercialization Process
Wednesday, Oct. 29:From Idea to Prototyping and Design in Medical Devices
Tuesday, Nov. 18:The Path to Commercializing Semiconductor Technology
Tuesday, Dec. 16:Realizing Impact through Commercialization

NIH Career Symposium
2025-11-03 - 2025-11-06 | Online
Registration is now open for the 2025 NIH Career Symposium! This virtual, multi-day event will highlight a broad range of career paths available to biomedical researchers. Panels and workshops throughout the symposium are designed to help postdocs and doctoral students in the life sciences explore new career paths, learn more about a specific career, and prepare for a successful job search. The Career Symposium will take place November 3rd – 6th, 2025. Register here!
Register now
2025 ANNUAL NIH CAREER SYMPOSIUM
November 3 – 6, 2025 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Register: https://whova.com/portal/registration/eNR7KvksLzfWd584CoaD/
Please note that, in addition to registering for a ticket, you must also create a Whova account to log in to the event.
Event highlights
*10 panels featuring professionals in a broad range of careers, including pharmaceutical industry, academic careers, science policy, and more!
*Workshops to help you:

Navigate a Changing Job Market
Develop Job Search Skills
Plan for a Career Transition

Register today and log in to Whova to see the agenda and growing speaker list! We hope to see you at the event in November!
Additional links
NIH Office of Intramural Training & Education – https://www.training.nih.gov
Upcoming Events – https://www.training.nih.gov/events/upcoming
Career Services Advice and Appointments – https://www.training.nih.gov/career_services
NIH Alumni Database, Explore for your career options & Register as you leave –
https://www.training.nih.gov/alumni/register

Italy Trek Info Session
2025-11-18 16:30 - 17:30 | Online
During spring break 2026 (March 28– April 4), the Smith Family Business Initiative will be leading a student trek to Italy to explore numerous significant family businesses, Italian history, and culture.
Join them on November 18th for an informational meeting to learn more. This trek is open to ALL Cornell University graduate and PhD students.
Why Family Business?
Family-owned businesses dominate the economic landscape in the United States, are critically important drivers of the economy and, by most estimates, make up 70-90% of all businesses globally. These organizations span the economic spectrum from start-up to the largest and often oldest businesses in the world. Given the statistics, regardless of your background or career trajectory, it’s not a question of if you will work with a family enterprise but when and in what capacity. Educating our students about the unique advantages and challenges faced by family firms provides a fundamental knowledge base and is one of the many distinctive ways Cornell prepares graduates for successful futures.
Why Italy?
In Italy there are estimated to be around 784,000 family businesses – more than 85% of the total number of businesses – constituting around 70% of all employment. Italian family businesses are also set apart by their longevity: of the world’s 100 oldest businesses, 15 are Italian and, of these, 5 – Fonderie Pontificie Marinelli (founded in 1000), Barone Ricasoli (1141), Barovier & Toso (1295), Torrini (1369) and Marchesi Antinori (1385) – are among the top ten oldest family businesses still active today. Source: http://www.aidaf.it/en/aidaf-3/1650-2/
We look forward to seeing you on November 18th!
Register Here to Attend
Campus Groups posting
**Please note that once you register, you will receive the Zoom link**

Research Communication Workshop
2026-02-10 14:00 - 16:00 | Biotechnology Building, G01, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
Date and time: Tuesday February 10 @2-4pm
At the end of this Research Communication Workshop you should:

Be able to introduce yourself in an engaging and memorable way.
Recognize and develop strategies to explain jargon or complex topics.
Develop skills and confidence to communicate with a variety of audiences on a regular basis.
Use different storytelling approaches to communicate your research.
Identify one or more outlets to communicate your research (e.g. podcast, social media).
Develop an approach to start your talk and engage your audience immediately.

Open to: Doctoral students and Postdoctoral Scholars in any discipline interested in improving their research presentation skills to a wide variety of audiences.
Facilitators: Cynthia Leifer and Susi Varvayanis
Location: Biotech Building G01
To register: Please fill out this Qualtrics link: https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4NrWzYy9hEe4tro

Springer Nature Series on Publishing
2026-02-19 08:00 - 17:00
Ask the Editor: Open Q&A on Submitting Your Article: Thursday, 19 March 2026 | 1 pm EDT Register here
Stress Free Publishing: Thursday, 26 March 2026 | 1pm EDT Register here
Do’s and Don’ts of Getting a Paper Published: Thursday, 2 April 2026 | 1 pm EDT Register here
Open Access Explained: Navigating the Author Journey: Thursday, 8 April 2026 | 1pm EDT Register here
Integrity Matters – Research Done Right: Wednesday, 22 April 2026 | 1pm EDT Register here
Using AI in Scientific Writing: Thursday, 30 April 2026 | 1pm EDT Register here
What Peer Reviewers Really Look For: Tuesday, 5 May 2026 | 1pm EDT Register here
Choosing the Right Journal: Tuesday, 12 May 2026 | 1pm EDT Register here
How to Promote you Research: Tuesday, 19 May 2026 | 1pm EDT Register here
These webinars will be recorded, and the recording will be made available to all registrants. Even if you cannot attend live, make sure to register to receive the recording.

GradFUTURES Forum Graduate Student Professional Development Conference
2026-03-23 09:00 - 2026-03-27 13:00 | Online
About the GradFUTURES Forum

On behalf of the Princeton University Graduate School, Cornell graduate students and postdocs are cordially invited to attend the virtual sessions of the 2026 GradFUTURES Forum Graduate Student Professional Development Conference to be held March 23-27. Founded in 2020, the GradFUTURES Forum is a week-long professional development conference that is FREE and OPEN to graduate students from other institutions across the country and around the world.
Featuring dozens of keynote speakers, skill-building workshops, career panels, the conference offers dozens of online programs that support graduate students’ and postdocs’ success and prepare them for diverse career pathways.
Please visit this webpage to view the schedule (click on each date) and register for virtual sessions. (https://gradfutures.princeton.edu/Forum/Virtual)
Highlighting a few online talks of value to GCC members (times in Eastern Time):

The Professional Development Advantage: Rodney Priestley and Eva Kubu, Princeton Graduate School
Understanding the changing PhD opportunity landscape: Matt Sigelman, Burning Glass Institute
Innovative Approaches for supporting International Graduate Students: Fanta Aw (NAFSA), Amy Nice (Institute for Progress, Former White House OSTP), Violet Buxton-Walsh (Institute for Progress) and Robin Catmur-Smith (International Student Resource Center)
Global Careers: Thriving As An International Scholar, Sonali Majumdar, Princeton Graduate School

Link to L.E.K. Consulting
2026-04-27 - 2026-04-29 | Online
This year’s Link to L.E.K. program, designed for Life Sciences–focused PhD, MD, and PharmD students. The program will take place online from April 27–29, 2026. Interested candidates should submit a resume online through the L.E.K. website and complete the required assessment before March 8, 2026 (link here).
About Link to L.E.K.
Link to L.E.K. is an immersive program for PhDs, MDs and PharmDs designed to provide participants with an in-depth view of life sciences strategy consulting and more specifically, the Life Sciences Specialist (LSS) role. This program will be held virtually and will feature opportunities to:

Learn more about L.E.K. as a firm and the type of work we do
Gain hands-on experience working through a simulated case with Life Sciences Consultants and present findings to senior management
Network with all levels of Life Sciences staﬀ

Participants will receive an accelerated invitation to final round interviews for 2027 Life Sciences Specialist roles.
Learn more and submit your application on the L.E.K. website.
Contact Lindsey Methia (Recruiting Manager) at li.methia@lek.com with any questions.
Lindsey Methia, U.S. Recruiting Manager
L.E.K. Consulting
75 State Street, 19th Floor, Boston, MA 02109
O: +1 617 289 9768
Li.Methia@lek.com | www.lek.com

Nurture Your Network
2026-04-30 14:00 - 15:30 | 102 Mann Library, 237 Mann Drive, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
Learn why and how to network, conduct informational interviews, and ask practical questions. Incorporate AI tools, a tracking system, and LinkedIn strategies to build reputation and reach.
Workshop outcomes:

Understand why and how to build a network
Leverage the power of LinkedIn to identify and communicate with professionals
Learn to manage a network, and track it with a “Digital Rolodex a/k/a Tres Anillos.”

Networking is a two-way street where you must invest time and energy to nurture and grow it. Being intentional about your interactions can mean the difference between opening and closing doors. You can build something invaluable if you are selective and curate who/what you want to learn more about through informational interviews. AI tools help synthesize information, identify related organizations, and map ideas. A network contributes to collaborative activities such as publishing, presenting, and partnering on projects. We learn about an industry or sector through informational interviews (an opportunity to gather information and share your pitch), do market research, and find areas to collaborate. A genuine connection can organically lead to anything and everything. Integrate Excel with AI to track activities.
Join our in-person only hands-on networking workshop! All disciplines welcome! REGISTER NOW
Event Details
Date and Time: April 30 @2-3:30pm in-person only
Campus Location: Mann 102
Facilitator: Alumna Melissa Reitkopp’85
Accommodations: We strive to make our events accessible to all community members. Individuals who would like to request accessibility accommodations should contact gradcareers@cornell.edu. We ask that requests be made at least one week in advance to help ensure they can be met.
About the speaker: Alumna Melissa Reitkopp’85 is a talent acquisition pro, career coach and community connector who has helped thousands of professionals across non-profit, commercial and government sectors grow their careers and build meaningful networks. She combines recruiter insights with practical tools to help people land jobs they love.
Brought to you through a collaboration with Cornell Alumni Affairs and the Graduate School Office of Professional Development’s Careers Beyond Academia

Science Advocacy Training
2026-05-01 16:00 - 17:00 | Plant Science 404
Shared by the Advancing Science and Policy (ASAP) graduate student run organization:
Want to leverage your role as a scientist to advocate for evidence-based policy, but not sure where to start? Join ASAP today, May 1st at 4 p.m. at 404 Plant Science, for a training hosted in collaboration with Charlotte Selton from American Physical Society (APS), designed for early-career scientists interested in science advocacy.
This interactive workshop will introduce how policy is shaped and the levers through which scientists can engage with that process, both as individuals and in groups. Participants will have the chance to discuss and practice advocacy tools in small groups and explore potential career paths in science policy.
Zoom option also available. Food, snacks, and drinks provided!
Other events, opportunities, and resources:
– DC trip for an Advocacy Day run by Careers Beyond Academia and the Cornell Federal Relations teams May 12-13, register by May 4th
– Stance on Science initiative to reach out to candidates for public office to ask them their positions on science policy issues and disseminate their stances to the voting public
– Partnership for Public Service’s Unraveling of Public Science Federal Harms Tracker resource
– SCIMaP Webinar: Understanding Impact Maps and the FY2027 White House Budget & Data Analysis on May 7 at noon ET
– Join the American Statistical Association (ASA) for a virtual hill day prep session on May 15 @ 1:30 p.m.
– Federation of American Scientists is looking for a Congressional Fellow to be placed within the office of a member of Congress
– Free courses available through the Public Health Communication Collaborative
– Civic Science Fellow role at the Center for Media Innovation and Social Impact at Boston University
– Natural Resources Defense Council is looking for a State Advocate
– Rita Allen Foundation is looking for a Program Events and Digital Engagement Manager
– Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is looking for an Office Coordinator

Doctoral Advocacy Trek to D.C.: Apply by May 4
2026-05-13
Practice public policy advocacy! Apply to travel to Washington, D.C. for Cornell Doctoral Student Advocacy Day on May 13, 2026.
Travel Dates: May 12 & 13
About the Cornell Doctoral Student Advocacy Day
On May 13, Cornell doctoral students are invited to engage in meetings with elected Members of Congress, Congressional staff, and current policy fellows. These meetings will be organized by representatives from the Cornell Office of Federal Relations. In preparation for Advocacy Day, there will be a virtual training led by representatives from the Cornell Office of Federal Relations to prepare participants for their Advocacy Day activities (date TBA). Students from any graduate field are eligible to participate in Advocacy Day.
Because we may only select up to eight doctoral students to participate in the Cornell Doctoral Student Advocacy Day, please do not apply unless you can make yourself available to travel to Washington D.C. from the morning of May 12 through the late evening of May 13 and fully participate in the program.
Register now
Prepare to apply
The application form will ask about your undergraduate education, funding sources for your education, who your Congressional representatives are (if not voting eligible, you can use your local address), a synopsis of your research as part of a short bio, what you hope to get out of the experience and how it can inform your career goals.
Sponsorship
Support for participation in the Cornell Doctoral Student Advocacy Day comes from the Graduate School Office of Career and Professional Development and the Cornell Office of Federal Relations. Travel and accommodations will be at no cost to selected participants.
Questions
Should you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact Susi Varvayanis, Executive Director of Careers Beyond Academia at gradcareers@cornell.edu.

Research Communication Workshop
2026-05-14 14:00 - 16:00 | 102 Mann Library, 237 Mann Drive, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
Join this interactive, in-person only workshop. PhD students and postdocs from all disciplines are welcome. Be prepared to discuss your own research!
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this workshop you should:
• Be able to introduce yourself in an engaging and memorable way
• Recognize and develop strategies to explain jargon or complex topics
• Develop skills and confidence to communicate with a variety of audiences
• Use different storytelling approaches to communicate your research
• Identify one or more outlets to communicate your research
• Develop an approach to start your talk and engage your audience immediately
REGISTER NOW
Facilitators:
Cynthia Leifer, Director Cornell Office of Postdoctoral Affairs
Susi Varvayanis, Executive Director of Careers Beyond Academia
Date and time: May 14 from 2:00-4pm
Campus location: will be sent to registrants’ Cornell email prior to the date-tentatively in Mann 102
Brought to you through a collaboration between the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs in the Research and Innovation Division and Careers Beyond Academia in the Office of Career and Professional Development in the Graduate School.

NIH Career Symposium
2026-05-18 - 2026-05-21
Registration for the NIH Career Symposium is open now! Current grad students and postdocs, join us May 18 – 21 to hear from and network with biomedical professionals in a broad range of biomedical careers!
Register here: https://lnkd.in/eeu7j2nH
What to expect:
✨ Panels: Hear from biomedical professionals in industry, academia, science communication, science policy, clinical settings, and more
✨ Networking: Connect with professionals across sectors
✨ Talks and workshops: Enhance job search and career development skills

Finding Your Research Voice workshop
2026-07-09 09:00 - 16:00, 2026-07-10 09:00 - 16:00
Two days July 9 & 10 (9am-4pm both days, must attend both)

Register by July 1
Complete the online registration form to hold a spot on the roster. To confirm a spot in the workshop, submit your video link as directed below in step 2; it will serve as your confirmation of attending both days of the workshop. Questions can be directed via email to: sv27@cornell.edu.
Location will be face-to-face in Clark Hall 294A on Thursday July 9 and Friday July 10. Sessions are only held in person and participants must commit to attending both full days. If you were to pay professionals for this kind of training after leaving Cornell, registration would be at least $750-$1,500. Thanks to sponsorship by Cornell Graduate School’s Careers Beyond Academia, the cost to you is nothing!
Location will be on campus, in Clark Hall 294A. We will break for lunch on your own, and will provide light afternoon snacks.
About the workshop

Learning to tell a compelling research story can have a significant impact on your career. It can make you stand out at professional conferences, pitch competitions, on the job market, or during an ideal networking opportunity. It is easy to tell a research story badly. We provide specific presentation ideas and field tested exercises that will help you improve your talk. Once you’ve learned how to create a dynamic live performance of your research story, you may come to enjoy presenting in public.
This workshop will intensively work your own research presentation and hone your engaging story through a core message. We incorporate theatrical/improv techniques and video feedback to improve your use of body, voice, gesture and to capture wording that resonates with your audience. These workshops have led to a published book that summarizes the exercises and serves as a step-by-step guide to Finding Your Research Voice – Storytelling and Theatre Skills for Bringing Your Presentation to Life. It is fully accessible through the Cornell Library System.

“There are faculty who give terrible talks, and some who make captivating, engaging talks. I want to be in the latter category. That’s why I signed up for this workshop.”–Benjamin Rosche, PhD student, Sociology”
This opportunity is targeted for PhD students in all disciplines, with priority given to those who are ready to present their research. Time: 9 am to 4 pm Thursday July 9 and Friday July 10, with an hour lunch break. You must attend both sessions. Due to the intensive, personalized, mentored interactions during the workshop, participation numbers are limited.
This two-day workshop is designed for any doctoral student in the STEM, social sciences, humanities and arts disciplines interested in an immersion to improve their research communication skills.
“We were an image-oriented species way before development of the written word. The way we include pictures in our presentations can determine if a story will bring us together.”–Itai Cohen, Professor, Physics
Learning outcomes for Finding Your Research Voice:
Creating a Core Message
Applying the Dramatic Arc
Connecting with Your Audience
Expressing Passion for Your Research
Finding a Great Beginning
Chaptering Your Story
Signaling the End
Improving Your Voice
Controlling Your Body Language
Incorporating Gesture Effectively
In advance of the workshop:

Right now, record your ~10 minute research talk draft and upload it to YouTube (if you have a previously recorded talk that’s fine, just the first 10 minutes will be viewed). Don’t worry about professional quality, it can be done informally on your computer with Zoom. Make sure the audio can be heard. Ideally your slides are visible and so are you as you speak. Your 10 minute talk should cover something you would present at a conference, perhaps in a longer format. An hour long talk is often comprised of three separate but linked 10 minute talks. Choose the research/scholarly/business idea that you are most passionate about as the subject for your talk. Make sure you do not disclose any proprietary information (hopefully you consider this with every talk).
Then send the video link before July 1 to confirm your attendance to Itai Cohen (itai.cohen@cornell.edu) and Susi Varvayanis (sv27@cornell.edu). Prior to the workshop we will review your talk, speak generically about what we see during the workshop, and offer you concrete tips for improvement individually. This is an essential way you will get the most out of this workshop! Please honor this deadline so we have sufficient time to review all submissions.
Later, draft a ~1 minute Elevator Pitch of your core research message to bring to the workshop. We will use your Elevator Pitch to hone your core message and to work on your performance skills. It should include who you are, what you do, what you’ve found, and why it is important. This is a short persuasive speech about you and your work. It should last no longer than an elevator ride (30 seconds to 2 minutes) and should be carefully crafted to maximize both information and interest during short encounters with important contacts. An elevator pitch is a 3-4 sentence summary of the main point of your talk. Briefly:

Identify the problem and why it is so important
Explain why this has not yet been solved
Explain how you will solve and why you are the person to do it

Facilitated by:
Itai Cohen, Professor of Physics
Cornell University
http://cohengroup.lassp.cornell.edu
itai.cohen@cornell.edu 617-304-2131

Susi Varvayanis, Executive Director
Careers Beyond Academia
Cornell University Graduate School
gradcareers@cornell.edu

Accessibility Requests:
We strive to make our events accessible to all community members. Individuals who would like to request accessibility accommodations should contact gradcareers@cornell.edu. We ask that requests be made sufficiently in advance to help ensure they can be met.
