SGS Alumni Share Career Insights in Tech, AI, and Analytics
Three SGS doctoral alumni returned to share their career journeys and offer practical advice to graduate students exploring opportunities beyond academia.
What does a career after a Ph.D. look like? For three Rutgers alumni, the answer has included opportunities in technology, artificial intelligence, user experience, data science, and business analytics.
On October 6, 2026, the Rutgers School of Graduate Studies welcomed Carlos Diuk, Manasa Rath, and Min Zhao for a virtual Grad CareerCraft alumni panel, “From PhD to Careers in Tech, AI & Analytics.” The alumni shared how they moved from graduate school into industry, what they learned along the way, and how their doctoral training continues to shape their work.
Although their careers have taken different directions, the three alumni agreed on an important point, the skills developed during doctoral study can be valuable in many professional settings, including fields and industries that graduate students may not initially consider.
Three Alumni, Three Career Journeys
Carlos Diuk, who earned his doctoral degree in computer science from Rutgers in 2008, began his career with postdoctoral research in neuroscience at Princeton University. He later joined Facebook, now Meta, where he spent nearly 13 years on a research team that brought together doctoral graduates from computer science, economics, political science, and other disciplines. His work has included data science, machine learning, computational social science, and user research.
Diuk explained that one of the most useful aspects of his doctoral training was learning to approach difficult, open-ended problems independently. At Meta, he was often expected to identify important questions and determine how to investigate them, even when there was no established approach.
Manasa Rath, who earned her doctoral degree in communication, information, and media from the Rutgers School of Communication and Information in 2021, now works as a user experience strategist at Vanguard, where she helps develop digital experiences involving artificial intelligence.
During her time at Rutgers, Rath explored coursework beyond her primary discipline, including computer science, cognitive science, and business. She also worked with technology startups, gaining practical experience that helped her prepare for a career in industry.
Rath encouraged students to think carefully about how they present their academic experiences to employers. She emphasized the importance of communicating the value and impact of research, developing a professional portfolio, and building relationships with people working in fields of interest.
Min Zhao, who earned a doctoral degree in cognitive psychology and a master's degree in computer science from Rutgers, has built a career in analytics and business strategy. She previously held positions at Discover Financial Services and American Express and now serves as senior manager of Omni Analytics at Discount Tire.
Zhao credited her interdisciplinary graduate education with helping her move between industries and professional responsibilities. Her training in psychology, research methods, and computer science provided a foundation for analyzing complex problems, working with data, and collaborating with colleagues from different backgrounds.
She encouraged graduate students to explore learning opportunities across Rutgers, including seminars and activities outside their departments. Understanding how people in other disciplines approach problems, she explained, can help students recognize applications for their own expertise.
Turning Doctoral Training Into Career Opportunities
Throughout the discussion, the panelists emphasized that doctoral training develops skills that extend beyond a particular research area. Critical thinking, independent learning, problem-solving, project management, and communication can all contribute to professional success.
The alumni also acknowledged that moving into industry requires adjustments. Academic researchers often focus on producing new knowledge, while industry professionals must also consider business priorities, practical applications, timelines, and measurable results.
For graduate students preparing for careers outside academia, the panelists offered several suggestions:
Seek practical experience: Internships, consulting projects, and collaborations with organizations can provide useful exposure to professional environments.
Learn to explain your work: Practice describing research and its significance to people who may not share your academic background.
Build professional relationships: Connect with Rutgers alumni, attend conferences, and speak with professionals in industries of interest.
Explore opportunities beyond your discipline: Take advantage of courses, seminars, and other experiences that introduce new perspectives and skills.
Study job descriptions: Identify skills employers seek and learn how to describe relevant academic experience using language familiar to industry professionals.
During the question-and-answer portion, students also asked how they could prepare for industry careers without having completed an internship. The panelists encouraged them to recognize the professional skills they already use in graduate school and begin building connections with employers and alumni, even if a formal internship is not possible.
Staying Connected Through Grad CareerCraft
The conversation was also a reminder of the value of Rutgers' alumni community. By sharing their experiences, Diuk, Rath, and Zhao gave current graduate students an opportunity to learn from professionals who once faced many of the same questions about their futures.
Their stories illustrated that careers do not always follow a straight path. An academic interest can lead to an unexpected opportunity, skills developed in one field can prove useful in another, and professional growth often involves continuing to learn long after graduation.
The School of Graduate Studies thanks Diuk, Rath, and Zhao for generously sharing their time, experiences, and advice with Rutgers graduate students.
Through Grad CareerCraft, the School of Graduate Studies continues to connect graduate students with alumni and professionals while offering workshops, career conversations, and other opportunities to explore and prepare for a wide range of career paths.