Hardik Yagnik’s journey into doctoral study was not part of an original plan. When he first came to the United States, his goal was straightforward: complete a master’s degree and deepen his technical knowledge in civil engineering. But that plan evolved.
By Anna Tassou
SGS Doctoral Students Receive Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowships
Career Pathways Research Brief No. 3
Published May 2026
Beyond Academia Is Not a Backup Plan: What the Research Says About PhD Careers
675 Hoes Lane West
Piscataway, NJ 08854
Dr. David Julius will deliver the 2026 Morris-Inouye Lecture at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in the Main Lecture Hall of Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway. His lecture is titled “Gut Feelings: Probing mechanisms of visceral pain.” A reception will follow.
Dr. Julius shared the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Ardem Patapoutian for work that transformed our understanding of how the nervous system senses temperature and mechanical stimuli. He discovered the ion channel that detects both the “hot” ingredient in chili peppers and painfully elevated temperature. His laboratory continues to investigate the structure, regulation, and tissue distribution of sensory ion channels.
In addition to the Nobel, Dr. Julius’ other honors including a Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences and the Kavli Prize in Neuroscience, which he also shared with Dr. Patapoutian. He is professor and chair of the Department of Physiology at UCSF, where he holds the Morris Herzstein Chair in Molecular Biology and Medicine. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, and the AAAS.
Applying for academic jobs and making the transition from grad student to postdoc and then to faculty member requires advanced planning and strategy. Come hear from faculty at Research Level 1 (R1) to get their advice and feedback on how to prepare and approach a faculty position.
Topics covered will include: How to select a postdoc that will eventually help you land an academic career; Discussing with your postdoc PI the project that you will take with you and getting them to help you advance your career; What other things you should be doing during your postdoc to be ready to apply for faculty jobs; Applying for K99/R00 grants; Deciding R1 vs PUI; Finding academic jobs to apply to; Preparing the research statement; Preparing the teaching statements; Preparing the job talk; Preparing the chalk talk; Preparing for the interview itself and tips; Negotiating offers; Setting up the lab; Filling your lab with students, postdocs and techs; Teaching for the first time and preparing classes; Service to the university; Preparing for tenure and expectations.
Click here to see slides.
Applying for academic jobs and making the transition from grad student to postdoc and then to faculty member requires advanced planning and strategy. Come hear from faculty who serve at Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs) to get their advice and feedback on how to prepare and approach a faculty position.
Topics covered will include: How to select a postdoc that will eventually help you land an academic career; Discussing with your postdoc PI the project that you will take with you and getting them to help you advance your career; What other things you should be doing during your postdoc to be ready to apply for faculty jobs; Deciding R1 vs PUI; Finding academic jobs to apply to; Preparing the research statement; Preparing the teaching statements; Preparing the job talk; Preparing the teaching demo; Preparing for the interview itself and tips; Negotiating offers; Setting up the lab; Filling your lab with students, postdocs and techs; Teaching for the first time and preparing classes; Service to the university; Preparing for tenure and expectations.
Click here to see slides.
Hear from recent iJOBS PhD alum who work at the bench or manage research programs in pharma and biotech to learn how they got their first job and what are the differences between academia and industry bench research. There will be PhD level people who are involved in research at large pharmaceutical companies like Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck and Abbvie as well as mid-sized and smaller biotech companies
Click here to see contact information.
Pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) information form the scientific basis of modern pharmacotherapy and it is critical for all scientists to understand these concepts Dan Gordin, PhD, a regulatory affairs consultant, will give an overview of this topic so when you are interviewing with a company, you can tell them that you are familiar with PK/PD and will be able to follow presentations from your colleagues.
Click here to see slides.
Your PhD can take you in many different directions, some of which you may have not even considered! Learn what you can be with a PhD by coming to meet (in-person encouraged) a panel of Rutgers graduate school alumni to learn how they each took skills obtained in their PhD program and apply them in science-related careers including: medical writing, publishing, consulting, medical affairs, tech transfer/licensing among other options.
Click here to speakers contact information.