As we begin the 2026–27 academic year, SGS is pleased to share our Fall 2026 Grad CareerCraft workshops. These sessions are designed to help graduate students build skills that support their work now and prepare them for what comes next.
This fall’s workshops will offer practical guidance on topics that matter across disciplines, from teaching and communicating research to networking and career exploration. They are meant to complement students’ academic training, help them think more broadly about their options, and give them useful tools they can carry into a wide range of careers.
From PhD to Careers in Tech, AI & Analytics
Tuesday, October 6 | 6:00 PM | Zoom
Register: https://forms.gle/gk5Hri7E1UAV9jzs9
What can a Ph.D. lead to beyond academia?
Join us for a special Grad CareerCraft Alumni Panel on Tuesday, October 6 at 6:00 PM featuring three Rutgers Ph.D. alumni who have built careers across technology, AI, data science, user experience, and financial services.
Our panelists bring very different Ph.D. backgrounds and career journeys:
Carlos Diuk, Ph.D. in Computer Science spent 13 years at Meta, where much of his work focused on computational social science and the impact of social media on society.
Manasa Rath, Ph.D. in Communication, Media & Information Science worked with technology start-ups during graduate school, later entered banking, and is now a User Experience Strategist at Vanguard, where she builds digital AI experiences for clients.
Min Zhao, Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology and M.S. in Computer Science has held data science and analytics leadership roles at Discover Financial Services and American Express and is now Senior Manager of Omni Analytics at Discount Tire.
They will share how they moved from graduate school into industry, how they translated their doctoral training into new career paths, and what they have learned along the way.
There will also be plenty of time for questions and conversation.
Whether you are actively exploring careers beyond academia or simply curious about where a graduate degree can take you, we hope you will join us!
Facilitators: Jamie Kim, Elizabeth Siaw
This interactive session will help you consider and design your teaching philosophy and diversity statements which are often an integral component of the job application for faculty positions. Please bring a copy of your own drafts (or a general idea of what you might write about) to share during small group discussions as well as a laptop or pen and paper. This session is part of the Improving Your Teaching Skills certificate program for graduate students and postdocs.
Audience: Graduate students and/or postdocs (register through the link below or under “Website” at the bottom of this page)
Understanding U.S. Higher Education: Systems, Structures, and Career Pathways Wednesday Oct 7, 2026 12:00 PM ET
Registration: https://forms.gle/wPKhm7ixZNFoieGQ8
The U.S. higher education system is incredibly diverse, with many types of institutions that shape faculty work, research expectations, and hiring in different ways. This session will help you make sense of that landscape, enabling you to plan your next career steps with confidence.
What We’ll Cover
1. Institution types: Community colleges, regional public universities, research-intensive institutions (R1/R2), liberal arts colleges, and for-profit institutions, and how each serves its students and communities.
2. How they operate: The essentials of governance, accreditation, and funding, and how these structures influence mission and priorities.
3. Career implications: How teaching, research, tenure and promotion, and service vary across institution types, and what that means for your CV, portfolio, and job search strategy.
You’ll Leave With
1. A clear visual map of U.S. higher education and how different institutions compare.
2. A short self-assessment to help you identify which environments best fit your values, strengths, and long-term goals.
For questions, email Ramazan Güngör at rg835@rutgers.edu
Thursday 10/15/2025, 12:00pm-1:00pm / Zoom Workshop + Q&A
Register: https://forms.gle/YTjfuazt1wFn7aCt7
Effective communication is essential for graduate students to share their research with diverse audiences, from academic peers to potential employers in non-academic sectors and the broader community. In this interactive workshop, Dr. Ramazan Güngör, Assistant Dean at the School of Graduate Studies (SGS), and Dr. Wilson Ng, Senior Program Coordinator at Rutgers Learning Centers, will provide practical strategies and techniques to enhance your ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively.
Join us to gain confidence in presenting your research, foster meaningful scholarly discussions, and amplify your professional impact, whether your career path leads inside or outside academia.
Workshop Goals:
- Develop effective strategies for clear research communication.
- Learn techniques for engaging diverse, interdisciplinary, and professional audiences.
- Understand the role of communication skills in non-academic career development.
- Access university resources to support ongoing skill development.
Who Should Attend: Graduate students across disciplines who aim to communicate their research effectively to academic and non-academic audiences, and who are interested in exploring and preparing for careers beyond academia.
October 23, 12-1pm – AI and Academic Integrity – REGISTER
Facilitators: Gill Woody, Amirtha Giridhar
As AI tools are becoming more widely available, both educators and students are faced with new challenges about the ethical use of these tools. What is your role as a TA when faced with these challenges? This workshop will look at how to navigate academic integrity violations and potential misuses, as well as how to distinguish between acceptable support with this technology and academic dishonesty. This session is part of the Improving Your Teaching Skills certificate program for graduate students and postdocs, and it also fulfills Competencies 2 of the Teaching and Generative AI Pathways Program.
Audience: Graduate students and/or postdocs
October 20, 12:00 PM-1: PM Interactive Zoom Workshop with Q&A
Register: https://forms.gle/iHii8WVP6yikDjuJ9
This hands-on workshop is designed to help doctoral students effectively use LinkedIn to explore and secure non-academic career opportunities. Participants will learn how to optimize their profiles to showcase transferable skills and research expertise, identify potential career paths, and build professional connections. The session will cover strategies for networking with alumni, engaging with industry professionals, and leveraging LinkedIn tools such as job search features and recommendations. By the end of the workshop, attendees will have actionable insights to make their LinkedIn presence a powerful tool in their non-academic job search.
October 27, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Interactive Zoom Workshop with Q&A
Register: https://forms.gle/ksTEmf5y5MWREm2S9
This talk introduces graduate students in the humanities and social sciences to the value, process, and possibilities of pursuing internships during their doctoral studies. Drawing on early content from a new Internship Toolkit currently in development on Canvas, the session will help participants understand how internships can enhance their scholarly and professional development, expand their career options, and support meaningful public engagement.
The talk will explore identifying and aligning internship opportunities with personal values, skills, and goals, using tools like ImaginePhD. It will also cover where and how to find internships beyond traditional job boards, as well as strategies for securing competitive, paid positions. Whether you’re exploring non-academic career paths or seeking to amplify the impact of your research, this session will provide practical guidance and inspiration.
November 10, 12:00 PM-1:PM Interactive Zoom Workshop with Q&A
Register: https://forms.gle/sms22QbDuwskzV8m9
As a doctoral student in the humanities and social sciences, your skills and insights are highly valued across a wide range of sectors beyond academia. This workshop is designed specifically for humanities PhD students who are exploring careers outside traditional academic roles. Leveraging the ImaginePhD platform, a free online career exploration and planning tool tailored for the humanities and social sciences, we will help you navigate these new professional landscapes with confidence.
During this session, you'll:
Assess Your Skills, Interests, and Values: Use the ImaginePhD platform to identify and articulate the unique skills and values you bring to the table, helping you to pinpoint career options that align with your strengths and passions.
Explore Career Paths Beyond Academia: Gain insights into various industries and roles where your humanities background can thrive, from cultural institutions and government agencies to non-profits, publishing, consulting, and more.
Create Self-Defined Goals: Develop personalized career goals that reflect your aspirations and the impact you wish to make in your chosen field.
Map Out Next Steps: Craft a strategic plan for your career development, outlining actionable steps that will lead you towards success in sectors beyond academia.
Join us for this practical and inspiring workshop, where you'll gain the tools and strategies to navigate your career journey with clarity and purpose and make the most of the opportunities that Rutgers has to offer.