Showcasing Graduate Voices and Scholarship

Research Café brings together the entire graduate student community of Rutgers University-New Brunswick/Piscataway campus to strengthen scholarly literacy and interdisciplinary research communication by providing a platform for emerging researchers to connect, share their in-progress research or scholarship, and benefit from peer feedback in a friendly and low-stakes setting. 

Research Café is a monthly, one-hour event to occur at rotating locations across the Rutgers New Brunswick/Piscataway campus (a Zoom option will be available, too). Each event will feature:

1. Presentations (10-12 min. each) from 2-3 graduate students from across disciplinary areas ranging from engineering and biology to history and anthropology. The presentations in each cafe will be matched based on common themes and topics.
2. A Q&A dialogue with peers and attendees.

Graduate students in all disciplinary areas are invited to present. Previous Research Cafe presenters have covered topics ranging from feminist literature in the 17th century to antiretroviral therapy, so all research is welcome! We especially encourage research that explores topics related to equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice.

Research Café is a key component of Grad CareerCraft: Tools for Diverse Professional Futures, the School of Graduate Studies’ initiative to support graduate students in developing versatile skills for a range of careers. By fostering interdisciplinary communication, public speaking confidence, and constructive peer engagement, Research Café directly contributes to students’ professional development and research communication skills, critical competencies valued both within and beyond academia. As part of the broader Grad CareerCraft ecosystem, Research Café helps students practice translating complex ideas for varied audiences, network across fields, and build a stronger sense of scholarly community, all in a welcoming, low-stakes environment.