2026 Doctoral Career Pathways Conference

The 9th Annual Doctoral Career Pathways Conference will increase your knowledge, curiosity, and excitement about how to get from here, wherever you are in your doctoral training, to your career beyond Maryland.

This event brings together alumni, current doctoral students, and postdocs to: learn about the wide variety of career paths available to those with doctoral degrees; gain knowledge about the work alumni do and the skills necessary for success in their chosen career path and industry; allow alumni to speak about opportunities at their organization; and create an opportunity for networking and advice sharing among all attendees.

Register to Attend Apply to be an Alumni Panelist

Pre-Conference Events

Looking to expand your career knowledge beyond the conference day? Join us for our virtual career panels!
Guests from outside of the UMD community are welcome to register for most of the sessions listed below, check each event for details.

1:00pm - 2:15pm | Virtual Panel

Expand your knowledge about career paths that utilize the research, data collection, and analysis skills that you have developed during your doctoral education/postdoctoral training. Alumni will share their experiences transitioning into non-faculty positions, plus tips for framing your research background as an asset to a variety of organizations, from Research and Development departments to nonprofit and advocacy groups.

Panelists:

Sergio García Mejía, PhD'25 (Civil & Environmental Engineering): Director of Programs & Science
Jehnae Linkins, PhD'25 (Mechanical Engineering): HEROES Fellow, QEM Network
Sidra Montgomery, PhD'18 (Sociology): Principal Researcher at A-G Associates
David Prina, PhD '17 (Government and Politics): Research Science at Peraton

Guests from outside of the UMD community are welcome to register to attend.

1:00pm - 2:15pm | Virtual Panel

Are you interested in building bridges between scholars and the broader community? Talk with alumni who translate research for policymakers and the public; who advocate for the value of science, the humanities, and the arts; and who strengthen connections between researchers and the people they serve. Whether you are interested in impacting science policy, working in public humanities and museum education, or helping scholars share the best version of their research by working in academic publishing, this panel will offer you the opportunity to hear how alumni have built on the communication skills they developed at UMD.

Panelists:

Will Howell, PhD'20 (Communication): Communications Director at Oregon Youth Authority
Hannah Jardine, PhD'19 (TLPL): Director of Faculty Development, George Washington University
Danielle Koonce, PhD'24 (Sociology): Postdoctoral Researcher at UNC Charlotte
Heather Platter, PhD'13 (Behavioral and Community Health): Assistant Professor at UVA, School of Medicine
Elizabeth Robinson, PhD'23 (Modern French Studies): Adjunct Lecturer at Georgetown University

Guests from outside of the UMD community are welcome to register to attend.

11:00am - 12:00pm | Virtual Panel

We know that the period leading up to graduation can be an exciting time. You have dedicated years of hard work to earning your degree! However, graduation also involves change and requires careful planning. This session reviews Optional Practical Training (OPT), a temporary work authorization that allows F-1 students to work in the United States. We also recognize that options in your home country or other nations might offer great opportunities.

Facilitators: Sarah Kim and Yetnayet Lemma, ISSS

This session is for current UMD community members only.

3:30pm - 4:45pm | Virtual Panel

Navigating the job exploration and job search process can be overwhelming, and sometimes daunting, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Hear from alumni who faced familiar challenges in the search but were able to find a light along the pathway.

Panelists:

Analía Gómez Vidal, PhD'20 (Government and Politics): Founder & CEO at AGV Services LLC
Daisy Le, PhD'16 (Behavioral & Community Health): Associate Professor of Health Disparities & Oncology at George Washington University
Amanda Woodward, PhD'20 (Psychology): Assistant Teaching Professor at University of Minnesota
Tori Justin, PhD'24, (Kinesiology): Postdoctoral Associate, Cornell University

Guests from outside of the UMD community are welcome to register to attend.

Event Schedule

Friday, April 17 | Stamp Student Union

9:30am - 10:00am: Check-In and Breakfast

10:00am - 10:30am: Opening Remarks by Dr. Blessing Enekwe, Program Director, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, and Dr. Stephen Roth, Associate Provost and Dean, The Graduate School.

10:30am - 11:45am: Two Concurrent Panel Discussions

Discover the wide range of paths within the tech and industry sectors. Connect with UMD alumni in software, data science, engineering, biotech, consulting, and more. Gain valuable insights on in-demand skills and how to prepare for these exciting fields.

Panelists:

Kailyn Cage, PhD'17 (Mechanical Engineering): TPM, Google
Sarah HelfinSiegel, PhD'11 (Neuroscience and Cognitive Sciences): Senior Principal Data Scientist at Upside
Deborah Hemingway, PhD'18 (Biophysics): Managing Partner at Ecphora Capital
Katherine Joyner, PhD/Postdoc'21 (Bioengineering): Senior Scientist, AstraZeneca
Anand Ramanathan, PhD'11 (Chemical Physics): Decision Scientist at Meta

Are you passionate about social issues? Do you believe your research can serve a larger cause and improve the lives of others? Learn more about how UMD (post)doctoral alumni live out their interests and values as they use their academic skills to advocate for change.

Panelists:

Denise Bellows Kumar, PhD'15 (Behavioral and Community Health): Senior Director at Everstead Strategies and Founder & Principal Consultant – Independent Consultant
Yuhan "Douglas" Rao, PhD'19 (Geographical Sciences): Senior Research Scholar, North Carolina State University
Eva Sharma, PhD'12 (Behavioral and Community Health): Principal Research Associate at Westat
Junaed Siddiqui, PhD'23 (Behavioral and Community Health): Senior Manager at Stout Risius Ross

11:45am - 12:30pm: Professional Development Activities

Stand out with a professional photo (Jimenez): Update your online profiles and applications with a high-quality headshot. Activity led by Ilya Albert, Marketing & Communications Coordinator, University Career Center & the President's Promise.
Optimize your resume for success: Get expert feedback to ensure your resume highlights your unique value.
One-on-one Alumni Chats: Schedule a 10 minute coffee chat with alumni.

12:30pm - 1:30pm: Lunch & Networking with Alumni

1:30pm - 2:45pm: Two Concurrent Panel Discussions

PhDs are employed across all levels of government. Doctorates also seek to engage with issues surrounding health and environment. Learn more from these alumni about the process for landing a job in government, and the culture of public service employment.

Panelists:

Sam Bloom, PhD'18 (Mathematics): Research Scientist, CNA
Luc Hebou, PhD'10 (Bioengineering): Environmental Protection Specialist at USDA APHIS
Yun-Ting Kao, PhD'17 (Biochemistry and Cell Biology): Senior Scientist at Immunomic Therapeutics
Simona Patange, PhD'20 (Biophysics): Staff Scientist at National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Jeffrey Taylor, PhD'13 (Government & Politics): Principal Research Associate at Westat

Explore the diverse world of higher education! Learn about the different types of academic institutions, administrative roles, faculty positions at community colleges and liberal arts colleges, and careers in K-12 education.

Panelists:

Lisa Carney, PhD'20 (Spanish Language & Literature): Archivist at Kensington Town Archives
Gwendolyn Francavillo, PhD'09 (Public Health): Associate Professor, Public Health, at Walden University
Sergio García Mejía, PhD'25 (Civil & Environmental Engineering): Director of Programs & Science
Jehnae Linkins, PhD'25 (Mechanical Engineering): HEROES Fellow, QEM Network
Christina Sessoms, PhD'22 (American Studies): Program Manager at Youth Guidance and Adjunct Faculty Member at UMBC

2:45pm - 3:30pm: Ice Cream Social & Closing Remarks

Questions?

Please contact conference chair Dr. Blessing Enekwe (blessing@umd.edu), Program Director of Postdoctoral Affairs for more information.