Career Initiation Program
Autumn Quarter 2020
The due date for applications is Friday, August 28th, 5 pm
Incoming student application is located HERE.
Current student application is located HERE.
The Career Initiation Program, piloting in Autumn Quarter 2020, was conceived by recent graduate students as “the program that they wish they had” when they arrived at grad school. The program will introduce topics relevant to professional and career development, including the variety of communication styles in the workplace, strategies for conflict resolution, an overview of PhD-level careers, and a primer on how to build professional networks. Incoming PhD students will attend a combination of in-person seminars and, on alternate weeks, one-on-one peer-led discussions, facilitated by current PhD students in comparable fields of study. During the peer-led discussions, each mentee will meet with a senior graduate student (virtually or in-person, determined by individuals) to discuss content of the preceding week’s seminar.
Pre-program: Prior to the start of the program, all participants (incoming and current students) will be provided access to the DiSC communication assessment, a virtual personalized learning experience that teaches participants to understand themselves and others, while learning to appreciate different priorities, preferences, and values each individual brings to the workplace. With personalized insights and actionable strategies, participants learn how to adapt to the style of others, ultimately improving engagement and collaboration. The inclusion of the DiSC assessment in the Career Initiation Program is intended to provide each individual with baseline personal information that will inform their participation in seminars and peer-led discussions.
Seminar 1: Communication and Conflict Resolution (week of October 5 – 9)
Leads: Briana Konnick, PhD, Associate Director Graduate Career Development, UChicagoGRAD
Abby Stayart, PhD, Director, UChicago myCHOICE
From discussing the latest hiccup of your experiment, broaching the topic of career aspirations, managing the FPLC calendar, to dealing with the person who (frequently) leaves reagents open in the supplies room, there are a variety of instances during your academic experience where you may have challenging conversations with faculty mentors and your lab peers. From, there are plenty of opportunities to practice conflict management in your day-to-day life. This session will provide some strategies for how to navigate and de-escalate those interpersonal hot buttons and approach difficult conversations.
Seminar 2: Facing Imposter Fears (week of October 19 – 23)
Lead: Julie Edwards, MHA, Director of Health Promotion, UChicago Student Wellness
Have you ever felt as though you are an imposter in what you are doing? If so, you are not alone! It is estimated that 70% of people will experience this feeling at least once in their lifetime. This session will discuss what imposter fears are and strategies you can consider to face the fears you may experience. It will also share campus resources available to support you.
Seminar 3: Landscape of PhD Careers (Monday November 2nd 5:30 – 6:30 pm)
Lead: Briana Konnick, PhD, Associate Director Graduate Career Development, UChicagoGRAD
The value of a PhD reaches far beyond academic research. However, for many PhD students and postdocs, it’s challenging to grasp the breadth of career pathways. Where do people really end up? During this session, nationwide data regarding career outcomes of PhD-trained scientists will be shared. In addition, we will present a structured framework for understanding the wide variety of careers –both inside and outside of academia – for which your PhD training will prepare you.
Seminar 4: Building Professional Networks (week of November 16 – 20)
Leads: Nick Asby, 3rd year graduate student, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Anna Goddi, 3rd year graduate student, Committee on Molecular Metabolism and Nutrition, Biological Sciences Division
You’re just starting grad school, so what value could professional networking possibly hold for you already? This session will be led by current grad students whose use of professional networks has ultimately affected their thesis projects and career trajectories. The session will end with break-out room opportunities to meet each other and the rest of the mentor team.