This intentionally-designed series blends OACD programming with top-rated virtual content to give advanced doctoral students and postdoctoral trainees at Pitt access to an expanded set of sessions covering a variety of career development skills, career options, and key transitional steps that will help you identify, prepare for, and succeed in landing the next step of your career (see the career-specific stage and the career transition stage of the ADAPT model for more information).
List of acronyms: BtP: Beyond the Professoriate; HSLS: Health Sciences Library System; NPA: National Postdoctoral Association; OACD: Office of Academic Career Development.
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August 14, 2025Unlocking Global Career Options with Interstride *RECORDING AVAILABLE*
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Time: 10-10:30 am ET
Location: Virtual
Presenter: Karen Chow, PhDDescription: This session will introduce students to Interstride, a resource that helps international students find jobs and internships in the US and around the world. We will walk through how to use the platform to find jobs based on work authorization and visa type, see an employer's record of H-1B sponsorship, connect with other international students with similar career interests outside your school, and webinars on job search strategies and immigration pathways in the US.
Speaker Bio: Karen Chow (PhD) is the Graduate Career and Professional Development Manager. She is responsible for overseeing a comprehensive suite of programs focused on graduate professional development, with a particular emphasis on supporting doctoral students in their career pathways. This includes leading the Career Design Workshop, managing Interstride for specialized career exploration support for both international and domestic students, and overseeing Graduate Career Foundations, which helps students build essential career-readiness competencies for success beyond graduation. Prior to the University of Pittsburgh, Karen served as a learning scientist at Duolingo where her contributions to the development and successful launch of a new music learning app earned recognition in TIME’s “Best Inventions of 2023.” She has also co-sponsored and led various professional development programs as part of University of Pennsylvania's Data Driven Discovery Initiative. Karen holds a PhD in Cognitive Psychology and an MA in Psychology from the University at Buffalo.
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August 27, 2025OACD: Certification in STEM Teaching: Pitt-CIRTL *RECORDING AVAILABLE*
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Time: 4-5pm ET
Location: Virtual
Presenter: April Dukes, PhDDescription: Are you interested in pursuing a career in academia or enhancing your teaching, mentoring and advising skills? This session provides information about the free on-campus and online programming and certification program designed to help develop the skills needed for a professional career in STEM. The University of Pittsburgh is one of over 40 higher education institutions that partner with the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) to provide professional development to STEM graduate students, postdocs, and new faculty. Attend this session to learn about the three levels of certification in STEM teaching and determine what you need to do to advance your career in academia!
Presenter Bio: April Dukes, PhD, is the Institutional Co-leader for Pitt-CIRTL at the University of Pittsburgh and the Faculty and Future Faculty Program Director for the Engineering Educational Research Center (EERC) in the Swanson School of Engineering. April collaborates on the national educational research initiative, the Aspire Alliance’s National Change, to support systemic changes towards excellence and inclusivity in higher education. April's research and teaching goals are to improve the learning, development, and experiences of undergraduate and graduate students during their academic and professional pursuits.
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September 3, 2025OACD: Find Your Dream Career: Discovering Your Path with PerL
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Time: 9-9:30am ET
Location: Virtual
Presenter: Laura Miller, PhDDescription: Learn how to unlock your career potential with the impactful 2-month PerL Program! Are you ready to transform your career path? Learn about the dynamic, cohort-based program tailored for Pitt trainees! Over two exciting months, you'll discover clarity and confidence in your career goals with just 30 minutes of engaging group meetings each week.
Connect with motivated peers, dive into insightful discussions, and uncover actionable steps that propel your future! Enjoy self-paced activities that allow you to explore your aspirations deeply, all within a supportive community dedicated to your success.
Don’t let uncertainty hold you back! Seize this opportunity to unlock the doors to your future and turn your career dreams into reality. Register today for the info session and step boldly into the next chapter of your professional life!
Presenter Bio: Laura Miller, PhD, PC, received her PhD in Medical Neurobiology from Indiana University School of Medicine and is the Associate Director of the Office of Academic Career Development (OACD) for the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences. She is responsible for the strategic planning, development, marketing, execution, and assessment of career development programs, workshops, and special events for biomedical scientists, clinical researchers, and trainees across all six schools of the health sciences to develop leaders and drive career excellence. In this role, she developed the Personal Assessments to Launch, or PerL, program, an easy, step-wise process to support Pitt trainees in identifying their ideal career that was piloted in 2024 and is now available to all Pitt trainees in the health sciences.
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September 3, 2025BtP: How to Use the PhD Training Platform in Your Job Search
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Provided by Beyond the Professoriate
Time: 12-1pm ET
Location: VirtualDescription:
So what can you do today to set yourself up for a successful job search? In this webinar, you’ll learn how to make the most out of the PhD Career Training Platform. Access to this platform means you don’t have to navigate the job search alone—you have access to a research-informed toolkit designed specifically to support graduate students and postdocs in both academic and nonacademic job searches.
Now more than ever, PhDs work in a variety of career fields, leveraging their education and training to build meaningful careers after their degree or postdoc. But making the transition takes time — most job searches take 6+ months to explore career options, build a network, and apply strategically to postings.
By the end of this session, you’ll be able to:- Confidently navigate the PhD Career Training Platform to support your academic or nonacademic job search.
- Apply proven strategies to explore your career options.
- Understand the timeline of a job search and take practical steps to get started today.
To register, log into Beyond the Professoriate, selecting "through your institution" (Pitt), and then REGISTER HERE. Advanced registration is required.
Please also be sure to mark “member@beyondprof.com” as a safe sender to receive our email reminders.
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September 17, 2025BtP: Is a Faculty Job Right for You?
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Provided by Beyond the Professoriate
Time: 12-1pm ET
Location: VirtualDescription: Most doctoral students and postdocs pursue a PhD with the goal of becoming a university professor. But today’s academic job market is highly competitive and a tenure-track role may not be the right fit for everyone. As your values, life circumstances, and career goals evolve, it’s important to reassess what career paths align with your personal and professional needs. In today’s creative economy, PhDs are thriving in a wide range of roles — both within and beyond academia.
So how do you decide if a faculty job is right for you? How do you make a confident, informed decision about what career path to pursue?This webinar is designed for doctoral students, PhDs, and postdocs from all academic disciplines who are wondering:
- How do I know if pursuing a faculty position is the right choice for me?
- How long should I stay on the academic job market?
- How do I evaluate whether my goals and values align with a faculty career?
- What are my options if I decide not to pursue a tenure-track path?
To register, log into Beyond the Professoriate, selecting "through your institution" (Pitt), and then REGISTER HERE. Advanced registration is required.
Please also be sure to mark “member@beyondprof.com” as a safe sender to receive our email reminders.
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September 23, 2025NPA: Smart Skills: Science Advocacy for Early-Career Scientists
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Time: 3-4 pm
Location: Virtual
Presenters: Ceci Nakamura, Senior Organizer, Union of Concerned Scientists and Pallavi Phartiyal, PhD, Vice President, Programs, Policy & Advocacy, Union of Concerned ScientistsRegister Here after logging into the NPA site.
If you are not yet a member, join by going to this page and sign up as an "Affiliate Individual Member", selecting the option, either postdocs or graduate students, that matches your career stage.
Description: Speakers from the Union of Concerned Scientists will discuss how independent science and analysis can and should inform public policy to secure equitable and impactful policy outcomes for people and the planet. They’ll share their experience in engaging scientists, engineers, public health professionals, social scientists in science advocacy.
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October 1, 2025BtP: How to Explore Career Options in Industry
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Provided by Beyond the Professoriate
Time: 12-1pm ET
Location: VirtualDescription: PhDs are driven to build careers that offer impact, purpose, and intellectual challenge—they want careers where they can apply their skills and continue growing. And in today’s creative economy, there are countless opportunities for smart researchers outside academia. But how do you find a career path in industry that’s the right fit for YOU?
Join the Beyond Prof team for this webinar where you’ll learn how to begin identifying career pathways that align with your interest, values, and strengths. We’ll discuss how you can turn career exploration into a manageable and empowering process.
This virtual session is designed for doctoral students, PhDs, and postdocs from all academic disciplines who are wondering:
- How do I find a career that aligns with my unique backgrounds, skills, and goals?
- How do I evaluate if a job or field is a good fit for me?
- Once I’ve identified career options, where do I begin my job search?
To register, log into Beyond the Professoriate, selecting "through your institution" (Pitt), and then REGISTER HERE. Advanced registration is required.
Please also be sure to mark “member@beyondprof.com” as a safe sender to receive our email reminders.
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October 7, 2025OACD: Launching an Academic Career: Insider Information to Help You Succeed *RECORDING AVAILABLE*
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Time: 3-4:30 pm ET
Location: Virtual
Moderator: Harry Hochheiser, PhDPanelists: Isin Cakir, PhD, Cristina Espinosa-Diez, PhD, Bianca Shieu, PhD, RN
Description: Are you interested in obtaining a faculty position in academia? Attend this session to hear from Pitt faculty about how to successfully launch an academic career. Learn about the academic job search, gain tips on how to successfully navigate this process and how to give a winning job talk, learn what the hiring committee looks at, and more. This session will draw upon the experiences of Pitt faculty as well as someone who was at Pitt and hired elsewhere to explore the challenges and opportunities associated with the academic job search.
Moderator Bio: Harry Hochheiser, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Biomedical Informatics, the Intelligent Systems Program, and the Clinical and Translational Science Institute. Trained as a Computer Scientist, he has an active research program spanning many areas of translational and public health informatics. He is currently funded by grants from the NIGMS, NCI, NINDS, NLM, and industry partners. Dr. Hochheiser has been director of the University of Pittsburgh Biomedical Informatics Training Program since 2017. He is also co-author of the leading textbook _Research Methods in Human-Computer Interaction (2e, 2017).
Panelist Bios:
Isin Cakir, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, at the Department of Medicine. His work primarily focuses on the central regulation of energy metabolism and leptin receptor signaling. He received his PhD from Brown University, and completed his postdoctoral trainings at Harvard Medical School and Vanderbilt. Dr. Cakir was a research investigator and assistant research scientist at the University of Michigan before he moved to Pittsburgh in 2024. Dr. Cakir’s group aims to understand the obesity and weight loss-induced changes in the hypothalamic circuits regulating body weight and food intake, and to develop novel small molecule drugs to reduce obesity. His team also studies exercise physiology at the interface of metabolism and circadian regulation.
Cristina Espinosa-Diez, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at Wayne State University, jointly appointed in the Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics and the Department of Physiology. Originally from Madrid, Spain, she earned her PhD in Molecular Biology and Biomedicine from the Center of Molecular Biology Severo Ochoa (CBMSO), where she trained under Dr. Santiago Lamas. Her doctoral research explored the role of microRNAs in endothelial cell dysfunction, with a particular focus on oxidative stress responses.
Following her PhD, Dr. Espinosa-Diez pursued postdoctoral training at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) in Portland, Oregon, under the guidance of Dr. Sud Anand, where she investigated non-coding RNA responses within the tumor microenvironment. She later expanded her expertise in vascular epigenetics as a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Delphine Gomez’s lab at the Vascular Medicine Institute (VMI) at the University of Pittsburgh. There, her research focused on the epigenetic regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell plasticity, examining how histone modifications, DNA methylation, and non-coding RNAs shape cellular identity and morphology.
At Wayne State, Dr. Espinosa-Diez leads a growing research program focused on the impact of cancer therapies and metabolic diseases on the epigenetic landscape of vascular cells, with an emphasis on long non-coding RNAs and their roles in pathological microvascular remodeling, supported by an American Heart Association Career Development Award. Multiple competitive awards, including the Stephanie Watts Career Development Award from the American Heart Association Council on Hypertension and the Histochemical Society Early Career Investigator Award, have also recognized her lab’s research.
In addition to her research, Dr. Espinosa-Diez is dedicated to education and mentorship, guiding a diverse group of trainees from high school to postdoctoral levels. She integrates research into graduate teaching through courses on angiogenesis, vascular physiology, and scientific communication.
Outside of the lab, Cristina enjoys coffee, rock music, and science fiction series.
Bianca Shieu, PhD, RN, a 2024 NIH/NIA Butler-Williams Scholar, is an assistant professor at the UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing. She earned her PhD from the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Nursing as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholar and completed her postdoctoral training at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, where she was a Magee-Womens Research Institute Postdoctoral Fellow. Dr. Shieu has extensive expertise working with older adults, including those with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD), in both nursing home and community settings. Her research focuses on improving the quality of life and care in long-term care systems. Her current work emphasizes non-pharmacologic interventions, such as auricular acupressure, to improve pain management for individuals living with ADRD and their caregivers.
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October 15, 2025BtP: How to Build a LinkedIn Profile for an Industry Job Search
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Provided by Beyond the Professoriate
Time: 12-1pm ET
Location: VirtualDescription: LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform—and an essential tool for PhDs exploring careers beyond academia. If you’re new to LinkedIn or unsure how to use it effectively in an industry job search, this webinar is for you.
You’ll learn how to create a compelling profile that clearly communicates who you are, where you’re headed, and the value you bring to nonacademic employers. We’ll also walk through how to tailor your profile as you move through different stages of your career exploration and job search.
Register for this webinar with the Beyond Prof team to gain the tools and confidence to present yourself professionally on LinkedIn.This virtual session is designed for doctoral students, PhDs, and postdocs from all academic disciplines who are wondering:
- Why is LinkedIn important for my nonacademic job search?
- How do I write an effective “About” section that highlights my skills and goals?
- How should my LinkedIn profile evolve throughout the job search process?
To register, log into Beyond the Professoriate, selecting "through your institution" (Pitt), and then REGISTER HERE. Advanced registration is required.
Please also be sure to mark “member@beyondprof.com” as a safe sender to receive our email reminders.
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October 28, 2025NPA: Smart Skills: Supporting the Next Generation of Aspiring Biomedical Entrepreneurs Through the NIH
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Time: 3-4pm ET
Location: Virtual
Presenters: Eddie Billingslea, PhD, Small Business Strategy Coordinator, National Institute of General Medical Sciences; Stephanie Davis, PhD, Small Business Program Manager, National Hearth, Lung and Blood Institute; Saroj Regmi, PhD, Program Director, National Cancer Institute; Adam Sorkin, PE, Small Business Policy Manager, NIH SEED Office; and Hannah Peterson, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, Aperture BioRegister Here after logging into the NPA site.
If you are not yet a member, join by going to this page and sign up as an "Affiliate Individual Member", selecting the option, either postdocs or graduate students, that matches your career stage.
Description: Over the past decade, greater numbers of early-stage researchers have sought to apply their skills towards careers in the private sector. As a result, there is a growing need for training programs that educate scientists on the intersection of business development, R&D, and regulatory approval. This session will feature several program officers from the National Institutes of Health Small Business (SBIR/STTR) Programs who will highlight training programs and resources that can equip academic researchers at all career stages with the skills they need to commercialize their lab’s discoveries and advance new biomedical technologies to the marketplace. Additionally, attendees will hear from a postdoctoral scholar who leveraged SBIR/STTR funding from the NIH to launch her career as a biomedical entrepreneur.
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November 5, 2025BtP: Overqualified or Underqualified? Which Is It and What to Do About It?
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Provided by Beyond the Professoriate
Time: 12-1pm ET
Location: VirtualDescription: PhDs are often told by employers that they are overqualified for positions. But they're also told that they don't have enough experience. So, which is it?
Join the Beyond Prof team for this webinar on how to break down the overqualified vs. underqualified conundrum. Learn concrete strategies for overcoming this obstacle in your job search and how to communicate your value to employers.This webinar is uniquely designed for doctoral students, PhDs, and postdocs from all academic disciplines who are wondering:
- How should I describe my skills and experience to nonacademic employers?
- How do I communicate the value I bring to nonacademic positions?
- How can I prove I’m a qualified candidate when I do not have direct industry experience?
To register, log into Beyond the Professoriate, selecting "through your institution" (Pitt), and then REGISTER HERE. Advanced registration is required.
Please also be sure to mark “member@beyondprof.com” as a safe sender to receive our email reminders.
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November 19, 2025BtP: How to Job Search During Uncertain Times
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Provided by Beyond the Professoriate
Time: 12-1pm ET
Location: VirtualDescription: The funding landscape for graduate students and PhDs in the US has changed dramatically over the last year. As policy changes continue to impact the future of higher education and academic research, many students and postdocs are feeling uncertain about their future in academia.
In this webinar, the Beyond Prof team will lay out a four-step framework to help graduate students and postdocs navigate career planning during times of change. Whether you’re exploring nonacademic career options or just looking for stability, this session will provide clarity and actionable steps to help you move forward with confidence.This webinar is uniquely designed for doctoral students, PhDs, and postdocs from all academic disciplines who are wondering:
- How can I assess my current situation in higher education?
- How can I explore my nonacademic career options?
- Why do I need to build a community to help me during these uncertain times?
To register, log into Beyond the Professoriate, selecting "through your institution" (Pitt), and then REGISTER HERE. Advanced registration is required.
Please also be sure to mark “member@beyondprof.com” as a safe sender to receive our email reminders.
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December 4, 2025OACD: SCIENCE Career Symposium
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Time: 3:30-5pm ET
Location: Virtual
Description: This annual career symposium is designed to enhance the professional development of postdoctoral fellows and graduate students by providing you with direct access to PhD professionals who have successfully made the transition to exciting careers covering a range of employment settings and job sectors. The virtual format, which uses a series of breakout rooms, provides you the opportunity to meet alumni in a small group setting so you can learn about diverse career paths and ask your own questions.
Feedback from past symposia: "It was so valuable being able to engage with post-PhD professionals who spoke candidly about their decisions in choosing their path/career."
"This session provided real advice from those in the field currently."
"Now I know which topics I need to focus on to improve the development of my science career."
"There was a lot of valuable information, especially how a career in academia is no longer the only or the most succesful career path for PhD holders."
"It was a great opportunity to interact with experts!"
"I didn't know much about other job opportunities outside of academia and industry so I appreciated having other people (like science policy) there."
"It was really valuable hearing how the panel leaders prepared themselves for their given careers."
"This program provides you the opportunity to ask specific questions related to your personal doubts about a science career."
"I think it is a good program for PhD students who are unsure of whether to do a postdoc next or make a leap outside of academia."
"It was valuable learning about the different career options and how to get there." -
December 8-11, 2025BtP: How to Decide Between An Academic and Nonacademic Career Webinar Series
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Provided by Beyond the Professoriate
Time: 12-12:45pm ET
Location: VirtualDescription: PhDs work wherever smart people are needed. In today’s creative economy, a faculty career isn’t the only option for PhDs who are seeking engaging and rewarding work. PhDs work in every part of the economy – industry, nonprofits, higher education, and government.
But what career pathway will be right for YOU?
This special workshop series is designed to walk doctoral students, PhDs and postdocs through a series of exercises to help them evaluate career options and identify next steps in building their career either as faculty or beyond the professoriate.- December 8 - Introduction to Optimal Career Pathway/How to decide
- December 9 - How to identify your values
- December 10 - How to identify your most marketable skills
- December 11 - How to build your network using on campus resources
Who should attend: This series is uniquely designed for doctoral students, PhDs, and postdocs from all academic disciplines who are wondering:
- What other career options are available to PhDs in my discipline?
- How to identify career pathways that are right for me?
- What can I do with my PhD?
- How do I build a community to help me navigate my job search?
To register, log into Beyond the Professoriate, selecting "through your institution" (Pitt), and then REGISTER HERE. Advanced registration is required.
Please also be sure to mark “member@beyondprof.com” as a safe sender to receive our email reminders.
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December 16, 2025NPA: SmartSkills: Strategies for Navigating a Competitive Job Market
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Time: 3-4pm ET
Location: Virtual
Presenter: Heather Dillon, Career and Professional Development Program Manager, Office of Postdoctoral Scholar Affairs, University of California, San DiegoRegister Here after logging into the NPA site.
If you are not yet a member, join by going to this page and sign up as an "Affiliate Individual Member", selecting the option, either postdocs or graduate students, that matches your career stage.
Description: Finding and securing a position requires more than just submitting applications in any job market. When there is a lot of competition for available openings, it is even more crucial to understand your core needs, communicate your value effectively, and approach your search strategically. In this session, we will review strategies for creating a targeted yet flexible job search that can help you to successfully identify and connect with opportunities that meet your key priorities and evolve with you personally and professionally.