phd professional development

THE ERDŐS INSTITUTE

Helping phds get and create jobs they love  at every stage of their career..

SPRING 2025 CAREER LAUNCH COHORT ENROLLMENT DEADLINE IS JANUARY 15, 2025

Photo taken by Stephen Takacs during the May 2019 Cőde boot camp.

Founded in 2017 , the Erdős Institute is a multi-university collaboration dedicated to helping PhDs secure fulfilling jobs at every stage of their career. To date, the Institute has supported over 4,000 graduate students, postdocs, and PhD alumni , providing career exploration, training, and placement services to a diverse community. ​

Member Profiles

Seeking ds, ml, ai, seeking quant research/finance, seeking software engineering, seeking quantum computing, seeking ux research, seeking prof/sci writing.

Our lifelong professional development program , created in partnership with our  PhD alumni and corporate partners , is structured around three key career stages:

Explore  – Discover diverse career paths and industries.

Launch – Gain the tools and networks needed to enter your chosen field.

Advance – Receive ongoing support to grow and excel in your career.

Programming is offered in cohorts , three times per year, and runs entirely on-line .  We have both pre-recorded and live lectures for our certificate programs to accommodate participant schedules. For the 2025 Calendar Year we have the following cohorts: ​ ​

Spring 2025

January 22nd - May 2nd

Enrollment Deadline: January 15th

Summer 2025

May 7th - August 15th

Enrollment Deadline: May 1st

September 10th - December 12th

Enrollment Deadline: September 3rd

​ Please familiarize yourself with our Programs & Services.  If you have any questions about:

Becoming a Member

Becoming an Academic Sponsor

Becoming a Corporate Partner  

Feel free to Contact Us .

PROGRAMS & SERVICES

Career development programs and placement services designed in collaboration with our phd alumni and corporate partners ., career development.

Career Exploration Seminars

Weekly seminar series connecting you to PhD alumni peers working outside of academia. Learn from their collective experiences and get exposed to a diverse range of career opportunities.

Boot Camps & Mini-Courses

Developed in collaboration with our PhD alumni and corporate partners, our market driven curriculum is designed to prepare you for in-demand careers in industry and entrepreneurship. 

Career Coaching & Support

Our career coaches and PhD alumni mentors are here to help you navigate next steps on your professional journey. We offer support with goal-setting, identifying and leveraging key strengths and experiences, and can even help you manage job offers and prepare for salary and compensation negotiations.

INDUSTRY PLACEMENT

Corporate connections.

We work with our vast network of corporate members and PhD alumni to connect you directly with lead recruiters and hiring managers looking to fill open positions.

Job Board & Postings

Receive regular updates on open positions, both for internships and full-time roles, from companies and alumni in our network.

Application & Interview Prep

Workshops and Study Groups to help you prepare for applying to internships and full-time positions in any industry. We cover everything from application materials, networking, and behavioral interviews to paired coding, white boarding, and case studies.

BECOME A MEMBER

Explore  your opportunities, launch  your career, & then continue to advance in your profession..

for all academics

Just exploring?

Create a FREE account at the Erdős Institute to initiate your profile page and get access to our:  

Career Exploration Seminars ​

Seminar Recordings  

Industry Job Board &  

Preparatory Materials

Discover what opportunities exist and what jobs interest you.

for your first cohort

Ready to get started? ​

Apply to one of our cohorts to get access to our full suite of Career Launch programs and services.

In addition to our Career Exploration Seminars, Recordings, and Job Board, you'll be able to register for all Career Launch  boot camps, workshops, and mini-courses, and you'll have access to our slack community, all of our technical and behavioral interview resources, career coaches, and we'll even help you with direct introductions to employers and alumni in our network.

for each Advance level certificate

Want to keep growing?

Take additional Advance level courses to complete new portfolio projects and continue to upskill and advance in your profession.

Our Advance level certificate programs are designed for those who have already mastered our prerequisite  Career Launch  program content.  Therefore, participation in our Advance programs requires either having completed a prior Career Launch cohort or passing our pre-program assessment.

* Our Career Launch Cohorts are FREE for Graduate Students & Postdocs from sponsoring academic institutions & FREE for Alumni Club Members.

** Alumni Club Members enjoy a 50% discount off all Advance level certificate programs

Join our ALUMNI CLUB for discounts & additional benefits

Alumni club.

Want to stay connected & enjoy additional benefits? ​

Once you have completed a Career Launch Cohort, you may join our Alumni Club for continued FREE access to all of our Career Launch programs and services.  Gain exclusive access to alumni-led programs and discounts for advanced courses.

Alumni Club members will also have an opportunity to earn credit and stipends by staying engaged with future cohorts and supporting our community through instructorships, mentorships, and connecting current participants to new career opportunities. Must have participated in a prior Erdős program to be eligible.

Enrollment for Spring 2025 is now open!

Academic sponsors.

We thank the following departments who have chosen to financially support the professional development of their graduate students, postdocs, and/or graduate alumni through the Erdős Institute .

University of Michigan

Mathematics

Duke University

Louisiana State University

Physics & Astronomy

Indiana University Bloomington

Mathematics, Physics

University of Virginia

University of Oregon

Florida State University

University of Illinois Chicago

Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science (MSCS)

University of Washington

Applied Mathematics

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Stony Brook University

We also thank those individual faculty & staff from the following institutions who have chosen to financially support a subset of their graduate students & postdocs through the Erdős Institute .

HIRING & STRATEGIC PARTNERS

We thank the following organizations who have established Hiring and/or Strategic Partnerships with us for Employee Recruitment and Upskilling. 

CoverMyMeds

NewAtlantis Labs

MOTER Technologies

Dyneti Technologies

TESTIMONIALS

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Graduate Student Professional Development Guide

Boise state university.

Center for Career Exploration

Professional development for ph.d. students.

• Information For...
• Information for Graduate Students

Important Tips for Professional Development

No matter if you are  planning to pursue an academic research or tenure track position within academia or considering choosing a career beyond academia, these simple steps below represent good practices that will focus and enhance your career development efforts in ways that are beneficial for academic and non-academic job search candidates alike.

Stay open to possibilities and avoid career blind spots. It is completely OK and normal for Ph.D. students to change their mind about career choices at any stage. Stay open to the realities and possibilities of potential career paths by allowing yourself to consider what you want. The career exploration resources listed below can help you maintain a perspective on your skills, interests, and priorities.

• Think of yourself as a professional and treat your time at Brown accordingly. In the eyes of a potential employer, your graduate position is a job, and your education and graduate activities are job experience . Through every course, committee, and project you are developing and demonstrating important career skills. Trying to understand what these skills are in terms that are broadly applicable can pay enormous dividends in the long run. Ask yourself where your strengths and interests lie – you may lean more toward teaching/instruction, writing, research, service and community building, or any combination of interests and skills. This sense of self-awareness can guide and enhance your career development during your graduate studies.  
• Invest some time in service, and in developing skills, interests, and professional relationships beyond your courses and, if possible, beyond your department. Committee and service work shows that you are an engaged and active member of your community, and that demonstrates experience as a leader and/or team member – desirable assets on the job market . Hosting conferences, events or symposia develops skills in communication, planning, organization, and marketing. Whatever your interests are – management, writing, mentorship, community engagement, advocacy, the list goes on and on –  you will find countless opportunities to expand your professional experience throughout your studies; be open to them and pursue them strategically.

On-Campus Resources for Professional Development

Graduate school professional development programs, center for digital scholarship's doctoral certificate program in digital humanities, center for language studies (cls), 21st century phd series, initiative to maximize student development (imsd), brown innovation fellows, nelson technology fellows program, sheridan center, swearer center, off-campus resources for professional development, massachusetts biotechnology council.

Professional Development

Start your professional development today.

No matter what your career plans are, your graduate school experience must encompass more than just coursework, research, presentations, and publications. The Graduate School provides  programs , resources, and  events  to help you with every step along the way—from identifying potential career paths, to developing skills to compete for them, to managing your career. These opportunities will help prepare you for success in academia, business, entrepreneurship, government, and nonprofits. Professional development is not one workshop or one course; it is something you do throughout your time at Duke. So get started now.

See why professional development is crucial for graduate students, and what professional development opportunities are available at The Graduate School.

Professional Development at The Graduate School ...

Comes in many forms.

One-time events, workshop series, semester-long deep dives, peer-to-peer mentoring, formal coursework, or certificate programs — pick the opportunities and resources that suit your schedule and needs.

Builds Core Competencies

We help you develop in six key areas: teaching and mentoring, communication, leadership, self-awareness, professional adaptability, and professionalism and scholarly integrity.

Starts Early, Doesn't Stop

Like research, professional development should occur throughout your time at Duke, so we plan our opportunities in two-year cycles to address your needs throughout graduate school.

Professional Development Offerings

For: Ph.D. students

The Bass Instructional Fellowship program supports high-quality teaching experiences for Ph.D. students where normal means of funding are unavailable. It also helps students become more knowledgeable in digital teaching and learning. | More Info

The Certificate in College Teaching program prepares you to teach in college and formally documents this professional development to make you more competitive when applying for positions. | More Info

For: Master's and Ph.D. students, postdocs

This intensive eight-week program for Graduate School students and postdocs is designed to prepare you to be a competent, confident, and effective leader at Duke and beyond. | More Info

For: Master's students

Each semester, The Graduate School offers several workshops specifically designed for students in the school’s research master’s programs as part of the Professional Development Series. | More Info

For: All Graduate School students, faculty, and staff

Mentoring is vital to graduate students’ success, and The Graduate School is committed to cultivating a culture of mentoring in graduate education at Duke. Check out our collection of mentoring advice, resources, and toolkit. | More Info

For: Ph.D. students and postdocs

This yearlong experience for Ph.D. students and postdocs prepares you for the multiple roles you may be asked to assume as future faculty members in a variety of academic institutions. | More Info

For: Master's and Ph.D. students

Events in this series are designed to broaden Ph.D. and master's students’ career perspectives and develop competencies in communication, self-awareness, professional adaptability, leadership, and professionalism. | More Info

Responsible Conduct of Research training is a formal requirement for every master’s and Ph.D. student enrolled in The Graduate School. It ensures that every graduate student is aware of academic standards and well-qualified to address ethical challenges in teaching or scholarly research. | More Info

For: All Duke community members

This series of 30-minute virtual conversations features alumni reflecting on the role that their Duke education played in their careers, facilitated by faculty and current students. | More Info

The Graduate School collaborates closely with Duke Learning Innovation and other units across campus to offer workshops, consulting, and support for TA training across the university to complement the training that graduate student TAs receive from their departments and programs. | More Info

For: Master's and Ph.D. students, postdocs, faculty, staff

I nstructional D evelopment for E xcellence A nd S uccess is an annual workshop series for Duke graduate students, postdocs, faculty, and staff. Invited speakers will discuss topics relevant to classroom teaching, dealing with students, or faculty life and career paths. | More Info

The Graduate School offers writing support for students in partnership with the Thompson Writing Program and English for International Students. Resources include academic courses, a dedicated writing space, individual writing consultations, and additional support for international students. There are also online resources. | More Info

Professional Development Overview

A quick look at The Graduate School's professional development offerings.

Professional Development Grant

Graduate departments/programs and students may apply for up to $2,000 to develop programming and resources.

Duke OPTIONS

This online tool helps Duke Ph.D. students create a professional development roadmap for their time in graduate school.

Explore Career Paths

Career statistics.

Annually updated data on the career paths of alumni, their employers, and their locations for each of The Graduate School's degree programs.

Alumni Profiles

Check out our 100-plus (and growing) interviews with Graduate School alumni about their jobs, their career paths, and how graduate school helped them prepare.

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Stay Up to Date

See the professional development calendar .

Subscribing to the professional development listserv (gradprofdev).

Follow @dukegradschool on social media

Some of Our Partners

• Duke Career Center
• Office of Postdoctoral Services
• Thompson Writing Program
• Duke Libraries
• Duke Learning Innovation
• Office of Research Support
• Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG)

Wayne State University

Graduate school graduate school, [draft] professional development.

The WSU Graduate School hosts a wide variety of events that consult experts to share their insights and prompt discussions on trends and issues within graduate education and beyond. Prospects, students, and staff will gain insight in how to advance their careers, achieve work-life balance, and develop lasting professional relationships. 

PhD Resources

Professional Development & Postdoctoral Affairs aims to e nsure that every doctoral student at Boston University has an inclusive training experience, furthering their development as successful and thriving professionals. P DPA is consistently working to expand our offerings and resources available to doctoral students. Find support programs and ways to connect with our office below.

For an up-to-date list of resources and opportunities for PhDs, follow us on social media or subscribe to our Doctoral Digest newsletter .

Professional & Academic Resources

All of our career and professional development resources are organized into learning pathways in PhD Progression . For resources on job documents, networking, and more, visit the Pathways page and select one of our Career Development pathways.

PhD Progression & Skillsmatch

PhD Progression is an innovative, asynchronous online training program that provides BU doctoral students with modules (badges) to support their career and professional development throughout their doctoral journey. PDPA also hosts regular, synchronous learning communities as a supplement to the program’s asynchronous learning.

Skillsmatch is a skill inventorying tool that can aid BU doctoral students by identifying their existing skills, suggesting compatible careers to explore, and offering personalized PhD Progression badge recommendations to address skill gaps.

Workshops & Events

PDPA offers a variety of workshops, panels, and other events to guide doctoral students in their career development. These events are organized throughout the academic year to facilitate networking opportunities for doctoral students and foster their personal and professional growth.

PhD Writing Support

PDPA’s various writing support programs foster cross-disciplinary community to assist doctoral students in setting realistic goals and making steady progress towards their writing objectives. We offer a number of writing programs throughout the year, including the Dissertation Writing Group, Accountability Partners, and the Dissertation Writing Intensive during the Winter semester.

Summer Internships

Sponsored internship opportunities play a crucial role in BU PhD students’ career and professional development, refining not only their discipline-specific technical skills and research acumen but also imparting invaluable practical knowledge. To learn more about PDPA-sponsored summer internships, as well as other internship opportunities at BU, visit our Summer Internships page .

PhD Office Hours

PDPA hosts monthly office hours with members of our team to provide doctoral students with one-on-one advice and counseling related to PhD life and career exploration. To pre-register for office hours or set up an appointment, email Sasha Goldman at [email protected] .

Vitamin PhD

PDPA’s  Vitamin PhD is a podcast produced at Boston University for anyone who is pursuing a doctorate, has a doctorate, or is supporting others on their doctoral journey. The podcast delivers career narratives and skills know-how, and insightful interviews with doctorate holders in various fields through six-episode capsule seasons hosted by current doctoral students at BU.

Funding Resources

There are a variety of internal and external funding resources available to doctoral students at BU including grants, fellowships, and internship opportunities to support doctoral student research, travel, and scholarship.

For a comprehensive list of funding and fellowship opportunities, check out our PhD Progression Finding Funding badge .

Professional Development Grants

The Office of the Associate Provost for Graduate Affairs offers professional development grants to support doctoral students’ scholarly work and preparation for a wide variety of academic and non-academic careers. PDPA recognizes that external opportunities often arise that have the potential to significantly benefit students’ professional growth. The Professional Development Grant program was established to provide financial support for such opportunities.

Teaching Resources

The BU Center for Teaching & Learning and Digital Learning & Innovation offer a number of resources and training opportunities for doctoral students seeking to prepare themselves for the classroom.

Health & Wellness Resources

The Graduate Education website offers a wide range of health and wellness resources for doctoral students, including information on Student Health Services, the BU Student Wellbeing initiative, and even tips for living in Boston and finding community at BU.

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Professional Development for PhD Students

Certain professional skills including communication, leadership, teamwork, and project management are valued by employers across a wide range of sectors. While many institutions offer professional development workshops specifically aimed at helping graduate students develop these skills, you can also learn them through the course of your degree. Here are some of the major skill groups and how to work on them.

Communication Skills

• Present at conferences - Conferences are a great way to hone your presentation skills and practice answering questions on the spot. Poster presentations also help you practice your oral communication skills on a one-on-one level.
• Join an outreach group - Most of the communications skills you develop in grad school are aimed at communicating with an academic audience, but working in scientific outreach gives you the opportunity to learn how to talk to a non-technical audience. Knowing how to explain complex concepts in a simple way is a valuable skill.
• Present a seminar paper - If you are in a PhD program with coursework, you will likely have to present a paper in your seminars each semester. Unlike when you present at a conference, a seminar paper doesn’t usually have accompanying visuals so your writing must be very clear.
• Take a writing course - Many universities offer writing courses specifically for graduate students which can benefit those whose program doesn’t have a strong writing component.
• Write a research proposal or grant application - Not only will this be good practice for a future career in academia, it also teaches you to write in a very specific way. A research proposal or grant application is different from a paper. You have to include an overview of the topic and connect your research to broader problems in the discipline while keeping in mind that the reader is not always an expert in the topic.
• Publish a paper- In some fields you are expected to have multiple publications by the end of your PhD while in others even one publication will help you stand out on the job market. In either case, the peer review and revision process will improve your writing immensely.
• Teach- Don’t underestimate how much teaching will improve your oral and written communication skills. Engaging teachers are able to communicate information in new, creative ways. If there is no formal teaching component to your degree, ask if you can be a teaching assistant for your supervisor or another professor in the department.

Academic Skills

• Write your own syllabus - It’s good practice to make your own syllabus for the courses or sections that you teach. Not only will it make your expectations clearer for your students, it will also help you on the job market. Sample syllabi are often required when applying for faculty positions.
• Take a pedagogy class- Some departments have mandatory classes about teaching theory and strategies. If your institution doesn’t offer any courses or workshops, you can read about pedagogy or talk to professors in your department known for their stellar teaching.
• Develop a teaching philosophy - As you learn more about teaching, start to develop your own teaching philosophy. Consider how you teach (strategies, techniques etc.) and why you teach this way. This will make you a more confident teacher and give you a leg up on job applications, which often require a teaching philosophy statement.
• Grade- Grading is an often bemoaned part of teaching, but it is also a useful transferable skill. Developing a grading rubric helps you figure out what your standards for excellent work are and apply them.
• Give feedback - Whether it’s written on a paper or discussed in person during office hours, learn to communicate feedback in a way that presents clear steps for improvement.
• Find a mentor - Having a mentor of your own gives you an insight into the mentee perspective, not to mention a great role model for when you become a mentor yourself. Your mentor can also help you improve various academic skills such as teaching and academic writing.

Leadership and Management

• Join a team - As much of academic work is done individually, make an effort to take part in a collaborative project that will give you experience with team dynamics. Better yet, incorporate group work and group projects into your teaching. Knowing how to manage group activities, establish expectations, resolve conflicts and assess performance are important managerial skills.
• Departmental leadership - There are few opportunities to develop leadership skill in grad school, but one of the easiest ways is to join your department’s graduate student association. Another is to join a conference organizing committee.
• Project management - The entire PhD process is an exercise in project management. You are learning how to develop a project, plan it out, and work through setbacks. If your research is collaborative there’s the added element of delegation and accountability.
• Conflict resolution - No one really likes to deal with conflict, especially at work. Many graduate student professional development programs offer workshops on conflict resolution where you can learn diffusion techniques. If your university doesn’t offer workshops, you can learn about conflict resolution from your supervisor or mentor.
• Become a mentor - Being a mentor helps you learn how to motivate and inspire someone, which are important leadership skills.

Professionalism  

• Ethics- If you teach or do experiments involving people or animals, you will have to undergo some type of ethics training.
• Promote inclusion and diversity - A good teacher/supervisor understands that their students’ experiences and perspectives might be different from their own. Educate yourself about the issues that underrepresented groups in academia face and learn how you can help mitigate them. Seek our resources to promote diversity in your teaching
• Get a mentor- A mentor can help you achieve your professional and personal goals. As someone in a more senior position, they can share valuable insider knowledge and insights with you about the profession. Your mentor can also facilitate important networking opportunities.
• Network - Many PhD students make the mistake of thinking that networking is only necessary in the business world, but connections can be incredibly beneficial in the academic world as well. Your network could be future colleagues, supervisors, or collaborators. Conferences, guest lectures, and informational interviews are easy ways for PhD students to start networking .
• Build your personal brand - Social media accounts help you increase your online presence and get your name out there. As a PhD student, you should set up professional accounts on ResearchGate , Academia.edu , and LinkedIn . Twitter is also a very useful social media platform for academics.

Developing these skill will give you the tools to find meaningful work after graduation.

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