2026 Ph.D. Connections Career Conference View Other Sessions

During Ph.D. Connections, participants will be able to learn from industry experts about an array of careers in an interactive and supportive environment. The goals of Ph.D. Connections are to enable students and postdocs to:

  • Increase Awareness: Discover careers available to Ph.D. holders in a variety of industries and sectors.
  • Develop Skills: Learn about skills and key competencies important in different industries.
  • Network Effectively: Develop strategies and connections to explore careers and foster lifelong networking practice.

Ph.D. Connections is co-sponsored by the University Career Center, Rackham Graduate School, and the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies at the University of Michigan Medical School.

Registration Instructions:

Please ensure that you have selected all the sessions that interest you before submitting your registration.

Use the sections below to register for various portions of the conference:

  • Virtual workshops
  • Networking round-tables
  • Networking lunch
  • Keynote address


Career Compass: Discovering Your Professional Purpose

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Livestream Available (Visible After Registration)
Emily Sferra Kapela, M.A.

Choosing a career path after graduate school can feel overwhelming—there are so many possibilities, and it’s hard to know where to start. If you’ve ever felt uncertain about what comes next, this workshop will help you cut through the noise and discover what truly matters to you. You will define your own “Career Compass”—composed of your life needs, career skills, and mission statement—that can help you focus your career exploration and job search strategies. The self-awareness developed through the exercises in this workshop can help you clarify career fields, work environments, and a lifestyle that are the best match for you.


Goals

  • Understand the purpose of self-assessment within the career development process

  • Identify and articulate your values, skills, life needs, and inspirations

  • Utilize the career compass framework to guide career exploration and evaluate career options

  • Embrace that your values, interests, and needs change over time and that career exploration and evaluation is a life-long process

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