The GradFUTURES Forum is FREE and OPEN to the broader graduate community at Princeton and beyond. The theme this year is “Meeting the Moment with Transformative Professional Development,” featuring a combination of in-person and virtual sessions, keynote speakers, interactive workshops, career panels, and networking receptions designed to help empower graduate students with the clarity, competencies, connections, and confidence they need now and in the future. 

Science Communication Takes Center Stage on Monday

The Forum kicks off with a dedicated Science Communication Day on Monday, March 24, featuring panels and workshops on effectively communicating complex scientific concepts to non-technical audiences. Assistant Dean Sonali Majumdar collaborated with an array of faculty and staff experts, including the new Science Communications Graduate Student Organization and the Council for Science & Technology, to plan a lineup of sessions and talks that will provide inspiration and practical takeaways so you can more effectively communicate about your research. Highlights include sessions on creative communications, storytelling in science, and multimedia presentations. National thought leaders in the field of science communication, such as Erin Barker, co-founder of Story Collider, will join panels and networking events. The day concludes with a keynote address by Shane Campbell-Staton, an associate professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Princeton and an Emmy-nominated science communicator. His most recent work includes hosting the science/travel series Human Footprint and narrating the nature documentary series Evolution Earth, both on PBS, as well as The Biology of Superheroes Podcast. 

The Nexus of Science Policy, Sustainability, and Green Careers

Collaborating with the Center for Policy Research on Energy and the Environment (C-PREE), Department of Chemistry and Office of Sustainability the conference also includes a focus on opportunities at the nexus of science policy, sustainability, energy, and the environment, featuring two keynote talks and discussions on these topics. Professor Jesse Jenkins, a GradFUTURES Faculty Fellow in Professional Development Innovation, will offer a keynote entitled “Science to Inform Policy” on Wednesday, March 26, highlighting how academics can play an active role in informing evidence-based policy. Jenkins is an assistant professor and macro-scale energy systems engineer with a joint appointment in Princeton’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and the Andlinger Center for Energy and Environment. He will discuss how he selects research aimed at public impact and the strategies and efforts he uses to ensure the insights of his work find their way to the right decision-makers. On Thursday, March 27, John C. Warner, a Princeton Ph.D. alumnus and co-founder of the field of Green Chemistry, will explore how to design materials and products with minimal environmental impact in a keynote talk entitled "Green Chemistry: Missing Elements." 

Exploring AI's Impact on Careers and Research

Artificial intelligence is a significant theme throughout the conference, reflecting future of work trends and emerging skills. The opening session on Monday focuses on "Dissertation to Dream Job: Leveraging AI & LinkedIn for Career Clarity," featuring former LinkedIn insider and author Jeremy Schifeling’s practical guidance on using AI tools for career exploration. Graduate students can learn more about the shifting demand for expertise as generative AI changes the skills, experiences, and credentials employers seek across all sectors from Princeton alumnus Matt Sigelman ‘95, founder of the Burning Glass Institute and a senior adviser to the Harvard Project on Workforce. Sigelman will share his insights and advice in “The Expertise Upheaval:  How Generative AI’s Impact on Learning Curves Will Reshape Careers” on Tuesday, March 25. Later that same day, a fireside chat between Graduate School Dean Rodney Priestley and Professor Arvind Narayanan (co-author of AI Snake Oil, Director of Center for Information Technology Policy, and member of Princeton’s AI Lab) will examine the critical question, "Does AI Help or Harm Creativity in Research?" and consider AI's impact on the next generation of scholarly research and academic innovation. Graduate students engaged at the NJ AI Hub through GradFUTURES University Administrative Fellowships will assist with the Q&A. (Princeton University and the State of New Jersey are working together to establish a hub for AI activity to advance AI education, research and innovation, commercialization and economic and workforce development in the state.)

Public Humanities and Community-Engaged Scholarship

Several sessions will address how academic research can engage with broader societal issues with a distinct emphasis on the public humanities. On Tuesday, March 25, a panel on "Public Humanities: Connection, Community, Impact," featuring John Paul Christy, the executive director of Princeton’s new Humanities Initiative, will explore how humanities research can inform public discourse, foster cultural understanding, and address contemporary challenges. Princeton Professors Sophie Gee and Anna Arabindan-Kesson, well known for their transformative approach to bridging the gap between academic knowledge and public understanding, will lead a workshop, "How We Talk About Our Work," on Wednesday, March 26. This workshop will draw upon their experience, as well as guidance from national organizations like the American Council of Learned Societies and the Modern Language Association, to equip emerging scholars with the communication skills necessary to translate specialized research into meaningful public conversations. Gee and Arabindan-Kesson are GradFUTURES Faculty Fellows in Professional Development Innovation. Wednesday's programming also includes discussions on "Community-Engaged Scholarship" and why connecting graduate training, academic research, and teaching with community knowledge and practice has perhaps never been more important than it is today. 

Proactive & Practical Career Strategies  

The forum offers numerous opportunities to learn practical strategies and gain inspiration. In lightning talks by GradFUTURES fellows and interns, students will share how participating in experiential opportunities enriched their research, unlocked hidden talents, opened unexpected doors, and expanded their professional horizons. Similarly, a panel of recent graduate alums who started tenure-track faculty roles will share what they wish they knew during their time as a graduate student about the academic job search process and the career lessons they’ve learned along the way. On Thursday, March 27, Ilana Horwitz and Erica Machulak will host Applying an Entrepreneurial Mindset for Scholarly and Career Success to encourage graduate students to reimagine their PhD journey as a way to learn how to make executive decisions, test new ideas, and create impact within and beyond academia. Other career-focused events include two sessions that help graduate students apply design-thinking principles to planning their careers and lives. Founders of GradTLC, Laura Murray and graduate alumna Kate Thorpe *21, will offer "Designing Your Future for PhDs"  adapting strategies from the best-selling book Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans to help graduate students begin the process of designing a satisfying, integrated, coherent life both during and after graduate school. Applying these same strategies to address the unique challenges faced by international students, Assistant Dean Sonali Majumdar will present "Beyond Borders: Designing Your Future as an International PhD” and share highlights from her forthcoming book Thriving as an International Scientist.  

Empowering Academic and Research Success 

On Thursday, March 27, Leonard Cassuto, the author of the witty new book, Academic Writing as if Readers Matter will present “How to Write Well and Why We Must: A Workshop on Academic Writing,” sharing advice for writers at all levels, in all fields, about how to write better for both specialized and broad audiences. He'll share tips and advice on how to sharpen arguments and make complex ideas compelling, and make your prose more engaging than you thought possible. The current moment has made it even more important that researchers know about the life cycle of a grant from funding discovery to post-award management, and the networks of people who can support them through each stage. On Friday, March 28, a session about research funding and administration will focus on the extensive resources available to early-career researchers at Princeton and beyond to help them succeed with funding for research, as well as provide best practices throughout the award lifecycle. Graduate students will learn how to work with various funders and have the opportunity to ask questions directly of experienced research administrators.

Recognizing National Voices & Campus Partners  

The field of graduate student professional development is relatively new within graduate education, and it takes an expansive ecosystem of internal and external partners to support the mission of GradFUTURES. Each year, the Graduate School recognizes national leaders and campus partners who are integral to empowering graduate student success. The GradFUTURES GRADitude Award for Advancing Graduate Professional Development recognizes national leaders —either individuals or organizations—who have influenced the field of graduate professional development in profound and substantial ways. On Tuesday, March 25, Joy Connelly ‘91, President of the American Council of Learned Societies, will be honored for her pioneering work in creating systems and structures that promote innovation and equity in graduate education, particularly within the humanities, and addressing the evolving needs of scholars and society. From supporting career diversity efforts, advocating for public scholarship, and promulgating new narratives and broader definitions of post-doctoral success, Joy Connelly’s efforts have inspired and empowered many administrators, faculty, and scholars across the country and around the globe. The Clio Hall Award is presented by the Graduate School's professional development team to outstanding faculty, staff, graduate alumni, and graduate student partners who’ve made significant contributions to the professional development of Princeton graduate students. This year’s honorees are Cole Crittenden *05, Ian Gunady *24, Ken Noonan *72, and Keely Swan. 

A Forum for the Future

The sixth annual GradFUTURES Forum exemplifies Princeton's innovative approach to graduate education—one that acknowledges the evolving landscape of academic and professional opportunities. By bringing together thought leaders, faculty, alumni, and students across disciplines, the forum creates a unique space to learn, explore, and connect. "Meeting the moment means recognizing that today's graduate students need transformative professional development experiences that help them connect their scholarly work with meaningful opportunities and societal impact,” said Eva Kubu, senior associate dean for Professional Development and director of GradFUTURES. “The GradFUTURES Forum represents the Graduate School’s investment in the next generation of scholars, scientists, and leaders who will shape our collective future. Thank you to our many speakers and co-sponsors for making this event possible! ”

For more information about the GradFUTURES Forum or to register for sessions, visit https://gradfutures.princeton.edu/Forum.