Dr. Sonali Majumdar joined the GradFUTURES team in May of 2022 as Assistant Dean for Professional Development. In addition to developing programs and building partnerships to benefit all graduate students, Sonali serves as the primary liaison for graduate students and faculty in the natural sciences and engineering divisions. 

Previously, Sonali was the Associate Director of Graduate Professional Development at the University of Virginia. She lead design, development and implementation of PhD Plus, the university’s professional development program to enable versatile PhDs who are deeply engaged with society’s needs in every sector and field. She also lead the administrative team for the university’s participation in AAU PhD Education Initiative. 

Nationally, she contributes to the field through Graduate Career Consortium (GCC); she served on the executive committee as communications officer (2022-24) and is the founder of the new International Community of Practice for foreign-born GCC members. Her upcoming book ‘Thriving as an International Scientist: Professional Development for Global STEM Citizens’ by University of California Press is expected in Fall 2025. 

Sonali earned PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Georgia and did postdoctoral training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, where she developed a passion for enhancing the professional development of graduate students and postdocs.

Areas of Responsibility:

• Serve as liaison to graduate students and departments in the Natural Sciences and Engineering divisions
• Develop programs and campus-wide collaborations for signature GradFUTURES programs including interdisciplinary co-curricular learning cohorts
• Co-lead the alum mentorship program and other alum engagement initiatives
• Develop experiential and exploration programs with industry partners in the natural sciences and engineering
• Implement data-driven program assessment and graduate alum career outcomes data initiatives
• Supervise a team of graduate student Professional Development Associates and University Administrative Fellows in the Natural Sciences and Engineering divisions
•  Support graduate programs in natural sciences and engineering toward developing and implementing professional development plans and activities for training grants
• Represent the Graduate School to co-lead two university-wide programs- Princeton Research Day and ReMatch Mentorship program

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