This small group discussion will offer insight into career paths Ph.D.s and research masters’ students pursue beyond academia, including how alumni have translated their academic training into impactful roles.  Bring questions, explore industries, and learn from real experiences in an open and supportive format.

Register for From Research to Real-World Impact: Science Careers in Industry Panel

Science Careers in Industry Panelist Bios

Christopher Wolyniak, Ph.D. ’06, leads the analytical chemistry R&D team for germ protection at Reckitt, supporting brands including Lysol, Finish, Harpic, and Dettol across teams in New Jersey and India. His team focuses on measurement techniques to understand product efficacy, stability, and quality, and they previously worked in pharmaceutical and personal care R&D. He earned a doctorate in analytical chemistry from Cornell University.
 
 
Stephanie Ropiak, Ph.D. ’18, is senior director of product research at Dairy Management Inc., supporting dairy foods innovation on behalf of U.S. dairy farmers. She previously worked in R&D at PepsiCo and Kraft Heinz and earned her doctorate in food science from Cornell University.
 
 

 
Michael Santiago, Ph.D. ’16, is the founder of FloraPulse, a company that developed sensor technology to directly measure tree water status for agricultural production. His work helps growers optimize irrigation for yield, quality, and water savings. He holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Cornell University.

Deanna Caputo, Ph.D. ’04, is chief scientist for insider threat research and solutions at MITRE and a principal behavioral psychologist specializing in judgment and decision making, human behavior, and cybersecurity. Her team uses behavioral science methodologies and analytics to reduce insider risk by analyzing how human behavior appears in cyber and noncyber data and by developing data-driven approaches to influence employee attitudes and behaviors. She is the author of “Insider Threats: Leveraging the Benefits of Behavioral Science Research” (2021) and holds a doctorate in social psychology from Cornell University.

The 2026 Pathways to Success: Career Discovery Series is a professional development opportunity focused on providing graduate and professional degree students and postdoctoral scholars with valuable career exploration and professional development learning and skill development opportunities. Participants may register for an individual session or all sessions offered within the week.