Future Faculty and Academic Careers

Virtual Info Session about Humanities Scholars Program 2026-27 Postdoctoral Associate Positions
2026-01-22 16:30 - 17:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom
The Humanities Scholars Program, an undergraduate research initiative in the College of Arts & Sciences, invites applications from Cornell PhD candidates and recent Cornell PhDs for one-year postdoctoral associate positions beginning August 1, 2026. HSP Postdocs teach, mentor, and run workshops for advanced undergraduates in the Humanities Scholars Program. Each position offers a salary of $67,000/year and a $2,000 research fund for the year. Two Postdoctoral Associates will be appointed.
Join faculty director, Verity Platt, for a virtual information session about these two position openings and get your questions answered.
Applications are due February 3, 2026. See the call for applications on HSP’s website.
This virtual info session will take place over Zoom. Registration is required.
Please email any questions to hum-scholars-program@cornell.edu

Building Mentorship Skills for Academic Careers
2026-01-27 15:00 - 16:30 | Mann Library, 237 Mann Drive, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
Pre-registration is required.
In this series of interactive workshops designed for current Cornell graduate students and postdocs and open to those in all fields, you will develop essential research mentoring skills, particularly in disciplines where research is conducted collaboratively and in teams. Learn best practices for mentoring research students and technicians and develop planning and communication skills needed to guide individual mentees and research teams.
All sessions will be practical in nature and feature short pre-readings or videos, case study discussions, and activities to help identify your strengths and desired areas for improvement. Receive a certificate of completion for successfully participating in at least 4 of 5 sessions (dates: 1/27, 2/3, 2/10, 3/3, and 3/17). Interested participants should apply by January 23 with the expectation of attending all workshops and actively participating in small and large group discussions.
Sessions are on Tuesdays between 3:00-4:30 pm ET. See full schedule and topics
Questions?

Contact Dr. Colleen McLinn, futurefaculty@cornell.edu or 607-255-2030

Building Mentorship Skills for Academic Careers is sponsored by the Graduate School’s Future Faculty and Academic Careers program, part of the Office of Career and Professional Development.

Career Discovery Series: Public Sector Careers: Government, Policy, and International Affairs Panel
2026-02-02 10:30 - 12:00 | Zoom
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 Public Sector Careers: Government, Policy, and International Affairs Panel
Government, Policy, and International Affairs Panelist Bios
Abby R. Goldman, Ph.D. ’18, is a research staff member at the Institute for Defense Analyses Science and Technology Policy Institute, where she conducts research on science and technology policy in support of U.S. federal decision-making. Her work spans emerging technologies, global competitiveness, STEM education, and workforce issues, and she also mentors early-career science policy fellows. She earned a doctorate in materials science from Cornell University.

Vernon C. Mitchell, Jr., Ph.D. ’14, is the director of the Civil Rights Enforcement Agency for the City of St. Louis and formerly served as the city’s chief equity and inclusion officer. He brings a background in American history and African American studies to address systemic challenges facing marginalized communities. He earned a doctorate in history from Cornell University.

Kiley Foster, Ph.D. ’20, is a government affairs professional and analyst with the city of San José’s Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services department, supporting community-focused projects citywide. She previously worked with Utah’s Refugee Services Office and a tech education nonprofit after earning a doctorate in Near Eastern studies from Cornell University.

Cristina Fernandez-Baca, Ph.D. ’18, is a foreign affairs officer at the U.S. Department of State and a former AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow. She previously worked as a research molecular biologist at the USDA Agricultural Research Service, where she studied plant-soil microbiome interactions, arsenic uptake in rice, and greenhouse gas emissions. Her background spans environmental engineering, molecular biology, and science policy, with experience in federal research, community-based environmental programs, and mentoring students. She earned a doctorate in civil and environmental engineering 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.

Career Discovery Series: From Research to Real-World Impact: Science Careers in Industry Panel
2026-02-02 14:30 - 16:00 | Zoom
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.

Career Discovery Series: Education, Teaching and Academic-Adjacent Careers Panel
2026-02-02 17:00 - 18:30 | Zoom
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 Education, Teaching, and Academic-Adjacent Careers Panel
Education, Teaching and Academic-Adjacent Careers Panelist Bios
Jessica Metzler, Ph.D. ’11, is director of online learning at Providence College, where she leads online and hybrid program development and digital learning strategy. She previously worked at Minerva Project and Brown University’s Sheridan Center and holds a doctorate in English from Cornell University.

Zachary Grobe, Ph.D. ’22, is assistant head of the English department at the Loomis Chaffee School, where he teaches junior and senior English and supports the Writing Initiatives Program. He earned his doctorate in English from Cornell University.

Francesca Bruno, Ph.D. ’19, is the Philadelphia impact director at 12+, where she leads college and career readiness programming for low-income and first-generation-to-college students. She has over 10 years of experience teaching, advising, and mentoring students across nonprofit, K–12, and higher education settings, including at the University of Pennsylvania, Cornell, and Penn State. She earned her doctorate in philosophy 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.

Career Discovery Series: Transformative Careers in Social and Environmental Policy Panel
2026-02-03 17:00 - 18:30 | Zoom
Register for Transformative Careers in Social and Environmental Policy Panel
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.
Social and Environmental Policy Panelist Bios

Amelia Demery, Ph.D. ’23, is a program officer at Ocean Visions, where she leads and supports projects in ocean carbon dioxide removal, environmental justice, and coalition-building. She previously worked at the U.S. National Science Foundation coordinating interagency ocean science and policy initiatives. She earned her doctorate in ecology and evolutionary biology from Cornell University.

Colin Cepuran, Ph.D. ’20, is a senior researcher at Chapin Hall working on implementation and evaluation projects to support child welfare agencies using quantitative and geographic data. He holds a doctorate in government from Cornell University, with research focused on American politics and immigration policy.

Veronica O. Davis, M.R.P. ’03, is the U.S. vice president for planning, engagement, and urban design at AtkinsRéalis, bringing 25 years of experience in civil engineering and planning. Previously, she was the director for transportation and drainage operations for the city of Houston and co-founded Nspiregreen LLC. She also co-founded Black Women Bike (BWB) and represented Houston as vice president on the National Association of City Transportation Officials. She holds dual master’s degrees in engineering management and regional planning 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.

Career Discovery Series: Science-Informed Business and Sustainability Careers Panel
2026-02-04 08:30 - 10:00 | Zoom
Register for Global Careers at the Intersection of Business, Sustainability, and Equity Panel
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.
Science-Informed Business and Sustainability Careers Panelist Bios
Hema Surendranathan, Ph.D. ’21, is a sustainability and ESG professional from Malaysia with experience across TMT, energy, and transport sectors. She holds a degree from Bryn Mawr College and doctorate in English language and literature from Cornell University.

Rachel Chang, Ph.D. ’25, is a business development manager at Biocytogen, where she serves as a bridge between science and business by building partnerships to advance medicine and accelerate therapeutic development. She is passionate about communicating science, building relationships, and empowering others — values shaped through her academic and research journey at Cornell. She holds a doctorate in biomedical and biological sciences from Cornell University.

Khyati Rathore, M.R.P. ’19
Bio forthcoming.
Tristan Shepherd, Ph.D.
Bio forthcoming.
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.

Career Discovery Series: From Ideas to Impact: Careers in UX, AI and Entrepreneurship Panel
2026-02-04 13:30 - 15:00 | Zoom
Register for From Ideas to Impact: Careers in UX, AI, and Entrepreneurship Panel
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.
UX, AI and Entrepreneurship Panelist Bios
Rod Recker, M.S., is a product and engineering executive with deep experience building and scaling interactive technology platforms and teams. He has served as CTO at The Glimpse Group, head of product at Alive Home 360, and led global innovation teams at Autodesk, driving product strategy, growth, and investment. He earned a master’s degree in computer graphics from Cornell University.

Malcolm Bare, Ph.D. ’21, is associate director of client solutions at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a technical product manager focused on enterprise AI and EdTech products. He works on delivering digital products that support students, staff, and faculty. He earned a doctorate in English language and literature from Cornell University.

Hakan Unsal, Ph.D. ’07, is the founder and CEO of Primerli, an industry-learning platform launched in 2019 to help professionals engage more effectively with clients across industries. He previously spent over a decade at BCG as a management consultant and in learning and development. He earned a doctorate in civil engineering from Columbia University and a M.Eng. in engineering management from Cornell University.

Naomi Enzinna, Ph.D. ’18, is a senior UX researcher and manager of UX research at UserTesting with over 12 years of experience conducting end-to-end qualitative and quantitative research across education, health care, technology, financial services, retail, and telecommunications. She specializes in accessibility UX research with work focused on identifying and addressing pain points for users with disabilities who rely on assistive technologies. Naomi holds a doctorate in linguistics 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.

Career Discovery Series: Applied Humanities & Social Sciences: Creative, Human-Centered Design & Strategy Careers
2026-02-05 13:00 - 14:30 | Zoom
Register for Applied Humanities and Social Sciences: Creative, Human-Centered Design, and Strategy Careers
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.
Applied Humanities & Social Sciences Careers Panelist Bios
Betty Hensellek, Ph.D. ’20 is currently a design lead at JPMorganChase. Previously she was at a Washington, D.C. design firm, Informed XP, where her team worked on projects for financial institutions and the federal government. Her first design role ‘beyond academia’ was at Xerox. Alongside her industry work, Betty also teaches art of the Silk Roads and Islamic art at the University of Cincinnati as an adjunct assistant professor. She holds a B.A. and B.F.A. from the University of Cincinnati, M.A. from New York University, and doctorate in art history from Cornell University.

Ruoji Tang, Ph.D. ’19 is senior marketing manager at Shovels.ai and was recently senior content marketing manager at Liftoff Mobile and a contributing editor for the Wall Street Journal’s China Magazine. Her first full-time position outside academia was a content marketer at Terra, a creative agency in New York. She holds a B.A. in English from UC Berkeley and a doctorate in English language and literature from Cornell.

Yagna Nag Chowdhuri, Ph.D. ’20 is a facilitator and evaluator who supports collaborative learning and organizational change through critical reflection and compassionate engagement. She draws on deep expertise in cultural studies and anthropology to navigate complex issues and foster cultures of learning. Her work bridges research, teaching, and social work to support community transformation and social justice. She holds an M.Phil. in Social Sciences from the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, India, an M.S.W. from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, and a doctorate in Asian literature, religion, and culture 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.

Career Discovery Series Keynote: Why You? How to Nail the Most Pressing Question of Your Career with Vicki Johnson ’01, Ph.D.
2026-02-05 17:00 - 18:00 | 120 Physical Sciences Building, 245 East Ave, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
Location: 120 Physical Sciences Building
Register for Why You? How to Nail the Most Pressing Question of Your Career Keynote
Session Description
The candidates who land dream opportunities and command their destiny aren’t necessarily the ones with the longest resumes—they’re the ones who can articulate a future vision so compelling that others want to be part of making it happen. As you stand at the threshold of your career, you can create something more powerful than experience: a vision for what’s possible. In this transformative keynote, ProFellow Founder and Cornellian Vicki Johnson ’01, Ph.D., reveals the storytelling framework that turns uncertainty into confidence and helps you claim opportunities you didn’t think were within reach.
You’ll discover how to leverage the competitive advantages you already possess, why your future story matters more than your past credentials, and how to authentically answer the question that will define your career: “Why you?” This session will change how you see yourself—and how others see you too.
Key Takeaways:

The competitive edge you already have (and how to name it)

How to create meaningful connections with selectors that inspire investment

A proven framework for crafting your most compelling narrative

Following the keynote, stay for a live Q&A and an in-person book signing. As a special thank-you, the first 50 graduate students/postdocs and 50 undergraduates who attend in person will receive a free copy of “Pitch Your Potential: The Formula to Win Selective Opportunities and Leverage Your Story for Success.” A virtual option will be provided for participants unable to attend on campus.
Speaker Bio
Vicki Johnson ’01, Ph.D., is founder and director of ProFellow®, the leading online resource for professional and academic fellowships. She is a Cornell Class of 2001 alumna (government, Arts & Science), a four-time fellow, a top Ph.D. scholar, and an award-winning social entrepreneur. She is the forthcoming author of the Wiley book “Pitch Your Potential: The Formula to Win Selective Opportunities and Leverage Your Story for Success.”

Career Discovery Series: Careers in Consulting, Strategy, and Organizational Effectiveness Panel
2026-02-06 15:00 - 16:30 | Zoom
Register for Careers in Consulting, Strategy, and Organizational Effectiveness Panel
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.
Consulting, Strategy and Organizational Effectiveness Careers Panelist Bios
Rick Wang, Ph.D. ’20, is a principal at the Boston Consulting Group working with pharma and medtech clients across R&D, commercial, and strategy topics. He earned a doctorate in biomedical engineering from Cornell University.

Vivian Rotenstein, Ph.D. ’21, is a litigation consultant at Blueprint Trial Consulting, where she supports attorneys through mock trials, focus groups, jury research, witness preparation, and trial strategy. She holds a doctorate in human development from Cornell University, with research focused on implicit bias, juror decision-making, and moral judgment.

Renny John, M.P.H. ’20, is a workplace wellness professional advancing equitable well-being across Northwell Health. As senior program manager on the TeamWell team, he supports the Western Market (18,000+ team members) and is part of a team supporting over 104,000 employees systemwide. He also serves as treasurer of the Cornell Black Alumni Association, supporting a network of 15,000+ alumni. He holds a master’s of public health from Cornell University and is pursuing a doctor of public health at Morgan State University.

Yawa Zewou, M.P.A. ’20 Bio forthcoming.
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.

Information Session on the Cornell Three Minute Thesis (3MT)
2026-02-11 15:00 - 16:00 | Zoom
Learn about the Three Minute Thesis competition: history, format, judging, prizes, and how Cornell offers the chance to participate. Organizers will field your questions about competing in the Cornell Graduate School competition in Spring 2026.
Register online to attend an information session.

Interviewing and Negotiating for Academic Positions
2026-02-12 12:15 - 13:30 | Zoom
An important part of the academic job search is interviewing and then negotiating the offer. Come learn about the art of interviewing for faculty positions from your laptop or mobile device. The format will be a highly interactive Zoom presentation followed by question and answer period.
Presenters: Yael Levitte, Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Development and Diversity, and Colleen McLinn, Graduate School Associate Dean for Professional Development
Register now
Sponsored by the Future Faculty and Academic Careers program in the Graduate School Office of Career and Professional Development, as part of the Academic Job Search Series.
Accommodations: We strive to make our events accessible to all Cornell community members. Individuals who have accessibility accommodations to request should contact futurefaculty@cornell.edu. We ask that requests be made at least one week in advance to help ensure they can be met.

WISE: Teaching Practices that Support Wellbeing
2026-02-12 16:00 - 17:15 | 100 Mann Library, 237 Mann Drive, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
This interactive workshop introduces Wellbeing in Scholarly Environments (WISE) strategies and invites participants to reflect on how teaching practices can support both student wellbeing and their own growth as instructors. Through discussion and examples, you’ll explore ways to foster connection and belonging in classrooms, labs, and discussion sections, and leave with access to a toolkit to support confident, sustainable teaching.
Please share with your friends and register for any/all of these workshops here!

About the Series
Being a graduate or professional student at Cornell presents both opportunities and challenges. This workshop series offers practical, research-informed strategies to support wellbeing in academic spaces, strengthen skills for responding to peers in distress, and nurture your capacity to flourish. Graduate and professional students are welcome to register for one, two, or all three workshops in the series.
Why Attend?

Learn practical strategies to support your wellbeing in academic and peer settings
Build confidence in noticing and responding to signs of distress
Explore evidence-based approaches to personal flourishing
Engage with fellow graduate students in a supportive learning environment

This series is offered in collaboration between the Graduate School and Skorton Center for Health Initiatives. All workshops will take place from 4:00-5:15 PM. Light refreshments will be provided. This series is free, but registration is required by noon the day before each session. After receiving your registration, we’ll send a detailed confirmation and a meeting invite via Outlook. Sessions will take place in Mann Library, with meeting rooms shared in the invite.

Notice and Respond: Support Strategies
2026-02-26 16:00 - 17:15 | 102 Mann Library, 237 Mann Drive, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
This interactive bystander intervention workshop helps participants build skills for recognizing signs of distress and responding with care and confidence. Through a short video case study, guided discussion, and resource overview, you’ll learn to identify different levels of distress, practice supportive questions and responses, and explore ways to connect peers with appropriate campus, local, or national resources.
Please share with your friends and register for any/all of these workshops here!

About the Series
Being a graduate or professional student at Cornell presents both opportunities and challenges. This workshop series offers practical, research-informed strategies to support wellbeing in academic spaces, strengthen skills for responding to peers in distress, and nurture your capacity to flourish. Graduate and professional students are welcome to register for one, two, or all three workshops in the series.
Why Attend?

Learn practical strategies to support your wellbeing in academic and peer settings
Build confidence in noticing and responding to signs of distress
Explore evidence-based approaches to personal flourishing
Engage with fellow graduate students in a supportive learning environment

This series is offered in collaboration between the Graduate School and Skorton Center for Health Initiatives. All workshops will take place from 4:00-5:15 PM. Light refreshments will be provided. This series is free, but registration is required by noon the day before each session. After receiving your registration, we’ll send a detailed confirmation and a meeting invite via Outlook. Sessions will take place in Mann Library, with meeting rooms shared in the invite.

Let’s CU Flourish
2026-03-12 16:00 - 17:15 | 102 Mann Library, 237 Mann Drive, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
Grounded in positive psychology, this workshop explores what it means to flourish in graduate school life. You’ll reflect on your strengths, values, and habits that support wellbeing and leave with practical tools to support resilience, meaning, and personal growth.
Please share with your friends and register for any/all of these workshops here!

About the Series
Being a graduate or professional student at Cornell presents both opportunities and challenges. This workshop series offers practical, research-informed strategies to support wellbeing in academic spaces, strengthen skills for responding to peers in distress, and nurture your capacity to flourish. Graduate and professional students are welcome to register for one, two, or all three workshops in the series.
Why Attend?

Learn practical strategies to support your wellbeing in academic and peer settings
Build confidence in noticing and responding to signs of distress
Explore evidence-based approaches to personal flourishing
Engage with fellow graduate students in a supportive learning environment

This series is offered in collaboration between the Graduate School and Skorton Center for Health Initiatives. All workshops will take place from 4:00-5:15 PM. Light refreshments will be provided. This series is free, but registration is required by noon the day before each session. After receiving your registration, we’ll send a detailed confirmation and a meeting invite via Outlook. Sessions will take place in Mann Library, with meeting rooms shared in the invite.
