PhD Pathways 2025

Overview

PhD Pathways returns on March 13, 2025!

PhD Pathways is an all-day career exploration experience for Stanford PhD students and postdocs. At Pathways, you will have the opportunity to explore careers beyond academia in community with other PhD students and postdocs from across the university by attending panels, workshops, and more. Pathways is your opportunity to connect with PhD alums and your classmates, discover how the skills you’ve gained in your PhD or postdoc translate to non-faculty careers, learn how to navigate the career exploration process, and advance your journey at Stanford and beyond!

By attending PhD Pathways, you will be able to:

• Identify 1-3 career fields available to PhDs outside academia
• Articulate 1-3 ways that your skills can translate to careers beyond academia
• Identify 1-3 next steps to develop your skills and refine your interests to advance towards your career goals
• Build confidence in your ability to approach people to discuss their careers

PhD Pathways will be held on Thursday, March 13, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the Arrillaga Alumni Center. Please note that attendees are expected to commit to attending the full day of events.

Registration Information

Registration for PhD Pathways 2025 is now closed.

If you have any questions about registration, or if you have already registered and have questions about your registration and deposit, please contact Sal Cipriano here.

Google Site

Login to the PhD Pathways google site to read panelist and presenter bios and access resources and information to help you make the most of your Pathways 2025 experience! 

Access the PhD Pathways Google Site here

Stanford login required.

Program Schedule

Check back regularly as more detailed information, including panelist and presenter info, is added!

PhD Pathways includes several plenary activities and four concurrent sessions scheduled throughout the day. Choose from a range of opportunities to explore different industries and job roles, learn how to apply your skills to careers beyond academia, and gain insight into career topics to help you navigate your career journey. 

9:00-9:15 a.m. | Opening Remarks

Confirmed speaker:

• Michele Rasmussen, PhD ‘99 (Duke), Biological Anthropology and Anatomy - Vice Provost of Student Affairs

9:15-10:00 a.m. | mixTAPE x maniFESTO Opening Plenary

Pathways will open with the mixTAPE x maniFESTO, a metaphorical and practical design exercise blending the storytelling intentionality of a mixtape with the bold declarations of a manifesto. It invites participants to define their passion, purpose, and plans, organizing them into a coherent, impactful narrative. Open to students, activists, educators, artists, community leaders, corporate directors, designers, and anyone interested in engaging in community-centered design, designing collaborative intentionality, and creating change through storytelling.

Confirmed presenters:

• Milan Drake, Community Design Lead, d.School
• Patrick Fenton, Design Studio Partner, Swayspace; Lecturer, Stanford [behind the scenes support]

10:10-11:10 a.m. | Session 1

• Industry Panel: Research and Engineering Beyond Academia
  Hear from a panel of PhDs pursuing scientific research and engineering careers in various sectors beyond academia, including for-profit industry and government.
  • Confirmed panelists:
    • Melanie Malinas, PhD ‘19, Biophysics - Patent Agent, Wilson Sonsoni
    • Orlando Trejo, PhD ‘14, Mechanical Engineering - Director, Digital Engineering, Applied Materials
    • Michael Reddick, PhD ‘20, Chemical Engineering - Staff Scientist, DNA Data Storage, Twist Bioscience
• Industry Panel: Nonprofit Pathways
  Learn from a panel of PhDs who have forged careers in various nonprofit settings.
  • Confirmed panelists:
    • Alessandra Aquilanti, PhD ‘15, Italian - Development Director, Music@Menlo
    • Bishakha Mona, PhD ‘19 (UT Southwestern Medical Center), Genetics, Development, and Disease - Associate Advisor, Science Philanthropy Alliance
    • Lily Lamboy, PhD ‘18, Political Science - Co-Founder, Modern Family Institute
    • Erica Bower, PhD ‘24, E-IPER - Climate Displacement Researcher, Human Rights Watch
• Interactive Case Study: Applied Research Thinking and Communication in Data Science
  A large California public college is losing students at a rapid pace—can they use data science to turn the situation around? During the workshop, you will learn how you can apply your research skills to solve this real-world problem. Walk away knowing how to refine vague problem statements, approach challenges with a data-driven framework, and communicate solutions that drive action.
  • Confirmed presenters:
    • Derek Chang, PhD ‘14, Electrical Engineering - Founding Partner, Stratus Data
    • Charles Pensig - Founding Partner, Stratus Data
    • Rachel Grant, PhD ‘22, Biology - Senior Data Scientist, Stratus Data
• Industry Panel: Media and Communication
  In this panel, connect with PhDs working in various media and communication industries, including publishing, scientific communication, and more.
  • Confirmed panelists:
    • Marcie Bianco, PhD ‘12 (Rutgers), English Literature - Editor, Stanford Social Innovation Review
    • Erin Digitale, PhD ‘07 (UC Davis), Nutrition - Senior Science Writer, Stanford Medicine
    • Jack Lee, PhD ‘14 (Princeton), Molecular Biology - Weather Science Data Reporter, San Francisco Chronicle
    • Rachel Karas, PhD ‘17 (UC Santa Barbara), English - Digital Manager/Web Editor, Stanford Humanities Center
• Workshop: Centering What’s Important to You on the Job Search
  What pivotal moments have impacted your engagement in the world? In this session, take the time to reflect on what is important to you, your strengths, and the impact you want to have. As you approach your job search process, being grounded in your identities and values will pave the way to making informed decisions in your career.
  • Confirmed presenters:
    • Jenny Roxas - Associate Director, Belonging, Access, and Career Equity, Stanford Career Education
    • Jazmin Lopez - Assistant Director, Belonging, Access, and Career Equity, Stanford Career Education

11:20 a.m.-12:20 p.m. | Session 2

• Industry Panel: Consulting Pathways
  Learn from a panel of PhDs currently in different consulting roles, such as economics, management, health consulting, and more.
  • Confirmed panelists:
    • Alan Itakura, PhD ‘20, Biology - Project Leader, DeciBio Consulting
    • Chris Bruegge, PhD ‘18, Economics - Senior Manager, Cornerstone Research
    • Rula Deeb, PhD ‘99 (UC Berkeley), Civil and Environmental Engineering - Senior Principal, Geosyntec Consultants
• Industry Panel: Government and Policy
  PhDs work in various roles across the public policy and government sectors. Hear from a panel of PhDs from a variety of disciplines working in these fields.
  • Confirmed panelists:
    • Jaclyn Wong, PhD ‘18 (Chicago), Sociology - Research Analyst, Langer Research Associates
    • Terry Reyes, PhD ‘14, Cancer Biology - Sr. Regulatory Manager, UPSIDE Foods
    • Andrea Lund, PhD ‘20, Disease Ecology - Epidemiology, California Department of Public Health
    • Lena Perkins, PhD ‘15, Mechanical Engineering - Emerging Technologies Manager, City of Palo Alto
• Interactive Case Study: Product Management
  This session will give you insight into what life is really like as a product manager in a tech company, and how your skills in synthesizing information, generating ideas, and executing plans can help you be successful in these and similar roles. You will also get to try out designing a new product feature, and leave with tips for continuing to develop your skills and career.
  • Confirmed presenter:
    • Lindsay Oishi, PhD ‘12, Education - Senior Product Manager, Indeed.com
• Panel: From Postdoc to Industry
  What does it look like to transition from a postdoc to industry? How do you make the jump? Join a panel of former Stanford postdocs as they share their experiences and insight on transitioning from academic postdocs to industry careers.
  • Confirmed panelists:
    • Jennifer Yih, PhD ‘16 (Vanderbilt), Psychology - Quantitative UX Researcher, Meta
    • Lauren Liddell, PhD’14 (City of Hope Cancer Research Institute), DNA Repair & Molecular Genetics - Mission Scientist, NASA Ames Research Center
    • Chiara Bertipaglia, PhD ‘15 (European Molecular Biology Laboratory), Biochemistry/Structural Biology - Associate Director of Programs and Training, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute
• Panel: The Intersection of Identity, Experience, and the World of Work
  PhD alums and former postdocs will tell their stories about their experiences, including the transition to their careers and how they navigate the workplace. This panel creates an open space for conversations about identity and the workplace and celebrates the diversity of our community.
  • Confirmed panelists:
    • Izumi Hinkson, PhD ‘15, Chemical and Systems Biology - Associate Director, Alliance Management, Gilead Sciences
    • Ariel Calderon, PhD ‘22, Immunology - Senior Scientist II, AbbVie
    • Eric J. Daza, DrPH ‘15, BioStatistics (UNC Chapel Hill) - Associate Director, Principal Clinical Data Scientist, Boehringer Ingelheim
    • JT Tien, PhD ‘19, Education (UC Berkeley) - Director of the RAISE Doctoral Fellowship Program, Stanford VPGE

12:30-1:30 p.m. | Networking Lunch

Connect, network, and learn from alums, professionals, and staff in informal conversations over lunch.

1:30-2:00 p.m. | Afternoon Plenary Activity

After lunch, we will reconvene as a group to reflect on what you learned in the first half of the day, identify new questions and ideas, and chart a path for the second half of the day.

2:10-3:10 p.m. | Session 3

• Industry Panel: Big Tech
  Join a group of PhDs working in various technical and non-technical roles in Big Tech. Learn about the pathways available and what it’s like to transition from the PhD to the tech world.
  • Confirmed panelists:
    • Subhan Ali, PhD ‘15, Civil and Environmental Engineering - AI Product Lead, NVIDIA
    • Madeline Huberth, PhD ‘18, Computer Based Music Theory - UX Research Scientist, Meta
    • Sam Robinson, PhD ‘17 (UC Berkeley), History - Content Senior Design Manager, PayPal
    • Qing Zhang, PhD ‘19 (Columbia), Economics - Senior Data Scientist, Research, Google
• Industry Panel: Sustainability and Impact Pathways
  Hear from a panel of PhDs from a range of disciplines who have forged careers in various roles and sectors focused on sustainability.
  • Confirmed panelists:
    • Abby Kirchofer, PhD ‘13, Earth, Energy, and Environmental Sciences - Principal, Ramboll
    • Dan Rutherford, PhD ‘06, Civil and Environmental Engineering - Senior Director of Research, International Council on Clean Transportation
    • Krishna Rao, PhD ‘22, Earth System Science - Data and Climate Scientist, Watershed
    • Kirstin Conti, PhD ‘17 (Amsterdam), Groundwater Governance - Independent Development Consultant
• Interactive Case Study: Managing a Nonprofit
  What’s it like to run a nonprofit? How can your skills and experiences translate into working at a nonprofit? In this interactive case study, learn how!
  • Confirmed presenter:
    • Tzipor Ulman, PhD ‘03, Chemistry - CEO, Science is Elementary
• Panel: Navigating the Job Search as an International Student or Postdoc
  Finding and securing non-faculty jobs in the U.S. as an international PhD student or postdoc presents unique complexities and challenges. Learn from a panel of international PhDs as they share their experiences and insights navigating the job search.
  • Confirmed panelists:
    • Priscila Slepicka, PhD ‘15 (University of Campinas), Genetics and Molecular Biology - Scientist
    • Fernando Novoa, PhD ‘15, Materials Science and Engineering - Sr. Manager, Failure Analysis Engineering, Enphase Energy
    • Gabriela Badica, PhD ‘20, Literatures, Cultures, and Languages - Communications Manager, Uber
    • Fengjiao Lyu, PhD '19, Mechanical Engineering - Senior Data Scientist, DoorDash
• Panel: Learn by Doing - Exploring Careers through Experiences
  Internships, volunteering, industry postdocs, service, and more–there are many ways to explore careers beyond academia. Learn from a panel of current Stanford PhD students and alums who have embarked on diverse opportunities to gain experience in roles beyond academia.
  • Confirmed panelists:
    • Anna Toledano, PhD ‘24, History - Executive Director, Los Altos History Museum
    • Elise Loppinet, PhD ‘24, Chemical Engineering - Postdoctoral Researcher, Genentech
    • Kimberly Vasquez, PhD ‘22, Microbiology and Immunology - Postdoctoral Scientist, Gilead Sciences

3:20-4:20 p.m. | Session 4

• Industry Panel: Entrepreneurship and Start-Ups
  Learn from PhDs who have pursued entrepreneurship and worked in different roles at start-ups that focus on various areas.
  • Confirmed panelists:
    • Homan Yuen, PhD ‘06, Materials Science and Engineering - Managing Partner, Keymaker
    • Soren Rosier, PhD ‘20, Learning Sciences and Technology Design - Founder and CEO, PeerTeach
    • Fatma Kaplan, PhD ‘04 (Florida), Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology - CEO, Pheronym, Inc.
    • Bilen Akuzum, PhD ‘20 (Drexel), Materials Science and Engineering - Co-Founder and CTO, Aepnus Technology
• Industry Panel: Education Pathways
  There are many non-faculty education roles at universities and in other educational settings. In this panel, hear from PhDs who have forged diverse careers in education.
  • Confirmed panelists:
    • Amanda Modell, PhD ‘19 (UC Davis), Cultural Studies - Senior Associate Director, Graduate Teaching Programs, Stanford Center for Teaching and Learning
    • Dayo Mitchell, PhD ‘05 (Virginia), History - Senior Associate Directory, Stanford Introductory Studies
    • Dylan Arena, PhD ‘12, Learning Sciences and Technology - SVP, Chief Data Science and AI Officer, McGraw Hill
    • Mackenzie Russell, PhD ‘16, Comparative Literature - English Instructor, Stanford Online High School
• Interactive Case Study: Management Consulting
  Lots of PhDs and postdocs pursue careers in management consulting, but what does the work actually look like? In this interactive case study, get a taste of how your skills can be applied in consulting settings.
  • Confirmed presenter:
    • Sanjam Sawhney, PhD ‘23 (WashU St. Louis), Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis - Consultant, Boston Consulting Group
• Panel: Advice and Tips from Industry Recruiters
  Wondering what employers think about when hiring PhD students and postdocs for non-academic roles? Hear from a panel of employers to get your questions answered.
  • Confirmed panelists:
    • Katie Zhao - Executive Director, Talent and Culture, PDT Partners
    • Ingrid Rulifson - Scientific Associate Director, Amgen
    • Glaucia Soutello - University Talent Partner, Adobe
• Workshop: Mental Health and Wellbeing: Navigating Uncertainty on the Job Search
  In this workshop, you will learn how to navigate uncertainty, address your worries and concerns, and move forward with resilience and courage as you explore careers. You will leave feeling confident in managing moments of uncertainty and ambiguity in your careers.
  • Confirmed presenters:
    • Donnovan Somera Yisrael - Senior Health Educator, Mental Health and Well-Being, Well-Being at Stanford, Vaden Health Services
    • Angela Estrella - Well-Being Coach, Graduate Life Office

4:30-5:00 p.m. | Closing Reflection and Next Steps

The day will end with a chance to reflect on the day’s activities and identify actionable next steps that will allow you to maintain momentum in your exploration and advance your career journey.