GCPD
Pictured above, from left to right: Brittany Huffman, Jacob Pawlik, James Custer, Sarah Morley, Sondrica Goines, Tayliz Rodriguez, Aldo Jordan, Hannah
Ferguson-Johns, Emily Beyer. Not pictured, Megan Schutzbach-Horton
Graduate Committee for Professional Development
One of the findings of the recent Department Climate Survey was the need to further foster professional
development, especially when it came to non-faculty career paths.
As a response to this, the Graduate Committee for Professional Development, GCPD, pictured above, was
created in January of 2019 to define and execute a department wide plan to prepare and educate students
and postdocs about potential career paths available to chemistry Ph.D.s.
Since their inception the committee has hosted several workshops and information sessions, such as
“Plotting a Career Timeline” and “Business Certificates Available to Graduate Students”. In addition they have
created a seminar series, “Career Answers for Chemists”, that brings in professionals from different dis-
ciplines, from working at a chemical company like BASF, to working in science policy in DC, and has them
share their stories and tips on how to plot an exciting career path.
Keep an eye out for GCPD in 2020 as these talented individuals draw on the successes from prior events
to bring in more speakers from out of town. They are also planning to host a full day career development
conference for senior students that aims to bring in industry professionals for intimate networking and
accelerated professional development.
CHEM.UNC.EDU | CHEMISTRY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA |
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