IVY COLLECTIVE FOR INCLUSION IN ENGINEERING DOCTORAL SYMPOSIUM

Thursday, November 7th

Friday, November 8th

Successfully Navigating Your Engineering Ph.D.

A Ph.D. in Engineering can be a challenging yet rewarding journey, and this panel brings together current and former Engineering Ph.D. students to discuss their experiences and share advice for successfully navigating a doctoral program while covering topics related to the hidden curriculum of graduate school, fostering good mentoring relationships, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.  Panelists will discuss how they learned about the unwritten rules, norms, and expectations of graduate school and adapted for success, the strategies to communicate effectively with their advisors to get the guidance and support they needed and address the ongoing challenge of maintaining work-life balance in ways that managed their workload while prioritizing important relationships and self-care. 

Academia, Industry, and Nontraditional Career Paths for Engineering Ph.D. Students

This panel will explore the wide range of career opportunities available to Engineering Ph.Ds. The panel will feature early and mid-career professionals from diverse backgrounds who will share their experiences in navigating the job search processes. The discussion will include careers in academia, industry, government, and non-profits from individuals who have successfully pursued these paths. Topics will include crafting the application, balancing priorities, and dealing with setbacks. The goal of this session is to help Ph.D. students uncover new possibilities and gain practical advice for launching impactful careers.

Three-Minute Thesis Competition 

The three-minute thesis competition challenges Engineering PhD students to clearly and concisely communicate the significance of their research to a general audience in just three minutes. Students will distill their thesis down to its core and deliver an engaging presentation without notes, aided by only one static visual. They will be evaluated on their ability to tell a compelling story that begins and ends with the why - the problem to be solved highlighting the importance and motivation behind their work. Presenters must put their scientific findings into context and take the audience on a journey that explains the real-world impact of their discovery. Judging will be done by science writers who regularly describe complex research to non-expert readers and can evaluate each student's skill at effective science communication to audiences beyond their field.

Registration for the three-minute thesis competition has closed. 

Poster Session

The Symposium will host an inter-institutional poster presentation session. Senior PhD students and those with significant research results are encouraged to share their work through a poster display. Participants should submit a title and abstract by October 4th and bring a 48x36-inch poster to the session. In addition to networking with peers, presenters will receive feedback from faculty and administrators from multiple universities. Posters will be displayed during the session, and posterboards and adhesives will be provided. This is an excellent opportunity for students to engage with others and get feedback on their work from an audience of colleagues and academic leaders.

Optimizing Your Academic CV for Future Success

This workshop will provide guidance on developing an effective academic curriculum vitae. A curriculum vitae, or CV, is a core element of applying for academic jobs, grants, and fellowships. Attendees will learn best practices for organizing sections, highlighting accomplishments, and tailoring their CVs for different purposes and career stages. The session aims to help students make the most of their graduate school experiences and position themselves for future success. It will conclude the Ivy Collective for Inclusion in Engineering Ph.D. symposium on a high note, with awards celebrating the top presenters in the three-minute thesis competition and poster presentation.