Alumni speaking opportunity - Careers event for PhD students

A mini careers conference is being organised specifically for current social science PhD students in partnership with Professor Vanessa Kind (Deputy Head of Faculty of Social Sciences and Health). The event is to support PhD students in navigating the difficult process of moving on from a PhD, particularly if they have decided not to remain in academia. It will be an opportunity for current research students to hear the diverse career stories of Durham doctoral alumni and to encourage them to consider their own pathways beyond the PhD. Consequently, I am in the process of reaching out to alumni to tentatively enquire if you would be willing to support such an event and share your own career story.

The event will consist of a series of panel sessions. Each panel will be made up of 3-4 alumni from a broad field of work (e.g. public sector, third sector, commerce and enterprise, technology). Alumni speakers will deliver a short talk on their professional field of work and career journey post PhD. This will be followed by structured Q&A with the audience. It is likely that each panel session will last one hour; the event itself will take place over a morning or afternoon with a networking lunch for speakers and delegates on Wednesday 20 May.

If this is something that you would be willing and able to support please email alumni.office@durham.ac.uk for further details. If it is not possible for you to attend this particular event but you would be interested in participating in future careers events (including academic as well as non-academic pathways) for PhD students at Durham please do let me know.

Best wishes,

David Henderson
Postgraduate Careers Adviser
Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre