This series of 8 panel discussions with McGill PhD alumni aims to increase the visibility of potential career paths for PhD graduates and to provide an opportunity for contact and mentorship between current McGill graduate students and alumni.
The TRaCE Talks builds on the work of the TRaCE McGill project, which collected statistical information on the career pathways of over 4500 McGill PhDs who graduated between 2008 and 2018. The project also published the narratives of over 100 of these PhD graduates that provided further insight into the challenges and successes of McGill PhDs in their career progressions. In the 2020-2021 academic year, some of these graduates were invited to speak about their experiences in the Pathways for PhDs speaker series.
The TRaCE Talks continue the important work of the TRaCE McGill project by opening a space for discussion about the important contributions of PhDs within and beyond academia.
Past TRaCE Talks
Careers in Communications and Marketing
Panelists:
Chris Chhim (PhD, Political Science), Lead Analyst, Custom Research at CBC/Radio-Canada
Hélène Laurin (PhD, Communication Studies), Communications Supervisor at Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Montreal
Ryen MacDonald (PhD, Neurology and Neurosurgery), Director of Marketing, Decipher Urologic Cancers at Veracyte
Careers in Climate and Sustainability
Panelists:
Janet Janzen (PhD, German Studies), Senior Marketing Manager at OYA Ventures
M. Taha Manzoor (PhD, Mechanical Engineering), Energy Storage Specialist at Hatch
Careers in Technology Development
Wednesday, November 15 (5:30-7:30 pm), Thomson House Ballroom.
Panelists:
Amanda Jarrell (PhD, Educational Psychology), User Research Topic Lead at Ubisoft
Andrew King (PhD, Computer Science), Director of Performance Research, D-Wave Systems Inc.
Careers in Research Management and Promotion
Panelists:
Alyona Belikova (PhD, Linguistics), Specialist, Research Funding, Awards, Facilitation at University of Calgary
Laura Gougeon (PhD, Human Nutrition), Research Director - Health Programs at Dell Medical School, University of Texas, Austin.
Monica Granados (PhD, Ecology), Assistant Director, Open Climate at Creative Commons
Paolo Saporito (PhD, Italian Studies), Senior Research Coordinator at University College Cork
Careers in Project Management and Leadership
Panelists:
Carlos Yoong (PhD, Mechanical Engineering), Senior Noise and Vibration Engineer at Wood
Ava Schlisser (PhD, Pharmacology and Therapeutics), Senior Clinical Operations Lead at Syneos Health
Careers in Research and Policy Analysis
Panelists:
Anthony Imbrogno (PhD, Political Science), Senior Policy Analyst, Natural Resources Canada.
France-Pascale Ménard (PhD, Sociology), Senior Analyst, Statistics Canada.
Vanessa Sung (PhD Biochemistry), Policy Advisor, Office of the Chief Science Advisor Canada.
TRaCE Talks/Connected Academics: Journey From Academia
What is the right career path after finishing your Ph.D.? In this session, we will talk about the process of exploring and assessing academic and non-academic career paths and what to consider when thinking about your career.
Panelists:
Marie-Pierre Gadoua (PhD, Anthropology/Archeology), Coordinator, Cultural Programming and Social Mediation, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec.
Emily Raine (PhD, Communication Studies), Senior Editorial Content Manager, Unity.
Chantelle Thauvette (PhD, English), Graduate Career Advisor, CaPS, McGill.
Learn more about the Connected Academics program.
Careers in Community Outreach and Education
Thursday April 11, 2024 (4-5 pm).
Panelists:
Danielle Barkley (PhD, English), Career & Professional Development Educator, University of British Columbia
Laura Jones-Donaldson (PhD, Biochemistry), Director of Clinical Trials & Education, Moleculight Inc.
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