There is a growing disparity between the number of new PhD graduates and the availability of faculty positions—meaning that most PhD graduates will need to build their careers outside academia. At the same time, AI is rapidly reshaping the open job market, influencing how value is created, how work is organized, and how hiring decisions are made. The good news is that many skills developed through academic training—such as analytical thinking, problem formulation, research literacy, and learning how to learn—are becoming increasingly valuable in an AI-augmented economy. Our mission is to empower PhD candidates and graduates by giving them the motivation, clarity, and inspiration needed to launch new careers and thrive in this evolving job market.

This workshop for PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers is an intensive and engaging group training focused on understanding the job market for PhD graduates in the age of AI. We explore the different ways of creating value in today’s job market, how AI is changing roles, expectations, and career paths, and the main types of working environments that actively recruit PhDs—along with their distinct cultures and trade-offs. We also review practical strategies for positioning oneself and successfully landing roles in these environments as recruitment processes and professional workflows become increasingly AI-enabled. The workshop is highly interactive and dynamic, featuring quizzes and live discussions.

Early-career researchers across disciplines face similar challenges related to fierce competition and the constantly evolving landscape of their research fields—now further accelerated by the growing presence of AI in research, funding, and knowledge work. Especially in today’s economic climate, these rapid changes can leave many researchers feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about their future. We help early-career researchers become more self-aware, regain a sense of control over their research careers, and mitigate external pressures that amplify stress and burnout. At the same time, we support them in becoming skilled self-navigators in both academic and non-academic environments, learning how to position their expertise and work effectively in an AI-augmented world.

This workshop for PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers is an intensive and engaging group training focused on developing everyday self-management practices in the context of AI-driven work environments. Participants learn how to increase productivity without overwork, avoid common bottlenecks in projects and career progression, gradually improve overall work satisfaction, and proactively prevent mental-health issues. The workshop also addresses how AI tools and changing expectations influence research workflows and career opportunities in the long term. It is highly interactive and dynamic, featuring quizzes and live discussions with the audience.

The career landscape for STEM PhD candidates and graduates has changed dramatically. Academic positions are increasingly scarce, while industry roles are evolving rapidly under the influence of AI, automation, and new hiring standards. As a result, landing a great job today requires more than technical excellence—it demands strategic career navigation, including deep market research and optimizing the process via creating a functional sales funnel for a job search.

This workshop is designed to help STEM PhD candidates and graduates understand how the job market really works and how to position themselves competitively within it. Participants will learn how employers evaluate PhDs, how to translate academic skills into industry value, and how to optimize their job-search strategies to stand out in a crowded market. The workshop combines labor-market insights with practical guidance, interactive exercises, and discussion. By the end of the session, participants gain clarity about viable career paths and develop their own Go-To-Market strategy, and learn the basics on how to find great jobs and in competitive job offers.