Graduate School

Ph.D. Hooding Reception
2025-12-21 11:30 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Carrier Ballroom, Statler Hotel, 130 Statler Drive, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
The Graduate School will hold a private hooding reception for Ph.D. candidates at the Statler Carrier Ballroom immediately following the December 21 Recognition Ceremony. Candidates are invited to attend this ceremonial hooding, in which a faculty member places the hood over the shoulders of the graduate to signify their success in completing their Ph.D. program. A professional photographer will capture photos of the ceremonial hooding.
Ph.D. candidates who register to attend the University December Recognition Ceremony will be sent an invitation to this special event and will need to enter a separate RSVP to attend.
At 12 noon, Dean Lewis will perform the hooding of our new graduates. Alternatively, graduates may invite their advisors or committee members to attend and perform the hooding.
Ph.D. candidates should wear their appropriate cap, gown, and hood. Faculty members may wear their regalia, but it is not required.
A brunch buffet will be served. Graduates are welcome to bring up to six guests to this reception.
In the days following the event, the Graduate School will email a link to the photographs to all individuals who RSVP’d to this special event.
Please contact the Graduate School with any questions about this event: gradschool@cornell.edu.

OISE Hot Chocolate Bar Drop-In Hours
2026-01-20 16:00 - 17:30 | 102 Mann Library, 237 Mann Drive, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
Join the Graduate School Office of Inclusion and Student Engagement for a cozy hot chocolate bar as we welcome back the graduate community and kick off the spring semester!
Catch up with friends, or make new connections with other graduate students, postdocs, faculty, and staff over a delicious cup of hot cocoa!
Date: January 20, 2026
Time: 4-5:30 pm
Location: Mann Library 102

Bayer B4U 2026 Mentorship Program Information Session
2026-01-21 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-09 14:00 - 15:00 | Webinar
Join an information session to learn about the Bayer Crop Science 2026 University Mentoring Program (B4U).
Building relationships, networks, and a commitment to soft skill development are essential to success as scientists and leaders working in industry – join for a year long mentoring program with established Bayer scientists.
Program Highlights:

MENTORING: 1-on-1, based on technical fit and soft skill development needs
DEVELOPMENT: Bayer-hosted workshops and seminars
NETWORKING: Within Bayer & across 30+ North American Universities
ADVANCEMENT: Career advancement advice
AWARENESS: Build business acumen and develop relationships with industry partner

Who should apply?
Curious scientists and engineers in early career stages (with emphasis on grad students and postdoctoral researchers).
In fields related to plant breeding, plant biology, gene editing, crop physiology, chemistry, environmental science, engineering, computer science, & data science/engineering and more
Applications window: Dec 1, 2025-Feb 22, 2026
Apply Here: https://forms.office.com/e/hw5rcXTqcZ
Mentee selection emails will be sent by March 20th, 2026
Information session dates

December 11, 2025 @ 1pm CST
January 21, 2026 @ 2pm CST
February 9, 2026 @ 1pm CST

Teams Meeting ID:
Meeting ID: 328 713 474 563 8
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Email: bayer.univ.mentoring@bayer.com

Virtual Info Session about Humanities Scholars Program 2026-27 Postdoctoral Associate Positions
2026-01-22 16:30 - 17:30 | Zoom
The Humanities Scholars Program, an undergraduate research initiative in the College of Arts & Sciences, invites applications from Cornell PhD candidates and recent Cornell PhDs for one-year postdoctoral associate positions beginning August 1, 2026. HSP Postdocs teach, mentor, and run workshops for advanced undergraduates in the Humanities Scholars Program. Each position offers a salary of $67,000/year and a $2,000 research fund for the year. Two Postdoctoral Associates will be appointed.
Join faculty director, Verity Platt, for a virtual information session about these two position openings and get your questions answered.
Applications are due February 3, 2026. See the call for applications on HSP’s website.
This virtual info session will take place over Zoom. Registration is required.
Please email any questions to hum-scholars-program@cornell.edu

Building Mentorship Skills for Academic Careers
2026-01-27 15:00 - 16:30 | Mann Library, 237 Mann Drive, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
Pre-registration is required.
In this series of interactive workshops designed for current Cornell graduate students and postdocs and open to those in all fields, you will develop essential research mentoring skills, particularly in disciplines where research is conducted collaboratively and in teams. Learn best practices for mentoring research students and technicians and develop planning and communication skills needed to guide individual mentees and research teams.
All sessions will be practical in nature and feature short pre-readings or videos, case study discussions, and activities to help identify your strengths and desired areas for improvement. Receive a certificate of completion for successfully participating in at least 4 of 5 sessions (dates: 1/27, 2/3, 2/10, 3/3, and 3/17). Interested participants should apply by January 23 with the expectation of attending all workshops and actively participating in small and large group discussions.
Sessions are on Tuesdays between 3:00-4:30 pm ET. See full schedule and topics
Questions?

Contact Dr. Colleen McLinn, futurefaculty@cornell.edu or 607-255-2030

Building Mentorship Skills for Academic Careers is sponsored by the Graduate School’s Future Faculty and Academic Careers program, part of the Office of Career and Professional Development.

Interviewing and Negotiating for Academic Positions
2026-02-12 12:15 - 13:30 | Zoom
An important part of the academic job search is interviewing and then negotiating the offer. Come learn about the art of interviewing for faculty positions from your laptop or mobile device. The format will be a highly interactive Zoom presentation followed by question and answer period.
Presenters: Yael Levitte, Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Development and Diversity, and Colleen McLinn, Graduate School Associate Dean for Professional Development
Register now
Sponsored by the Future Faculty and Academic Careers program in the Graduate School Office of Career and Professional Development, as part of the Academic Job Search Series.
Accommodations: We strive to make our events accessible to all Cornell community members. Individuals who have accessibility accommodations to request should contact futurefaculty@cornell.edu. We ask that requests be made at least one week in advance to help ensure they can be met.
