GradFUTURES Forum Professional Development Conference (Hosted by Princeton University)
2026-03-23 09:00 - 2026-03-27 13:00 (America/New_York) | Online
About the GradFUTURES Forum

On behalf of the Princeton University Graduate School, Cornell graduate students and postdocs are cordially invited to attend the virtual sessions of the 2026 GradFUTURES Forum Graduate Student Professional Development Conference to be held March 23-27. Founded in 2020, the GradFUTURES Forum is a week-long professional development conference that is FREE and OPEN to graduate students from other institutions across the country and around the world.

Featuring dozens of keynote speakers, skill-building workshops, career panels, the conference offers dozens of online programs that support graduate students’ and postdocs’ success and prepare them for diverse career pathways.
Please visit this webpage to view the schedule (click on each date) and register for virtual sessions.
Online talks incude:

The Professional Development Advantage: Rodney Priestley and Eva Kubu, Princeton Graduate School
Understanding the changing PhD opportunity landscape: Matt Sigelman, Burning Glass Institute
Innovative Approaches for supporting International Graduate Students: Fanta Aw (NAFSA), Amy Nice (Institute for Progress, Former White House OSTP), Violet Buxton-Walsh (Institute for Progress) and Robin Catmur-Smith (International Student Resource Center)
Global Careers: Thriving As An International Scholar, Sonali Majumdar, Princeton Graduate School

Language Circle
2026-03-23 17:00 - 18:00 | Big Red Barn, 135 Presidents Way, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
Join us every Monday to learn a new language, brush up on an old one, or get more fluent through conversations with fellow graduate students who study these languages or are native speakers.
This spring, languages include Italian, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Mandarin, Arabic, Russian, Norwegian, and French. Facilitators will be present for all!

If you are interested in facilitating Spanish, Korean, or any other non-English language, please email bigredbarn@cornell.edu

Knitting at the Barn
2026-03-24 17:30 - 19:00 | Big Red Barn, 135 Presidents Way, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
Do you love fiber crafts or want to learn? Come to the Barn on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 – 7 p.m.! This event is for both those interested in learning fiber arts and those who want to make steady progress on an existing project. Materials and guidance will be provided if needed.
This event usually occurs at 1-2 tables in the main space or greenhouse area of the Barn; email brb.art.fellow@gmail.com if you would like to be added to the group chat or request accessibility accommodations.

BRB Trivia
2026-03-24 19:00 - 21:00 | Big Red Barn, 135 Presidents Way, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
Trivia is back weekly on Tuesdays 7 PM to 9 PM at the Big Red Barn. Come with a team or show up on your own and see our trivia host, Jacob, to be matched with an existing team. All are welcome!

Explore Careers Outside Academia
2026-03-26 11:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
In today’s day and age, more and more postdocs and graduate students are open to the idea of careers beyond academia. Have you ever wondered how to start this transition and what are some things you need to think about before taking action? In this session, we will talk about how to start exploring career options outside of academia and some of the thought process behind it. Register to attend.
Presented by Graduate School Career and Professional Development staff and aimed at Ph.D. students and postdoctoral scholars.
Presenter: Susi Varvayanis, Executive Director of Careers Beyond Academia

T.G.I.F.
2026-03-27 16:30 - 19:00 | Big Red Barn, 135 Presidents Way, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
Tell Grad’s It’s Friday is a Graduate and Professional Student-focused weekly event. Graduate students, Post Docs, Faculty, Staff, and PhDs are welcome to attend with one guest each; all guests must be 23+. Undergraduate students are not allowed to attend.
