Professional Development Opportunities
Graduate Exhibition
The Graduate Schools hosts its annual Graduate Exhibition in the spring semester. Established in 1986, the Graduate Exhibition celebrates research and creative scholarship, in all its aspects, as an essential and exciting part of graduate education at Penn State. You are invited to share your research and creative endeavors with a general audience and take advantage of an opportunity for professional development by challenging yourself to present your work in clear and comprehensible terms to people outside your field. As an exhibitor, you have the option to register for one of the following categories: poster, design, visual arts, video, or music performances. Your college may also have a requirement for you to participate in the Graduate Exhibition, so please check with your program before registering. If you are not presenting, you can learn more about the exciting research, art, and design activities of your fellow graduate students by attending the exhibition events or even serving as a judge.
Visit the Graduate Exhibition (Links to an external site.) website for more information.
Accelerate to Industry
Accelerate to Industry is an innovative approach to workforce training for graduate students. First developed by the North Carolina State University, this program connects graduate students with industry companies to explore employment opportunities. The program helps graduate students develop the business, leadership, and communication skills that companies seek in new employees.
The mission of A2i is to:
- Prepare graduate students, postdocs, and alumni for the wide range of available industry careers
- Help Penn State graduate students secure industry jobs
- Build a program that serves as a touch point for long-term collaborative relationships between industry and universities
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships Program (NSF GRFP) Information Sessions
The NSF GRFP recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in National Science Foundation (NSF)-supported STEM disciplines who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees at accredited US institutions. The five-year fellowship includes three years of financial support including an annual stipend and a cost of education allowance to the institution.
During these sessions, you will learn how to apply for funding offered by the National Science Foundation to support research-based graduate study in select STEM fields.
For more information or to register, please visit the Graduate Research Fellowship Program website.
Grant Writing Workshops
The Graduate School offers three grant writing workshops in the fall semester. Topics on grant writing include Introduction to Grant Writing, the National Science Foundation, and the National Institute of Health. Each workshop includes a presentation on the topic by an expert in the field, with the opportunity to ask questions.
More details about the workshop will be posted on the Graduate School event website in the near future.
Graduate Writing Center Workshops
The Graduate School’s Graduate Writing Center consultants offer several workshops in the fall and spring semesters co-led by instructors from the sciences and the humanities. In addition to the workshops, you are also invited to schedule a one-on-one consultation. You can also participate in the International Write-In at the end of the spring semester.
For more information, visit the Graduate Writing Center website.