CAPD has services in Building 7 and Building E17! Learn where to go for what you need.

PhD Students

If you’re in a PhD program at MIT, you are an exceptional researcher and scholar. With your deep knowledge and skills set, there are no limits to what you can achieve. When you can do so much, narrowing your options and making decisions about what you want to do and where you want to go can be daunting. We’re here to help. Visit CAPD for a one-on-one conversation and address your questions with an advisor, use our resources to learn new skills like networking, and join our workshops to help you refine your job documents and search strategies. Whether you decide to pursue a career in academe, government, non-profit, or industry CAPD is ready to support you.

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Career Appointments

Schedule a one-on-one career advising appointment to discuss any career questions you might have. All of our advisors are trained and experienced in working with PhDs. We can help you with exploration and planning, job/internship searches, application materials, interviews, salary negotiations, and any other questions or concerns. Have questions about PhD career advising? Contact Alexis Boyer.

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Application materials for PhDs and Postdocs: Examples and how-to guides

These resources are designed for MIT PhDs and postdocs to serve as guides through the process of career document preparation. Whether you’re converting your CV into a resume for an industry role, refining your CV for an academic job search, or creating other documents, you’ll find examples, how-to guides, and strategies here.

The words "graduate student professional development' over a backdrop of an MIT dome

Graduate Professional Development

MIT’s comprehensive collection of professional development opportunities are designed to help graduate students develop skills and knowledge valuable for any career path you decide to follow, within and beyond academe.

Graduate student professional development is skills-based training complementary to your discipline-based coursework, focusing on seven competency areas: career advancement, communication, interpersonal development, leadership and mentoring, personal development, social responsibility, and teaching.

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Career Exploration for PhDs

Have you ever wondered what’s out there for someone with your advanced skills and training? How do you find out what all the options are for PhDs? How did your mentors and advisors start their careers? Apply your researcher’s mind to career exploration and find answers to your most pressing questions about PhD careers. CAPD has what you need to start exploring career possibilities and forge your own path.

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Workshops and Events

Take advantage of all MIT has to offer by participating in Institute career fairs and CAPD workshops and events tailored for PhDs. Refine your job documents, discover ways to develop your professional skills before you hit the job market, or learn how to leverage the power of your MIT network.

  • Hear about upcoming CAPD events through the Graduate Career Newsletter. Not getting the newsletter? Check your spam filters to make sure it gets through from Handshake!
  • Is your organization or academic department interested in specialized graduate career programming? Contact Alexis Boyer.

FORGE Product Development Grant for Startups and Existing Businesses with Underrepresented Leadership

News & Articles

Applications are now open for the FORGE Product Development Grant for Startups and Existing Businesses with Underrepresented Leadership.

Supported by the Eastern Bank Foundation, this funding opportunity provides $3,000 to $50,000 in non-dilutive funding to help hardtech companies address a …

By Tianna Ransom
Tianna Ransom Assistant Director, Career Exploration
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QS ranks MIT the world’s No. 1 university for 2026-27

News & Articles

Ranking at the top for the 15th year in a row, the Institute also places first in 12 subject areas.

MIT has again been named the world’s top university by the QS World University Rankings, which were announced today. This …

By Janine Sazinsky
Janine Sazinsky Employer Relations Coordinator
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Become a Climate Action Ambassador

News & Articles

The Campus Climate Action Ambassadors program empowers MIT staff, faculty, and students to lead sustainability and climate action efforts within their departments, labs, centers, and student groups. Ambassadors receive training, resources, and support from the MIT Office of Sustainability to …

By Kendel Jester
Kendel Jester Assistant Director, Early Career Engagement
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Susquehanna: STEM stock rising in quantitative finance

News & Articles

Physicsworld.com | April 17, 2026

In a recent feature on Physics World, read about MIT PhD alum (Mathematics) Lyubo Panchev, a quantitative researcher at Susquehanna, and how his academic background and career path has led to his current quantitative finance role.

…

By Janine Sazinsky
Janine Sazinsky Employer Relations Coordinator
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Handshake 101: What it is & how to use it*

Resources

CAPD is committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive environment for everyone we serve. If you need any disability-related accommodations to access Handshake, please email capd@mit.edu and our staff will be happy to set up appointments or assist in navigating other …

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Featured Resources

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Academia & education job/internship search sites

Comprehensive job sites that list academic positions (higher education) at all different levels and for all fields (mostly focused within …

Application Materials for a Faculty Job Search

The following materials are commonly requested when you apply for a faculty job in any department and/or discipline in the …

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Interviews for faculty positions almost always consist of two rounds: a first-round “Zoom interview” and then a “fly-out,” a campus …

Choosing between job offers (worksheet)

Receiving two or more job offers can be both an exciting and stressful time. Whether you are waiting to hear …

Academic Job Offers

If you receive an academic job offer, express interest, and then take the time to carefully assess whether the offer …

Tips for virtual career fairs

Virtual career fairs offer the opportunity for students and employers to connect in ways that transcend physical distances, at greater …

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