The 2025 Postdoc Career Development Symposium will be held on Friday, July 25, 2025, at the UC Berkeley Pauley Ballroom. Registration opens in mid-June
- The Postdoc Development Career Symposium is FREE for Berkeley Lab Postdocs and UC Berkeley Postdocs, Visiting Scholars, and Visiting Student Researchers.
- Shuttle Services will be provided from Berkeley Lab Building 65 to Bancroft & Telegraph (next to CAL Student Union) from 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM.
Career Symposium Agenda
Location: MLK Student Union, UC Berkeley
Date: Friday, July 25
Main Locations:
- Session A: West Pauley Ballroom
- Session B: East Pauley Ballroom
- Session C: Stephens Lounge
- Shared Events: West Pauley Ballroom, 3rd Floor Lobby, Patio Outside Pauley Ballroom
Morning Activities (Shared Events)
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Time |
Event |
Location |
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9:00 AM |
Registration Opens |
3rd Floor Lobby |
|
Headshot Appointments Begin |
Patio Outside Pauley Ballroom |
|
|
10:00 AM |
Opening Remarks Carol Burns (LBNL) & Katherine Yelick (UC Berkeley) |
Pauley Ballroom |
| 10:15 AM |
Panel: “Navigating career landscapes in transition” |
West Pauley Ballroom |
Break – 11:15–11:30 AM
Concurrent Sessions Block 1 – 11:30–12:30 PM
|
Session A – West Pauley Ballroom |
Panel: “Getting the Right Kind of Visibility for your Work”
|
Hear from researchers working in different career paths about how they think about publicizing their work, what kind of visibility is beneficial (or not) in their career path, and how they communicate their research vision and impact in different mediums (journals, websites, LinkedIn, etc.) relevant to their fields.
|
|
Session B – East Pauley Ballroom |
Workshop: Interviewing & Negotiation (Mike Matrone) |
This interactive workshop will offer a general overview of the principles of effective interviewing and negotiation that are applicable to any field, as well as resources and further suggestions for preparing for interviews in specific fields (e.g. academia, industry, government).
|
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Session C – Stephens Lounge |
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Networking Lunch – 12:30–1:15 PM
Location: West Pauley Ballroom
Details: Join networking tables with employers and peers.
Concurrent Sessions Block 2 – 1:30 PM–2:30 PM
|
Session A – West Pauley Ballroom |
Panel: “From Research to Startup: Exploring Entrepreneurship” |
Hear about the resources and offices available to support PhDs in exploring entrepreneurship, as well as postdocs who made the leap to starting their own companies. |
|
Session B – East Pauley Ballroom |
CV and Resume Clinic |
This session will begin with a 15-minute workshop discussing the different kinds of application documents required for different positions (academic vs. non-academic CVs, and resumes for non-research positions), followed by time to discuss your own CV and specific questions with an expert in small groups.
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Session C – Stephens Lounge |
Company Info Session
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Break – 2:30–2:45 PM
Concurrent Sessions Block 3 – 2:45–4:15 PM
|
Session A – West Pauley Ballroom |
Workshop: “Your Expertise, Their Language: Telling your story in a way that opens doors” (Thi Nguyen)
|
Learn to network with purpose and communicate your value. In this interactive workshop, you’ll craft a compelling personal pitch, build your LinkedIn or resume summary, and develop strategies for connecting with employers and collaborators. Whether you’re introverted or outgoing, you’ll leave with practical tools to support your job search and career growth. |
|
Session B – East Pauley Ballroom |
CV and Resume Clinic |
This session will begin with a 15-minute workshop discussing the different kinds of application documents required for different positions (academic vs. non-academic CVs, and resumes for non-research positions), followed by time to discuss your own CV and specific questions with an expert in small groups.
|
|
Session C – Stephens Lounge |
Company Info Session
|
Break – 2:15–2:30 PM
Concurrent Sessions Block 4 – 2:30–4:15 PM
|
Session A – West Pauley Ballroom |
Workshop: “From Questions to Offers: Interview & Negotiation Toolkit” (Dr. Mike Matrone) |
Learn principles of interviewing and negotiating across fields. |
|
Session B – East Pauley Ballroom |
Research CV Clinic |
Research-focused CV tips + expert feedback.
|
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Session C – Stephens Lounge |
Company Info Session
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Reception – 4:15 PM
Location: Patio Outside Pauley Ballroom
Details: Close the day with refreshments and informal networking.
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@BerkeleyLab – www.lbl.gov – postdoc-career-fair@lbl.gov – postdoc.lbl.gov – @BerkeleyPostdoc