Brandeis combines the resources of a world-class research university with the personal attention of a liberal arts setting. The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences offers 17 doctoral programs and more than 40 master's and postbaccalaureate programs.
One of the key differences at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is our emphasis on interdisciplinary learning. You will learn the importance of connecting with people who have a broad range of expertise and experience.
We support all doctoral students and the majority of master’s and post-baccalaureate students who maintain satisfactory academic progress with loans and scholarships.
Professional development at GSAS is for PhD and MA students in all departments and in all stages of their career. Whether you are just starting or are about to finish your degree, the resources we provide are for you. Our goal is to enable students to pursue fulfilling careers in the private sector, academia, non-profits and government.
Brandeis University Mentorship Program for the Sciences
BUMP up your career with the new Brandeis University Mentorship Program for the sciences! BUMP is a new program spearheaded by the Career Development for the Sciences (CDS) student group designed to foster meaningful connections between alums and current graduate students in GSAS science programs. Mentor careers range from private high school teaching, scientific writing/communication, small biotech startups, consulting, and big pharma all the way to CEOs and entrepreneurs. The goal of this student-led program is to provide students with an outside mentor with whom they can discuss their career goals and get advice on how to achieve them. The commitment will include meeting with your mentor at least three times a year (in-person or virtual -- whichever works for the two of you) and both of you filling out a Google form summarizing what was discussed. Built-in flexibility allows you and your mentor to come up with strategies that work best for the both of you.
If you are interested in becoming a part of BUMP as either a mentee or mentor please fill out this sign-up form. Please note that post-docs may only enroll in this program as mentors.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the founders, Molecular and Cell Biology PhD students Anjali Pandey and Camille Sullivan, at bump4thesciences@gmail.com.
If you are a Brandeis graduate student who is in a non-science program and is interested in organizing a similar program for your department, please contact Anjali and Camille! BUMP was designed with the intention to have different spinoff versions.
When scheduling your meeting, we highly recommend you send your mentor at least 3 questions/conversation topics you’d like to cover at least 48 hours prior to your meeting. Some examples can be found below.
How do I achieve my career goals? How do I explore different career options?
Could you tell me a little bit about what your day to day looks like in [X] position?
What skills do you use in your job?
What skills do you think are important for success in your field?
Given what I have told about myself, is there a job description that matches my strengths?
What are some of the most rewarding and challenging aspects of your job?
What is something you wish someone had told you when you were a student?
What was the transition like from grad school to your first/current job?
Sample self introduction format:
a. Your program, year, and lab you are working in
b. 30-60 second summary of what you are working on (thesis work) and possibly any projects you work on outside of the lab (Ex. GDR, Sprout, Icorps, volunteer work)
c. Previous experiences you had (undergraduate experiences, if there was any time between undergrad and graduate school)
For more questions or to practice your intro, please contact Marika McCann (marika@brandeis.edu).
