2026 Thriving as an International Scholar Session 1: Why do international researchers need specialized professional development?

International scientists and scholars face unique barriers to career success due to a restrictive immigration system not aligned with the dynamic and ongoing changes in career paths of PhDs, a substantial hidden curriculum implicit in graduate education, and a general lack of socio-economic support systems and access to fewer resources.
Drawing from best practices of professional development, this series will focus on actionable guidance for international PhD students and postdocs to enhance professional success during graduate training, and in a wide variety of future careers within and beyond the United States. This series draws from ‘Thriving As An International Scientist’ (Oct 2025, UC Press) by Sonali Majumdar, Assistant Dean, GradFUTURES.

Topics include:
Why do international scientists and scholars need specialized professional development?
Growth mindset to fight deficit thinking amid restrictive environment
Creative design for training success and dynamic future/s
Communicating strengths and skills of International Scholars
Building communities of mentors and champions
Strategic and intentional career planning: IDP and immigration portfolio
Job Search in the United States
Strategies for Global Mobility
Thriving despite systemic challenges, disparities and uncertainties

International scientists and scholars face unique barriers to career success due to a restrictive immigration system not aligned with the dynamic and ongoing changes in career paths of PhDs, a substantial hidden curriculum implicit in graduate education, and a general lack of socio-economic support systems and access to fewer resources.
Drawing from best practices of professional development, this series will focus on actionable guidance for international PhD students and postdocs to enhance professional success during graduate training, and in a wide variety of future careers within and beyond the United States. This series draws from ‘Thriving As An International Scientist’ (Oct 2025, UC Press) by Sonali Majumdar, Assistant Dean, GradFUTURES.

Topics include:
Why do international scientists and scholars need specialized professional development?
Growth mindset to fight deficit thinking amid restrictive environment
Creative design for training success and dynamic future/s
Communicating strengths and skills of International Scholars
Building communities of mentors and champions
Strategic and intentional career planning: IDP and immigration portfolio
Job Search in the United States
Strategies for Global Mobility
Thriving despite systemic challenges, disparities and uncertainties

International scientists and scholars face unique barriers to career success due to a restrictive immigration system not aligned with the dynamic and ongoing changes in career paths of PhDs, a substantial hidden curriculum implicit in graduate education, and a general lack of socio-economic support systems and access to fewer resources.
Drawing from best practices of professional development, this series will focus on actionable guidance for international PhD students and postdocs to enhance professional success during graduate training, and in a wide variety of future careers within and beyond the United States. This series draws from ‘Thriving As An International Scientist’ (Oct 2025, UC Press) by Sonali Majumdar, Assistant Dean, GradFUTURES.

Topics include:
Why do international scientists and scholars need specialized professional development?
Growth mindset to fight deficit thinking amid restrictive environment
Creative design for training success and dynamic future/s
Communicating strengths and skills of International Scholars
Building communities of mentors and champions
Strategic and intentional career planning: IDP and immigration portfolio
Job Search in the United States
Strategies for Global Mobility
Thriving despite systemic challenges, disparities and uncertainties

International scientists and scholars face unique barriers to career success due to a restrictive immigration system not aligned with the dynamic and ongoing changes in career paths of PhDs, a substantial hidden curriculum implicit in graduate education, and a general lack of socio-economic support systems and access to fewer resources.
Drawing from best practices of professional development, this series will focus on actionable guidance for international PhD students and postdocs to enhance professional success during graduate training, and in a wide variety of future careers within and beyond the United States. This series draws from ‘Thriving As An International Scientist’ (Oct 2025, UC Press) by Sonali Majumdar, Assistant Dean, GradFUTURES.

Topics include:
Why do international scientists and scholars need specialized professional development?
Growth mindset to fight deficit thinking amid restrictive environment
Creative design for training success and dynamic future/s
Communicating strengths and skills of International Scholars
Building communities of mentors and champions
Strategic and intentional career planning: IDP and immigration portfolio
Job Search in the United States
Strategies for Global Mobility
Thriving despite systemic challenges, disparities and uncertainties

International scientists and scholars face unique barriers to career success due to a restrictive immigration system not aligned with the dynamic and ongoing changes in career paths of PhDs, a substantial hidden curriculum implicit in graduate education, and a general lack of socio-economic support systems and access to fewer resources.
Drawing from best practices of professional development, this series will focus on actionable guidance for international PhD students and postdocs to enhance professional success during graduate training, and in a wide variety of future careers within and beyond the United States. This series draws from ‘Thriving As An International Scientist’ (Oct 2025, UC Press) by Sonali Majumdar, Assistant Dean, GradFUTURES.

Topics include:
Why do international scientists and scholars need specialized professional development?
Growth mindset to fight deficit thinking amid restrictive environment
Creative design for training success and dynamic future/s
Communicating strengths and skills of International Scholars
Building communities of mentors and champions
Strategic and intentional career planning: IDP and immigration portfolio
Job Search in the United States
Strategies for Global Mobility
Thriving despite systemic challenges, disparities and uncertainties

International scientists and scholars face unique barriers to career success due to a restrictive immigration system not aligned with the dynamic and ongoing changes in career paths of PhDs, a substantial hidden curriculum implicit in graduate education, and a general lack of socio-economic support systems and access to fewer resources.
Drawing from best practices of professional development, this series will focus on actionable guidance for international PhD students and postdocs to enhance professional success during graduate training, and in a wide variety of future careers within and beyond the United States. This series draws from ‘Thriving As An International Scientist’ (Oct 2025, UC Press) by Sonali Majumdar, Assistant Dean, GradFUTURES.

Topics include:
Why do international scientists and scholars need specialized professional development?
Growth mindset to fight deficit thinking amid restrictive environment
Creative design for training success and dynamic future/s
Communicating strengths and skills of International Scholars
Building communities of mentors and champions
Strategic and intentional career planning: IDP and immigration portfolio
Job Search in the United States
Strategies for Global Mobility
Thriving despite systemic challenges, disparities and uncertainties

International scientists and scholars face unique barriers to career success due to a restrictive immigration system not aligned with the dynamic and ongoing changes in career paths of PhDs, a substantial hidden curriculum implicit in graduate education, and a general lack of socio-economic support systems and access to fewer resources.
Drawing from best practices of professional development, this series will focus on actionable guidance for international PhD students and postdocs to enhance professional success during graduate training, and in a wide variety of future careers within and beyond the United States. This series draws from ‘Thriving As An International Scientist’ (Oct 2025, UC Press) by Sonali Majumdar, Assistant Dean, GradFUTURES.

Topics include:
Why do international scientists and scholars need specialized professional development?
Growth mindset to fight deficit thinking amid restrictive environment
Creative design for training success and dynamic future/s
Communicating strengths and skills of International Scholars
Building communities of mentors and champions
Strategic and intentional career planning: IDP and immigration portfolio
Job Search in the United States
Strategies for Global Mobility
Thriving despite systemic challenges, disparities and uncertainties

International scientists and scholars face unique barriers to career success due to a restrictive immigration system not aligned with the dynamic and ongoing changes in career paths of PhDs, a substantial hidden curriculum implicit in graduate education, and a general lack of socio-economic support systems and access to fewer resources.
Drawing from best practices of professional development, this series will focus on actionable guidance for international PhD students and postdocs to enhance professional success during graduate training, and in a wide variety of future careers within and beyond the United States. This series draws from ‘Thriving As An International Scientist’ (Oct 2025, UC Press) by Sonali Majumdar, Assistant Dean, GradFUTURES.

Topics include:
Why do international scientists and scholars need specialized professional development?
Growth mindset to fight deficit thinking amid restrictive environment
Creative design for training success and dynamic future/s
Communicating strengths and skills of International Scholars
Building communities of mentors and champions
Strategic and intentional career planning: IDP and immigration portfolio
Job Search in the United States
Strategies for Global Mobility
Thriving despite systemic challenges, disparities and uncertainties

International scientists and scholars face unique barriers to career success due to a restrictive immigration system not aligned with the dynamic and ongoing changes in career paths of PhDs, a substantial hidden curriculum implicit in graduate education, and a general lack of socio-economic support systems and access to fewer resources.
Drawing from best practices of professional development, this series will focus on actionable guidance for international PhD students and postdocs to enhance professional success during graduate training, and in a wide variety of future careers within and beyond the United States. This series draws from ‘Thriving As An International Scientist’ (Oct 2025, UC Press) by Sonali Majumdar, Assistant Dean, GradFUTURES.

Topics include:
Why do international scientists and scholars need specialized professional development?
Growth mindset to fight deficit thinking amid restrictive environment
Creative design for training success and dynamic future/s
Communicating strengths and skills of International Scholars
Building communities of mentors and champions
Strategic and intentional career planning: IDP and immigration portfolio
Job Search in the United States
Strategies for Global Mobility
Thriving despite systemic challenges, disparities and uncertainties