The Graduate College is excited to announce the first cohort of fellows participating in its Career Exploration Fellowship Program. The program connects doctoral students with university administrative units for substantive, mentored work experiences where they can develop skills and explore new career options while contributing to the broader campus.

The Career Exploration Fellowship advances Graduate College goals related to student-centered graduate education by empowering students to target their development toward a range of career paths. The program also serves to highlight the contributions of doctoral students to the university.

The inaugural Career Exploration Fellowship cohort is comprised of five doctoral students selected to work at four respective host units for the Fall 2022 semester.

• Sneha Das, Microbiology, and Nicole Godellas, Molecular and Integrative Physiology, will lend their talents to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation. Through the fellowship, they will contribute to the Office of Proposal Development and learn how it supports researchers across campus. Sneha and Nicole will also participate in professional development through the Research Development Community.
   
• Heather Ennis, English, will conduct her fellowship experience at the Humanities Research Institute. Heather’s work will touch on multiple special projects to while participating in all aspects of the institute, including its initiatives connected to Humanities Without Walls.
   
• Irati Hurtado Ruiz, Spanish, will join the Campus Engagement and Innovation team at Technology Services. This team works to promote, develop, and implement new, innovative ways of providing and supporting IT services on campus.
   
• Meredith Wilson, Anthropology, will support the efforts of the Graduate College Career Development Office. Meredith’s work this semester will intersect across areas of student services, program development, and communications focusing on graduate students’ professional development.

In addition to their paid hourly positions at their host sites, fellows receive a $6,000 stipend and participate as a group in a series of professional development sessions. These sessions, facilitated by Graduate College Career Development, will allow fellows a space to reflect on their experiences, share accomplishments, and build community with each other.

If you work at a unit on campus and are interested in learning more about hosting a Career Exploration Fellow in the future, please contact gradsuccess@illinois.edu.