Career Exploration Fellowship

The Graduate College's Career Exploration Fellowship Program connects doctoral students with administrative units within the university for substantive, mentored work experiences.

The main goal of the program is to enable doctoral students to gain experience and build skills beyond traditional research and teaching roles, aligning their professional development to a wider range of career aspirations. Graduate students develop a number of vital, transferable skills through their work in research and teaching at the university, but students often tell us that they wish they also had the opportunity to get hands-on experience in other kinds of work. Such experience gives graduate students the chance to develop new skills, explore unfamiliar career options, and market themselves more effectively to employers when they graduate. You can read more about the experience of being a Career Exploration Fellow in this GradLIFE blog by a Fall 2023 Fellow.

Apply by October 18, 2026 for Spring 2027 fellowships!

How the Program Works

As a Career Exploration Fellow, selected students will receive the following:

A 25% graduate assistantship at a campus unit. See host units below.
A $3,000 Career Exploration Fellowship from the Graduate College, which will generate a tuition waiver for the semester.
Professional and career development activities facilitated by the Graduate College.

The student's tasks and responsibilities as part of the assistantship will be determined by the host unit (in consultation with the student), and the host unit will provide mentoring and targeted professional development opportunities. In addition to their work with the host unit, the student are required to participate in a twice-monthly career exploration seminar, during which they will reflect on their work and engage in career development activities.

Spring 2027 Host Units

Each of the following campus units is hosting at least one Fellow for the duration of the Spring 2027 semester. Read more about the units and the work a Career Exploration Fellow might do for them below.

The Career Center - FOCUS Assessment

The Career Center exists to empower career choice and action. We coach and support Illinois undergraduate and graduate students as they explore their major and career options, gain experience, build lifelong career management skills, and apply to internships, jobs, and graduate/professional school.

The graduate fellow will support the assessment and program evaluation efforts for the FOCUS program at The Career Center, a career development program for first generation college students. Potential duties may include survey development, facilitation of individual interviews or focus groups, data analysis, documentation of findings and presenting findings to various stakeholders. The fellow will contribute to research, data visualization, and program evaluation to enhance our understanding of student career outcomes and service effectiveness. Click here to learn more about the FOCUS program.

Carle G. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology (IGB)

The Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology is an interdisciplinary research unit that unifies genomics-related work across campus, addressing societal grand challenges through team science. IGB researchers come from many different disciplines, including biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, social sciences, engineering, crop science, and many others, and are brought together by a shared interest in how an understanding of living things can help us make the world a better place. Because of the broad potential impacts of basic and applied genomic research, the IGB has a strong focus on science communication and outreach activities. Our team and institute include members from a wide array of academic backgrounds, and we enjoy discovering how each person's strengths and interests can be incorporated into what we do. Depending on their interests, the Career Development Fellow will have opportunities to work within administrative groups dedicated to external relations, strategic partnerships, communications and outreach, with opportunities for fellow-led writing and activity design projects.

Content and Educational Portfolio Strategy - Gies College of Business (CEPS)

The Content and Educational Portfolio Strategy (CEPS) unit at Gies College of Business supports the College’s goal of advancing access to high-quality business education. Our work spans educational offerings from non-credit courses and certificates to undergraduate and graduate degrees, connecting curriculum strategy, program development, and program and curriculum research across the College.

The Career Exploration Fellow will help CEPS standardize and operationalize key processes by mapping workflows, developing reusable templates and guidance, and testing tools, including AI-assisted approaches. Projects may focus on peer and labor market research, curriculum review, or synthesizing findings to support decisions, with attention to accuracy and appropriate human judgment. The fellow will gain hands-on experience in process improvement, project management, and educational strategy while applying research, analytical, and communication skills to organizational challenges. This role may interest those exploring careers in higher education administration, program or portfolio management, organizational effectiveness, education strategy, or consulting.

Division of Exploratory Studies

The Division of Exploratory Studies (EXP) is a campus unit serving primarily first- and second-year undergraduate students who are exploring majors or are currently undecided. Our advisors play a central role in helping students understand their options, make informed academic decisions, and develop the skills and confidence to navigate their undergraduate experience. The fellow will work closely with the Associate Director for Advising and Student Success to reimagine and strengthen EXP's advisor training and professional development program. The fellow will first participate in our existing advisor training process to gain firsthand experience with the work and learning experience. They will then help us evaluate and rethink the training through several perspectives: their own experience as a learner, input from current advisors, benchmarking with other campus units and institutions, and research-informed approaches to adult learning and professional development. This work will also connect directly to EXP's ongoing assessment efforts. We have recently developed Advisor Learning Outcomes and will be working to align our training with these outcomes as well as the NACADA Core Competencies.

The fellow will help us consider how these frameworks can meaningfully shape what advisors learn, how they learn it, and how we assess their development. An additional area of exploration will be the design and delivery of the training itself. Our current training is delivered primarily through Canvas, and we would welcome the opportunity to explore whether Canvas is the best platform or whether another format, technology, or blended approach would better support advisor learning and ongoing professional development. The fellow will be encouraged to work with campus partners such as the Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning (CITL) and other relevant resources. The fellow will synthesize findings and recommendations and, with unit approval, help redesign and implement improvements to EXP's advisor training program. This project offers a doctoral student the opportunity to apply research and theory in adult learning, assessment, instructional design, and organizational development to a real-world higher education setting.

Graduate College Strategic Communication

The Graduate College at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign serves over 20,000 graduate students across various academic and professional disciplines, catering to a wide range of educational goals, interests, and needs. The Strategic Communications team in the Graduate College includes expertise in communications, IT, and data. Our team collaborates with all units in the Graduate College and programs across campus to create and disseminate content relevant to graduate students.

The Digital Media Fellow will assist in developing visual content for the Graduate College’s social media, website, blog, and newsletters, and contributing to the overall communications strategy for digital media. This role offers an opportunity to gain professional experience through becoming part of our team and by contributing to specific projects as well as long-term strategies for communicating with diverse audiences. Specific activities may vary based on the fellow’s skills and interests.

Graduate College Student Success

The Student Success team in the Graduate College works to improve graduate education at Illinois by supporting students in their academic, personal, and professional needs. To do this, we provide a variety of resources including individual academic success and career advising, and by planning and hosting workshops and social events for the graduate student community.

The fellow will primarily contribute toward the development of a new departmental toolkit by meeting with faculty and student leadership to identify career and professional needs, as well as existing programs and resources in use across campus. Using this information, the fellow will also assist in developing and improving materials to better support the professional needs of graduate students and their faculty advisors. The fellow will also have the opportunity to assist in other Student Success outreach initiatives and events throughout the semester, as needed, including Graduate Student Appreciation Week and Research Live!

This role is a good option for students interested in building skills and experience in needs assessment, program design, content development, career services, and student affairs.

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) works to create and maintain a healthy coastal environment and economy in the southern Lake Michigan region through research, education, and outreach. By connecting decision-makers—from resource managers to residents of all ages—with the latest science, we help strengthen and preserve ecosystems and communities. IISG is a partnership among the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Purdue University, and University of Illinois. At the University of Illinois, IISG is based out of Extension in the College of ACES.

As a graduate fellow, you will gain hands-on experience in curriculum development, STEM education, and educator professional learning. The graduate fellow will work with the IISG Education Team to review and update existing K-12 Great Lakes education curricula, with a particular focus on Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) alignment, instructional implementation, and educator usability. Additional responsibilities may include developing supporting educational materials, evaluating curriculum resources, and assisting with the planning, coordination, and, when feasible, delivery of educator workshops and training events. Off-campus workshop facilitation is optional and will be based on the Fellow’s interest and availability.

This position is well suited for a graduate student interested in K-12 education, curriculum and instructional design, science education, teacher professional development, or educational program management. Through collaboration with Sea Grant educators and partners, the graduate fellow will gain insight into how research-based educational programs are developed, adapted, and delivered to support educators and learners throughout the Great Lakes region.

International Education

International Education (IE) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign creates opportunities for students to develop global awareness, intercultural understanding, meaningful connections, and a sense of belonging. Through educational programs, student leadership opportunities, intercultural dialogue, and collaborative campus partnerships, IE engages both domestic and international students in learning experiences that extend beyond the classroom.

The International Education Career Exploration Fellow will work closely with professional staff to support the development, implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement of co-curricular programs serving Illinois students. This position is designed as a mentored exploration of higher education administration, student development, educational programming, assessment, and program management. Based on their interests, skills, and professional goals the Fellow will have opportunities to contribute to projects including educational programming, program development, information management, assessment & evaluation and more.

Office of Research, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

The LAS/OR champions research across more than 60+ diverse disciplines represented in the CLAS. Our mission is to foster both disciplinary and collaborative interdisciplinary research tackling local, regional, and global challenges. As a Career Exploration Fellow in the Office of Research, you will join a team committed to advancing LAS research through the strategic management of resources, research infrastructure, and programmatic support. As a Fellow, you will engage with staff across the College (MarCom, Advancement, Public Engagement) to gain insight into their roles, understand how our teams work together to facilitate and celebrate LAS research, and explore diverse career trajectories. You will also attend meetings and help plan events, such as the Research Resource forums, which provide researchers with professional development tools to help them navigate institutional policies, funding-agency requirements, and develop their collaborative networks. The LAS/OR engages with a wide range of offices and researchers, and this gives us the ability to tailor the fellowship to your interests. So, if you think you might enjoy engaging with researchers in the humanities, social sciences, life, physical, and mathematical sciences, who take diverse approaches to addressing grand challenges, all while dipping your toes into the world of research development, join our team as a Fellow this year!

Program in Jewish Culture and Society (PJCS)

The Program in Jewish Culture and Society (PJCS) at the University of Illinois is dedicated to the study of global Jewish cultures, their histories, literatures, and religion. Through our courses and expansive programming – from Klezmer to Israeli cinema lectures, seminars, and workshops, the Program, populated by award-winning faculty, explores the richness and multiplicity of Jewish worlds past and present. We engage students, faculty, and community while fostering dialogue about a range of concerns.

A Career Exploration Fellow would work to get the word out about our Program to undergraduate students. We have a cohort of graduate students who pursue the Jewish Studies Certificate, attend our programs, and participate in our workshops. Our lectures are well attended by faculty and members of the community. But PJCS remains a well -kept secret among University of Illinois undergraduates.

We seek a career exploration fellow who will design events that would attract undergraduates and increase the number of majors, minors, and enrollments. Possible programs might include a book club, movie nights followed by discussion, field trips to Jewish sights in the Midwest, an essay contest. These events would provide the fellow with creative opportunities and administrative experiences while building the Program’s following on campus.

If you work at a unit on campus and are interested in hosting a Career Exploration Fellow in Spring 2027 or later, please contact us at gradsuccess@illinois.edu.

Eligibility

Applicants must be enrolled in good standing in a PhD, DMA, EdD, or AudD program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Applicants must be graduating May 2027 or after.
During Spring 2027, Career Exploration Fellows may not hold more than a 25% appointment (or equivalent) in addition to their position and Fellowship. Any additional employment must be confirmed in advance by the Graduate College. The number of hours a Fellow can work at their host site may be impacted by visa status.
At the finalist phase, applicants must confirm their participation with their advisor or Director of Graduate Studies before they can be selected.
Career Exploration Fellowship activities typically happen primarily in-person, on campus. (If you will be working remotely during Spring 2027, you are still eligible to apply though host units may consider that when making their decisions. If you will need to work remotely, please indicate it in your response to Question 21 of the application.)
Career Exploration Fellows must commit to attending eight to ten 90-minute professional development sessions hosted by the Graduate College Career Development office throughout the Spring semester.

Application

Applications will be accepted through October 18, 2026.

Applications consist of the following items:

A completed application form
A professional resume (see this handout for more information about resumes, and consider making a career advising appointment to work on yours)
Fellowship Application Statements (no more than 500 words each)
- Statement 1: How do you feel participating in the Career Exploration Fellowship will contribute to your career and professional development? How could it help you clarify or pursue your goals?
- Statement 2: A key part of the Career Exploration Fellowship is a collaborative professional development seminar, during which participants share with and learn from one another. In this response, 1) describe your commitment to diversity and inclusion in the academic, professional, or civic realm through your work experience, volunteer engagement, or leadership of student or community organizations, and 2) discuss how that commitment will help you contribute to the intellectual and collaborative community of the Fellowship.
Host Site Selection Statements
- Rank your top 3 host sites
- Statement 1: Indicate why are you interested in the host sites you ranked (3-4 sentences per site)
- Statement 2: What are some of the key skills, experiences, or perspectives that you would bring to your host site? What strengths have helped you succeed in previous academic or professional experiences? (300 words max)
- Statement 3: What are some skills you would like to develop or refine during your work with a host site? (300 words max)

In order to provide more comprehensive answers to these questions, we encourage you to to use tools that can help you reflect on your career goals. Consider engaging with individual development plans (like myIDP or ImaginePhD) or self-assessments (like our skills worksheet and values worksheet).

Questions?