Professional Conferences

Preparation for a career in a STEM field is not about just earning a degree.  Attending Professional Conferences is a great way to network and acquire knowledge, as well as provide you with a sense of belonging to a group that shares your passion.  Making connections with others in your field is very important. You want people to know your name and your aspirations.  Begin cultivating the skill of connecting with people early on in your career by attending Professional Conferences as an undergraduate.

Meeting others and hearing about their aspirations and accomplishments will help you get ideas for the directions in which you’d like your career to go, as well as ideas for potential collaborations. 

• To learn about key issues in the industry as a whole (and your area of interest in particular)
• To meet people and organizations addressing these same key issues
• To meet people with whom you’ve established a relationship on social media
• To learn about job, internship, project and other work-based possibilities
• To learn about fellowship and grant opportunities relevant to your area(s) of interest
• To gain insight into the experiences of others who face challenges similar to yours
• To learn about publications and other resources relevant to your area(s) of interest
• To forge partnerships with colleagues who address key common issues/concerns
• To identify opportunities for service within the profession as a whole, and possibly through the professional association (if any) that is sponsoring the conference
• To demonstrate your commitment to the profession and organization sponsoring the conference

To learn more about attending professional conferences, contact the Pre-Professional Advisor in your area of study.