Professional Development

 

Students are strongly encouraged to partake in several of the department’s initiatives to enhance their studies and research experiences through internships, conferences, workshops, and specialized course training while globally broadening their network.

For professional development events hosted by members of the Chemistry Department, please visit our calendar.

  • CHM3000H Graduate Professional Development for Research and Teaching in Chemistry is a compulsory program requirement for students who begin in 2020/21.   In addition, doctoral students must complete a minimum of 18 hours (24 hours for direct-entry students) of additional professional development training spread evenly over the categories:  Communication, Personal Effectiveness and Research and Teaching Skills. Refer to the list of eligible professional development opportunities. Consult with the Graduate Office, if applicable.
     
  • Chemistry Travel Grant Program provides financial support to enable doctoral students to travel to conferences; an opportunity to put their own research into a broader context and provide students with additional experience at presenting results in a scientific forum. Student’s supervisor must provide funding towards the conference travel costs that matches at least the value of the travel grant.  The call for applications is sent out in the fall.  
     
  • Chemistry Teaching Fellowship Program provides financial incentives and opportunities to develop specific teaching initiatives, under the supervision of a faculty member.  The objective is to provide a high quality learning experience in developing pedagogical tools that would benefit both the graduate student in their future careers and directly enhance the quality of instruction currently in the department.  Additional activities will include participation in the TATP where participants develop their teaching philosophy statements.  Participation in CTFP will generally be for one term.  The call for proposals is sent out in April of each year.
     
  • Chemistry Graduate Mentorship Program is a professional development activity that pairs current graduate students with departmental alumni now working in professional capacities for ayear of structured one-on-one mentoring. This program is designed to foster career development and pairs current graduate students with departmental alumni now working in professional capacities for a year of one-on-one mentorship (January – December).  During the program, alumni mentors and graduate student mentees interact on a monthly basis. The program enables mentees to explore career options and opportunities, develop and enhance a professional network, and build non-technical skills as they prepare to enter the workforce following graduate school.  
     
  • Mentorship Coffee Breaks is an informal professional development and mentorship opportunity that pairs current graduate students with departmental alumni now working in professional capacities. 
     
  • Special Opportunity Travel Fellowship provides funding for doctoral students to undertake research at a different institution (university, government or industry), to attend a summer school or specialized training course anywhere in the world or to attend a conference in the general area of their research or in pedagogy.  No financial contribution from the supervisor is required.  The call for applications is sent out in the fall and winter sessions. 
     
  • Student-Hosted Visiting Speaker Program provides opportunity for students to invite scholars to give a lecture, organize and host the visit. The guest will have significant interaction with students.
      
  • School of Continuing Studies Course Reimbursement supports the pursuit of additional professional courses that are relevant to students' career ambitions.  The SCS offers a wide variety of short courses that may be taken in person or online.  Up to $750 will be provided for all PhD students.   Forward your request to the Graduate Office to apply. 
     
  • Student-run career fairs, symposia, retreats, special seminars by visiting scholars, networking events and workshops. 

Additionally, the Graduate Office hosts the ACS PfLAGS workshop, recruitment visits by industrial companies, b2B events and brown bag lunches.    

Explore other professional development activities offered across the university. 

Funding for Internships/Research Study

 

Other Travel Grant Programs for Conferences