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Career Support & Development

If you choose a career in academia or outside of it, you will gain a broad and in-depth set of abilities while you complete your PhD at Yale.  The Graduate School is available to assist you in developing your research, teaching, and mentoring abilities within your field of study, in reflecting on what more you would like to learn, and in providing opportunities for professional development outside of your department.

Academic Jobs 

If you choose to pursue an academic career, you will want to rely on the resources within your own program, including your primary adviser, dissertation committee members, Director of Graduate Studies, and in some departments, Placement Officer. Each discipline takes a different approach to the job search, and those in your field will be familiar with the most productive options for you. The Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Professional Development, Suzanne Young (suzanne.young@yale.edu) can also advise you on preparing for the academic job market.

Careers Beyond the Academy

If you are considering a career outside academia, the Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Professional Development, Suzanne Young (suzanne.young@yale.edu) can help you think through different career trajectories, locate skills you want to develop, connect with alumni, prepare for interviews, identify employment opportunities, and more. Sign up for a one-on-one coaching session with Suzanne Young.

GSAS Professional Experience Fellowship (GPE)

The GSAS Professional Experience (GPE) Fellowship is designed to expand opportunities for PhD students to strengthen their professional skills and broaden career exposure by working with experienced administrators outside of their academic programs. Host offices across Yale take advantage of the diverse array of skills that Ph.D. students offer to advance their programming and projects.

Why Do a GPE Fellowship?

The fellowship experience advances your professional development and career awareness, whether you are pursuing a career inside or outside of the academy. You gain exposure to academic administration, as well as many professional roles typical of organizations outside of academia. You work closely with a host mentor as you develop skills in strategic planning, research, project management, program design, communications, and data analysis. 

Fellowship Terms

Eligibility:  Fellows must be currently matriculated Yale doctoral students in years 2-6* of their studies during the fellowship.
Term:  Fellows work at a Yale host organization under the guidance of the host mentor for 5-7 hours per week over the course of 13-15 weeks during the semester.
Stipend:  Fellows receive $1500 for fellowships.
International students should consult with your OISS advisor to confirm eligibility.
Please note:  The GPE Fellowship does not count towards the fulfillment of your teaching requirement.  For more information on teaching requirements, please see the GSAS website.
* 7th-year students with COVID-related funding extensions from GSAS are eligible to apply.

To apply for a GPE Fellow position: Submit an updated resume and cover letter to gsasprofessionaldevelopment@yale.edu with the subject header “[Name of Fellow position]” by July 7, 2023.  

Below are the openings for Fall 2023. Students may apply for up to 3 positions per semester.

  • Asian American Cultural Center Fellow [PDF]
  • Center for Collaborative Arts and Media (CCAM) Communications Fellow [PDF]
  • Cushing Whitney Medical Library Exhibition Curation Fellow [PDF]
  • Life Worth Living Program Design Fellow [PDF]
  • MacMillan Center Program on Refugees Program Development Fellow [PDF]
  • Office of Postdoctoral Affairs Strategic Data Fellow [PDF]
  • Office of International Students and Scholars DEIB Initiatives Fellow [PDF]
  • Office of New Haven Affairs Community Outreach and Education Fellow [PDF]
  • Office of Public Affairs and Communications Fellow in Storytellling and Media Relations [PDF]
  • Office of the Provost Digital & Strategic Communications Fellow [PDF]
  • Office of the Secretary and Vice President for University Life Fellow for Democratic Participation [PDF]
  • Schwarzman Center Community Engagement Fellow [PDF]
  • Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking at Yale Strategic Initiatives Fellow [PDF]
  • Whitney Humanities Center Graduate Outreach Advisor Fellow [PDF]
  • Women Faculty Forum Research & Advocacy Fellow [PDF]
  • Yale Alumni Association Fellow [PDF]
  • Yale Center for British Art Archives Photo Research Fellow [PDF]
  • Yale Prison Education Initiative at Dwight Hall Reentry or Strategic Communications Fellow [PDF]
  • Yale Program to Advance Training in Health and Sciences DEI Fellow [PDF]
  • Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science Communications Fellow [PDF]
  • Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science Design Fellow [PDF]
  • Yale School of Medicine Office for Women in Medicine & Science Gender Equity Fellow [PDF]
  • Yale Summer Session Online Education Fellow [PDF]
  • Yale University Library Community Engagement & Research Fellow [PDF]
  • Yale University Library DEIA Fellow for Accessibility Initiatives [PDF]
  • Yale University Library DEIA Fellow for Communications [PDF]

Yale Graduate Impact (YGI) Fellowship

The YGI Fellowship invites applications from current Yale Humanities Ph.D. students who wish to pursue external work experiences related to their academic research at organizations outside of Yale. YGI Fellows develop key professional skills and gain work experience, while furthering their scholarly goals. The program provides funding for positions that would otherwise be unpaid. Students may apply to existing opportunities but are encouraged to design their own positions in conversation with an appropriate organization.

Fellowship Terms

Fellowship start and end dates are flexible, but generally begin in September and end in December.  The deadline for Fall 2023 applications is August 15, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.

Eligibility: Fellows must be currently matriculated Yale Humanities Ph.D. students in years 2-6* of study and have been admitted to candidacy before the fellowship.

Term: Fellows work at an external organization under the guidance of the host supervisor for no more than 10 hours per week over a maximum 16 weeks during the semester and no more than 10 hours per week over a maximum 12 weeks during the summer session.

Stipend:  Fellows receive a stipend of up to $2200 for the 2023 Summer and up to $2900 for the 2023 Fall and 2024 Spring. The total stipend amount will be calculated based on the number of hours and weeks worked at an hourly rate of $18 per hour.

International students should consult with your OISS advisor to confirm eligibility. Eligible candidates will be required to apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), as per immigration policy. Please reach out to your OISS advisor for application specifics. Also, note that if you have a TF20 teaching position, you may not be eligible for this fellowship. Under the current policy, international students are not allowed to work for more than 20 hours per week.

Requirements: You will be required to register for the course “GSAS 903c Post-Candidacy Applied Research Experience” if your application is approved. In addition, all fellows are required to submit a written reflection paper at the end of the fellowship.

Students registered in absentia are eligible to apply.

* 7th-year students on departmental COVID extensions in Fall 2022 are eligible to apply.
Advising & Support

Questions? Contact Suzanne Young, Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Professional Development.

Application
To apply for the YGI Fellowship, students should submit the following in a single Word document to gsasprofessionaldevelopment@yale.edu with “YGI Application” in the subject line:

  1. GSAS Application for YGI Fellowship. Complete the application form, including the signature by your Director of Graduate Studies. APPLICATION FORM
  2. Host acknowledgement. Share the completed “GSAS Application for YGI Fellowship” with the host, who should send you an email stating: “I have reviewed the ‘GSAS Application for YGI Fellowship’ and the fellowship terms are correct.” 
  3. Resume. Include a current resume with your application.