Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

"The GSAS Professional Development team has been an excellent resource for getting ready to enter the job market after academia. From getting one on one help preparing my resume with Marika or learning about career options in hosted seminars it's been a massive help for my personal career development. Working with this team has also been pivotal for the progression of our own student run club CDS (Career Development for the Sciences), helping us get in touch with notable alumni with diverse backgrounds and career trajectories."

"The professional development team has been incredibly supportive and enriching throughout my time at Brandeis. Working with Jon has been particularly rewarding. His consistent support and insightful guidance have been instrumental in advancing my career development. From our consistent 1-1 meetings, which provided personalized advice and strategic direction, to his invaluable assistance in helping me manage the stress and doubt that often accompany the pursuit of large grants, Jon and the team have been a constant source of support.

It’s been especially useful to have the personalized attention and interdisciplinary perspective of professionals outside of my field. The workshops, panel discussions, and 1-1 meetings have provided me with a broader understanding of the diverse opportunities available to me as a graduate student and have played a crucial role in my overall professional growth. The confidence in my current path has everything to do with the time I’ve spent working with Jon and I’m extremely grateful for the work he’s doing to support graduate students like me."

"GSAS professional development has been an invaluable resource for me. When you show up at their door (or in their inbox), they take the time to review and revise any materials you need — talks, resumes, LinkedIn, student groups, you name it. The team will collaborate with you and supply expert advice. My first encounter with the team was through the career fellows. The career fellows program exposes students to their options in industry and academia and provides guidance for job searches. Meeting for workshops and for professional panels taught me how to improve my first impressions on paper and in person. Anyone in the Brandeis community could benefit from a meeting with Jonathan Anjaria or Marika McCann. Whether you’re job searching, trying to 'get a foot in the door,' grappling with career choices, or trying 3MT, you should reach out! Everyone is on your team."

"Dr. Anjaria had individual time to meet with students. In these time slots, we went over drafts of my cover letters for academic jobs. I started my first year on the market very pessimistic that I would get any traction but I got 3 campus interviews and, ultimately, a tenure-track job. Dr. Anjaria helped me through this process including how to negotiate for a spousal hire."

"Working with the professional development office has been monumental to my experience as a doctoral student at Brandeis. The Connected PhD has given me experience in gaining tangible skills in curriculum development and further expanded my Boston Public School network. I also deeply appreciate the ability to workshop fellowship and grant applications through one-on-one meetings. I frequently sign up for these as they offer individualized feedback and areas of growth for my writing and overall research projects. The feedback is invaluable and has been critical in my development as a graduate student. Lastly, having this resource available and always willing to support my work and future career is one of the best parts of Brandeis, in my opinion."

"I am incredibly grateful for the support and guidance I have received from the GSAS Professional Development team over the past 5 years of my PhD. Jonathan Anjaria, Ayla Cordell, and especially Marika McCann have been instrumental in my journey. When I talk to my friends who are PhD students at other schools, I haven't heard of a team as connected and caring as ours at Brandeis; they truly invest so much time and resources into their students. Throughout my Brandeis journey, the GSAS Professional Development team has been a guiding light, and I cannot imagine where I would be without them. I am so thankful to them for providing me with fulfilling and engaging experiences during my time here. They have enhanced my success by consistently seeking opportunities for me that will shape my future. The team proactively engages with each department to offer graduate students a wide range of opportunities, such as individual and follow-up meetings, resume workshops, career presentations, and an abundance of easily accessible and impressive resources. Overall, I have learned that having a positive mindset and a strong belief in your abilities can greatly enhance your chances of achieving success, and these qualities have the power to transform your self-perception in a profound way.

I was very privileged to be a part of the 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition, developed and hosted by the Professional Development team. Because of it, my research has been greatly enhanced through my honed skills in writing, editing, and presenting with precision and insight. I am confident that the communication skills I have gained from this experience will serve me well throughout my entire career. 3MT also empowered me to recognize and conquer challenges in my work, gain a broader perspective across the various fields, and cultivate connections with passionate and dedicated academics. 3MT was a memorable experience that allowed me to share my work with a broader audience, as well as with colleagues and loved ones. Because of this opportunity, I realized that I find great fulfillment in addressing important global issues on a larger stage and promoting collaboration across different disciplines to creatively develop innovative solutions. During my 3MT experience at Brandeis, Regionals, and Nationals, I experienced a profound shift in a variety of my skills and my awareness of my full potential. By becoming more open to exciting new opportunities, I saw an array of potential career paths opening up before me.

I first met Marika at the beginning of my PhD during our initial one-on-one meeting, and her mentorship since 2019 has been truly invaluable. She has helped me to identify essential skill sets and clear steps I should focus on in order to achieve my short-term academic goals and long-term career aspirations. The GSAS Professional Development team consistently emphasizes this lesson to its students: always believe in yourself, give yourself as many chances as you can, and don’t ever hold yourself back. I know that I am fortunate to have had such wise and wonderful people from this team."

"I attended career-related workshops sponsored through the Professional Development office. Some of the most helpful were alumni panels and job application prep with Jon Anjaria. I also met several times with Marika McCann; she helped me navigate the whole job application process including thinking through what I wanted to do in my career and connecting me with people in the Brandeis community to speak with and conduct practice interviews."

"I've had an amazing experience with the Brandeis GSAS Professional Development team throughout my journey from a master's student to completing my PhD. Marika and her team were instrumental in refining my resume, preparing me for interviews, and guiding me through job offer negotiations. Thanks to their support, I was able to complete 2 internships and secure a full-time job offer before graduation. Thank you!"

"I have received amazing advice, financial support, and creative suggestions from the GSAS Professional Development team throughout my time at Brandeis. The expertise to help me achieve my goals – both personal and professional – has been very useful as I have navigated my degree. I have met and networked with many people with their help, honed new skills, and learned how to present the skills I've acquired at Brandeis to employers across a wide variety of fields. Additionally, I have really appreciated their willingness to meet students where they're at. They offer advice, financial support, and other services in a wide variety of ways that makes it easy to take advantage of the resources and knowledge they have. It's so easy to tap into their network!"

"During my four-year stay here at Brandeis, I have received great help from Jon and Marika. I participated in the career development workshop as a fellow, which enriched my repertoire of professional communication and helped me polish my portfolio. Through the Mellon Connected PhD fellowships, I attended the UX Research training programs on campus and beyond. These experiences effectively connected me to the non-academic world and inspired me to explore how my existing skill set can be translated into universally understandable language on my resume. I frequently discussed my questions and concerns about professional development with folks in the office. As someone who had zero work experience before joining Brandeis as a graduate student, I benefited much from these conversations."