About

The Erdős Institute is a multi-university collaboration focused on helping PhDs get jobs they love at every stage of their career. Founded in 2017, the Institute has helped train and place a diverse pool of over 4000 graduate students, postdocs, and PhD alumni.

Participants from sponsoring institutions have free access to all of the Career Exploration & Career Launch programming and resources that the Institute provides. Examples include the "Invitations to Industry" Career Exploration Seminars, Data Science Bootcamps, Alumni-Led Mini-Courses, Interview Prep Workshops, and Career Coaching.

Our Collaborative & Structured Approach to Professional Development

Established in collaboration with our PhD alumni and Partner Employers, The Erdős Institute provides a structured and lifelong professional development program for graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and Ph.D. alumni, organized into three key career stages: EXPLORE, LAUNCH, and ADVANCE. This approach is designed to support participants throughout their careers as they navigate the transition from academia to impactful roles in industry and beyond.

Explore Your Opportunities

Participants begin their journey by exploring diverse career paths and industries. Programming includes:

Career Exploration Seminars: Weekly talks featuring Ph.D. alumni who share their experiences working outside academia, exposing participants to potential career options.
Foundational Mini-Courses: Asynchronous mini-courses like Python Prep that prepare participants for our Career Launch Cohorts.
Job Board Access: Access to a curated job board featuring roles tailored for Ph.D.-level candidates across multiple industries. This resource helps participants understand job market demands and connect directly with organizations seeking their expertise.

Launch Your Career

Once participants identify a direction, the focus shifts to equipping them with the tools and networks needed to successfully enter their chosen field:

Boot Camps: Intensive training programs in areas such as Data Science, Deep Learning, and UX Research, tailored to meet current industry demands.
Skill-Building Mini-Courses: Supplemental asynchronous mini-courses that help participants expand their complementary skillsets
Application & Interview Prep: Workshops and coaching sessions that refine resumes, prepare for behavioral & technical interviews, and build confidence for job applications.
Industry Connections: Opportunities to directly engage with our PhD Alumni, corporate partners, and hiring managers through events and targeted recruitment programs.

Advance in Your Profession

The journey doesn’t end after securing a position. The Erdős Institute continues to provide support to help alumni grow in their careers:

Career Coaching: Ongoing mentorship from professionals and alumni who assist with goal setting, leadership development, and career transitions.
Advanced Coursework: Advanced level boot camps and courses that build on the knowledge and skills acquired during the Career Launch Cohorts.
Alumni Club Networking Opportunities: A growing alumni network and access to events help participants stay connected and seize new opportunities as they advance.

This holistic framework emphasizes lifelong support, ensuring that participants not only find meaningful roles but also thrive as they build impactful careers.

Our Team

Alec Clott, PhD

Head of Data Science Boot Camp Projects

Sr. Principal, Quantitative Analytics and Data Science, Gartner

Amanda Perrin

Head of Industry Placement, Cofounder

The Erdős Institute

Carolynn Pickard

Career Development Advisor

The Erdős Institute

Emily Nothnagle

Program Manager, Career Exploration Seminars

The Erdős Institute

Janet Alder, PhD

Academic Lead, Biological & Life Sciences

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Postdoctoral Affairs, Assistant Dean for Graduate Academic & Student Affairs, Associate Professor Department of Neuroscience & Cell Biology, Rutgers University

Jared Melendez

Career Development Advisor

The Erdős Institute

Karen Smith, PhD

Academic Lead, Mathematics

William Fulton Distinguished University Professor, Department of Mathematics, University of Michigan

Kevin Tucker, PhD

Academic Advisor, Mathematics

Professor, Department of Mathematics,
Statistics, and Computer Science, University of Illinois Chicago

Lindsay Warrenburg, PhD

Associate Director

The Erdős Institute

Matt Osborne, PhD

Senior Alumni Advisor, Curriculum Development

The Erdős Institute &
Senior Operational Analyst, NetJets

Roman Holowinsky, PhD

Managing Director, Cofounder

The Erdős Institute
Associate Professor of Mathematics (on leave), The Ohio State University

Suzanne Kovacs

Career Development Advisor

The Erdős Institute

Amalya Lehmann, PhD

Head of Academic Memberships & Community

The Erdős Institute

Carmen Pomales

Executive Assistant

The Erdős Institute

Donnie Seidle

Career Development Advisor & Partnerships

The Erdős Institute

Ghanashyam Khanal, PhD

Quantum Computing Instructor

The Erdős Institute
Quantitative Analyst at Citibank

Janet Box-Steffensmeier, PhD

Senior Academic Advisor

Vernal Riffe Professor of Political Science and Professor of Sociology, The Ohio State University. President Emerita, American Political Science Assoc.