Twenty-one chemistry graduate students participated in an intensive three-day seminar designed to get them ready for life after graduate school and into industrial employment or careers in academia.

Sponsored by the American Chemical Society, the workshop was a primer for job-seeking skills including mock interviews, résumé critiques, and one-on-career counseling. The presenter and career consultant was Daniel Eustace, a retired physical organic chemist whose industrial career in applied research, development, manufacturing, and management at Exxon Mobil and Polaroid Corp. spans more than 33 years.

Eustace is shown conducting a mock interview with Christina Liuzzi ’03, ’07, a URI organic chemistry graduate student. Neil Pothier, Ph.D. ’94, director of Analytical Services for Chemic Laboratories, was also on hand to share his industrial experience with the group.

The seminar, Preparing for Life after Graduate School, was the result of a 2002 ACS survey of graduate students and post-doctoral fellows who found that despite terrific research training, many doctoral programs fail to offer pertinent career information or guidance.