Professional & Career Development
Events & Workshops
Calendars
USF graduate students and postdocs have year-round access to workshops, competitions, networking events, and community gatherings designed to build the skills — and connections — that matter most, inside and outside the classroom.
 View Event Calendar |
 Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) |
Upcoming Events
Tools for Market and Industry Analysis
October 15
Register Here!
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST
Location: Online/Virtual
Learn how to analyze business market and industry information using authoritative
USF Library resources alongside AI tools. After completing this session, participants
will be able to generate reports, perform comparative analyses, and verify AI-generated
data against citable sources to gain a clear, evidence-based understanding of existing
markets and industries. By Chris Sturgeon, USF Libraries.
MaxQDA for Qualitative Analysis
October 15
Register Here!
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 PM EST
Location: Online/Virtual
This is an introduction to MaxQDA, a qualitative and mixed-methods data software.
Topics will include: Understanding the MaxQDA interface, creating and sharing a project,
importing and exploring different types of data, an overview of the various tools
for analysis, recording codes, memos, and comments, and identifying the specific tool(s)
needed for an analytic task. Participants are encouraged to bring media resources
that will simulate the analysis process on the software as we learn. By Leah Burger,
USF College of Education.
AI for Evidence Synthesis & Systematic Review
October 15
Register Here!
Time: 1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
Location: Online/Virtual
Examine how AI can assist researchers in conducting systematic reviews, meta-analyses,
and other evidence-based research methods. This session critically evaluates emerging
AI review tools, considering their reliability, transparency, and ethical limitations.
Participants will identify key human-in-the-loop moments where expert judgment, verification,
and contextual understanding must guide the process to ensure credible, rigorous,
and reproducible synthesis outcomes. By Evan Fruehauf and Carl DiNardo, USF Libraries.
Tap Into Wise Credit Card Use
October 15
Register Here!
Time: 5:00 - 6:00 PM EST
Academic Culture & Communication
October 16
Register Here!
Time: 9:30 - 10:30 AM EST
Location: ALN 296
Set Yourself up for Success as a Teaching Assistant.
Enroll in one session or all sessions designed to help you thrive in your TA role
- whether you're grading, holding office hours, running labs, or teaching. Each session
focuses on key skills and cultural insights to help you feel confident and prepared.
Caffeine & Hypotheses: Postdoc Community
October 19
Time: 9:00 - 10:30 AM EST
Location: ALN 296
Career Club (Virtual)
October 22
Register Here
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 PM EST
Are you navigating a tough job market? ... wondering where to take your next career
step? ...feeling stuck in the application cycles?
The job market is turbulent, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Whether you’re
just starting to explore or actively applying, the Career Club is your space to discuss
challenges, celebrate wins, develop your network, prepare for interviews, improve
your resumes or LinkedIn profiles, and learn the strategies that get you hired!
Unlock your potential! Elevate your career!
Join the club at https://bit.ly/USFCareerClub
3MT and Lightning Talk Finals
October 23
Time: 9:30 - 11:30 AM EST
Location: CWY 206
Graduate Students who are selected in the preliminary heats on Oct 5, 7, 9 will advance
to the finals - and grad students selected in department-specific heats - will participate
in this event to select the top 2 winners and a people's choice.
More info https://www.usf.edu/graduate-studies/research/three-minute-thesis.aspx
Postdoc Scholars will participate in a Lightning Talk competition and the top 2 winners
and a people's choice will be selected. Postdocs, please register for the Lightning Talks Competition here: Registration: 2026 Postdoc & Visiting Scholar Lightning Talks – Fill out form
Come and hear about a wide variety of research happening here at USF!
Academic Culture & Communication
October 23
Register Here!
Time: 9:30 - 10:30 AM EST
Location: ALN 296
Set Yourself up for Success as a Teaching Assistant.
Enroll in one session or all sessions designed to help you thrive in your TA role
- whether you're grading, holding office hours, running labs, or teaching. Each session
focuses on key skills and cultural insights to help you feel confident and prepared.
Designing Your Research Poster
October 29
Register Here
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Research posters are a common communication tool in the academic community for visually sharing research projects and creative ideas. During this session, we will discuss key aspects of designing effective posters and pertinent information about the Graduate Student Research Symposium and the Postdoctoral Scholar Research Symposium so you can WOW the judges and potentially win awards!
Presented by Tracy Costello, Ph.D., Assistant Dean, Postdoctoral Affairs and Graduate Student Success, USF Office of Graduate Studies
Future Faculty Fridays
October 30
Time: 3:30 - 4:30 PM EST
Location: ALN 296
Academic Culture & Communication
November 6
Register Here
Time: 9:30 - 10:30 AM
Set Yourself up for Success as a Teaching Assistant.
Enroll in one session or all sessions designed to help you thrive in your TA role
- whether you're grading, holding office hours, running labs, or teaching. Each session
focuses on key skills and cultural insights to help you feel confident and prepared.
Tech Talks
November 9
Learn More
Tech Talks is designed to provide opportunities for graduate student investigators to present
their research in a clear, insightful manner in a 7-minute presentation. Seven outstanding
students will be presenting their current research projects. Talkers will present their research in a quick, insightful, and clear manner.
Tech Talks will be held on:
📆November 9, 2026🕐3:00 - 5:00 PM
📍ALZ 101
Academic Culture & Communication
November 13
Register Here
Time: 9:30 - 10:30 AM
Set Yourself up for Success as a Teaching Assistant.
Enroll in one session or all sessions designed to help you thrive in your TA role
- whether you're grading, holding office hours, running labs, or teaching. Each session
focuses on key skills and cultural insights to help you feel confident and prepared.
Sandwich Generation: Multigen Caregivers
November 10
Register Here!
Time: 1:30 - 2:30 PM
Tampa Bay Heart Walk
November 14
Join Our Team or Donate
Time: 8:00 - 11:00 AM
Join our team and help make a difference! The Office of Graduate Studies and the Graduate & Professional Student Council are participating in the 2026 Tampa Bay Heart Walk to support efforts to combat heart disease and stroke.
Sandwich Generation: Multigen Caregivers
November 19
Register Here!
Time: 5:00 - 6:00 PM
Academic Culture & Communication
November 20
Register Here
Time: 9:30 - 10:30 AM
Set Yourself up for Success as a Teaching Assistant.
Enroll in one session or all sessions designed to help you thrive in your TA role
- whether you're grading, holding office hours, running labs, or teaching. Each session
focuses on key skills and cultural insights to help you feel confident and prepared.
Unwrapping the Holiday Scam Season
December 1
Register Here
Time: 1:30 - 2:30 PM
Writing Wednesdays 📝 (Online or In-Person)
Wednesdays, Weekly
Online: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Being intentional and consistent about writing will help you progress and meet your
goals. Whether it's a journal article or a fellowship/grant, thesis or dissertation,
proposal, or a scholarship/award application, join peers in a time of intention setting
and dedicated writing.
Questions?
Contact Dr. Stephanie Harper (Online)
Conversation Studio
Fridays, Weekly
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: ALN 209
Join the Conversation Studio in the Graduate Student Lounge in ALN 209.
An English discussion group for graduate students, postdocs, and visiting scholars
designed to help you build confidence, improve fluency, and connect with peers in
a welcoming environment.
Conversation Studio offers a relaxed, supportive space to practice speaking while
engaging in meaningful conversations on academic and everyday topics. Whether you
want to strengthen your English communication skills, gain confidence speaking in
groups, or expand your community, all are welcome.
Join us and be part of the conversation - attend one session or come to them all!
ETD Formatting Workshops ✏️
Rotating Mon/Tue
Meet virtually via Microsoft Teams. View Dates.
Join Workshops
These are meant to help with ETD-specific formatting.
What's the difference between Workshops?
- ETD Formatting Workshops (weekly) cover formatting guidelines and last approximately 1.5 hours.
Drop in for help with document formatting.
- ETD Process Workshop occurs once a semester and covers all aspects of the process from Registration to Review.
- Book a 1-on-1 Help Session with an ETD Specialist, these are only 15-minutes and can cover the ETD process including document assistance if needed. Bring focused
questions.
National Postdoc Association SmartSkills
Monthly
NPA Smartskills have recurring sessions every 4th Tuesday of the month at 3PM.
Many postdocs wonder about the pathway into industry without ways to learn the truth about the journey.
Join leaders from industry as they share their thoughts on the current industry postdoc
landscape, discuss misconceptions about postdocs and careers in industry, clarify
differences between industry and academic postdocs and positions, offer recommendations
to postdocs seeking to enter industry positions, and provide insights on future trends
that may affect postdocs in industry.
This is intended as a collaborative discussion so bring your questions!
Follow OGS on BullsConnect as another way to view and register for our OGS Events:
The Center for Career & Professional Development presents engaging programs, meaningful experiences, and comprehensive services, which are provided in partnership with employers, faculty, staff, and the global community.
USF Libraries offer a variety of virtual and in-person workshops that are aimed to assist graduate students with developing research skills:
USF Health Libraries offer a variety of virtual workshops and other scheduled events. There are two locations on the USF Tampa Campus: Hinks and Elaine Shimberg Health Sciences Library on Bruce B. Downs Blvd, and the Florida Blue Health Knowledge Exchange in downtown Tampa's Water Street District.