Your Degree Does Not Dictate Your Career
UCR alumni use their advanced degrees in every field below. Use this catalog when you’re saying “I don’t know what jobs even exist for someone like me.” Each card opens to the same format, what kinds of roles, who’s hiring, where to find roles, and who to talk to at UCR. Pick two to explore, then schedule an informational interview in each.
Higher Education & Academic ResearchFaculty, research scientists, postdocs, administration, librarianship
What kinds of roles
Tenure-track & teaching faculty, research scientists, postdocs, lecturers, university administration, librarianship, institutional research.
Employers
Universities, four-year colleges, community colleges, national labs, research institutes.
Who to talk to at UCR
Career Specialist · NCFDD (free via UCR) ·
Grad Slam.
Industry R&D: Science, Engineering & TECH Research scientist, R&D engineer, data scientist, applied research.
What kinds of roles
Research scientist, R&D engineer, data scientist, computational biologist, applied research, technical product roles.
Employers
Pharma & biotech, semiconductor & hardware, software & AI, energy & environmental tech, aerospace & defense, manufacturing.
Government, Policy & National LabsCivil-service science, policy analyst, AAAS Fellow, national labs.
What kinds of roles
Civil-service scientific roles, policy analyst, AAAS Science & Tech Policy Fellow, intelligence-community analyst, national-lab research, public-health roles.
Employers
Federal agencies (NIH, NSF, DOE, DOD, EPA, FDA, BLS), national labs (LLNL, LBNL, SLAC, NASA-JPL), state & city government, NGOs.
Where to look
USAJobs · PSE-NET · Pathways Programs · AAAS Policy Fellowships · agency career sites.
Who to talk to at UCR
Career Specialist · UCR School of Public Policy events · GSRC Science-to-Policy certificate.
Nonprofit, Social Impact & EducationProgram management, foundations, community research, K–12 leadership.
What kinds of roles
Program management, foundation/grants management, community-based research, K–12 teaching, education leadership, social entrepreneurship.
Employers
Foundations, advocacy & community organizations, school districts, ed-tech, museums & cultural orgs.
Where to look
Idealist · Work for Good · field-specific (e.g., Council on Foundations).
Who to talk to at UCR
Career Specialist · GSRC certificate programs · campus volunteer/service programs.
Business, Consulting & Finance Consulting (PhD tracks), strategy, product, quant finance, analytics.
What kinds of roles
Management consulting (PhD-track at major firms), strategy & operations, product management, quantitative finance, business analytics, market research.
Employers
Consulting firms (McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, ZS, Putnam, L.E.K.), banks & asset managers, Fortune 500, tech companies, startups.
Where to look
LinkedIn · firm-specific PhD recruiting pages (look for “Advanced Degrees”) · networking events.
Who to talk to at UCR
Career Spec
Communications, Media & Science CommScience writer, editor, journalist, comms director, museum educator.
What kinds of roles
Science writer, science editor, journalist, communications director, science-museum educator, podcast producer, science illustrator.
Employers
Publishers (Nature, Science, Scientific American), news outlets, museums, communications agencies, in-house science communications.
Where to look
Idealist · LinkedIn · National Association of Science Writers job board · field-specific newsletters.
