2026 Maud Menten Institute HQP Summit

Tentative Schedule : 

Friday, August 14

• 5:00 pm – BBQ on Campus – outside David Turpin Building
• 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Call for collaboration session (1/3) – Short presentations of questions (room TBD)

Saturday, August 15

• 8:30 am – 8:45 am – Introduction & Orientation  
• 8:45 am – 10:15 am – Morning Session: Beyond Your Subject Matter Expertise: Translating Your Academic Skills for Employers (Samantha)*
• 10:15 am- 10:45 am – Coffee break
• 10:45 am – 11:45 am – Panel discussion on careers outside academia
• 12:00 pm – 13:30 pm – Lunch – The Cove (wristbands)
• 13:45 pm – 14:00 pm – Group Photo
• 14:00 pm-18:00 pm – Hike/Activity
• 18:30 pm – Banquet  – Grad House

Sunday, August 16th

• 8:30 am – 10:30 am – Breakfast and Poster session
• 10:30 am – 12:30 pm – Call for collaboration session (3/3) Or Collaborative work workshop
• Outline of proposed work  (1h)
• Debrief – presentation to all (1h)
• 12:30 pm – MMI closing remarks
• Departure

*Beyond Your Subject Matter Expertise: Translating Your Academic Skills for Employers

Are you a Graduate Student or Postdoc preparing for the next step in your professional journey? You possess high-value, highly sought-after skills that are essential in any sector. However, to successfully move into new professional environments, you must learn to speak the language of your future colleagues and hiring committees.

In this presentation, we will explore how to confidently bridge the gap between your academic training and the broader professional world by describing your extensive skills as compelling evidence of your value. This session will help you articulate your expertise for any audience.

Attendees will learn:

• What employers are looking for: Understand the core traits diverse organizations prioritize, such as the ability to solve complex problems, contribute to multi-disciplinary teams, and drive institutional goals.
• How to identify your transferable skills: Learn how to map your academic milestones to their equivalents in other sectors.
• Crafting impactful accomplishment statements: Move beyond vague claims and learn to write statements that prove your value by detailing what you did, the tools you used, and the measurable results of your actions.
• Simplifying the complex: Practice stripping away jargon to communicate your achievements clearly to non-expert audiences and learn how to mirror the specific language used in job postings.

Join us to discover how to effectively articulate the impact of your experience and stand out as a top candidate in your field of choice.

Note: Please bring a copy of your current CV or résumé. You will have dedicated time to practice identifying your transferable skills and rewriting your bullet points into strong, results-oriented accomplishment statements.