PhD Career Symposium: ‘What can I be with a PhD?’

The high-profile PhD career symposium ‘What can I be with a PhD’ recently took place at the Medical University of Graz. Just under 100 students from the Medical University of Graz, the University of Graz and Graz University of Technology took the opportunity to explore the career opportunities – in academia and beyond – that a PhD opens up. From practical insights to personal stories, the event offered an inspiring mix of motivation and concrete advice.

The symposium opened with a welcome address by Amrei Lässer on behalf of the Mayor of Graz, Elke Kahr, followed by Christian Wadsack, who spoke about the significance of the event. To kick things off, Domenic Hofmann, Mia Schwerer and Bernhard Reiter presented a data-driven analysis of the career paths of Med Uni Graz PhD alumni, drawing on two decades of graduate data to highlight career trends, opportunities and changing skills requirements.

The presentation was followed by student-led interviews, moderated by the organising team: Eliska Sedlackova, Mia Schwerer, Bernhard Reiter, Nadezhda Todorova, Anxhela Mustafaraj, Angela Alisha Mathew and Anila Varghese. The discussions offered fresh perspectives and candid reflections on how to successfully transition into a variety of professional roles after completing a PhD.

In a variety of sessions covering academia, clinical research, communication & project management, the non-profit sector and entrepreneurship, 15 alumni were invited to speak about current career paths, entry opportunities and best practices. There was also the opportunity to exchange ideas with participants and network. The programme fostered interdisciplinary exchange and offered young researchers concrete guidance – ranging from research and science communication to careers in industry and starting a business.

The participants gave very positive feedback

Lamija Zijadic summarises the symposium as follows: “I attended the Career Symposium 2026 because I wanted to get a better sense of what career paths exist beyond academia. As PhD students, we are often living in an "academia bubble" and don't get much exposure to the jobs and opportunities that exist outside of it. The symposium gave me a chance to hear directly from people working in a range of different fields. I think it's really important to start looking into these options early in your PhD, especially given how limited academic positions are these days. Hearing about different career paths helped me get a clearer picture of where I could go next, and what I can start doing now to prepare for it.”

Bernhard Reiter also praised the event: “The Career Symposium was an important reminder of the wide range of possible career paths open to PhD graduates. When you're immersed in your doctoral research, academia often feels like the only viable route. Hearing the speakers share their unique journeys, insights, and career transitions revealed an exciting range of possibilities beyond the traditional academic track.”

Med Uni Graz would like to thank all its partners who helped make this event possible.