As part of the Phonons 2025 international conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Universidad de Buenos Aires Photonics Society Student Branch Chapter co-hosted a “Career Paths Beyond Graduation” event, an outreach and professional development session designed to help graduate students and early-career researchers explore career opportunities beyond academia.
Phonons 2025, the International Conference on Phonon Scattering in Condensed Matter, convened leading experts to explore the latest advancements in phonon physics, including thermal phonons, optomechanics, and acoustic metamaterials. As the field continues to evolve rapidly, this mentorship session built into the conference highlighted the importance for emerging researchers to understand the career paths available to them, from industry leadership and academic research to entrepreneurship and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The primary goal of the event was to provide participants with firsthand exposure to multidisciplinary career paths and actionable insights from professionals who have successfully navigated their own careers. The session aimed to bridge the gap between technical training and professional development by focusing on practical guidance, mentorship, and networking. Specifically, the event sought to:
- Highlight career opportunities in both academia and industry.
- Offer mentorship insights from professionals who have faced similar early-career challenges.
- Encourage open dialogue and discussion about career planning, skills development, and professional growth.
- Provide a forum for international networking among early-career researchers and experienced professionals.
The session was intentionally informal and interactive, designed to encourage participants to ask questions throughout the presentations rather than waiting until the end. Attendees were invited to share their own career concerns, discuss challenges they were facing, and gain insight into strategies for career development.
One of the most notable aspects of the event was the joint Q&A session at the end, where questions posed to both speakers allowed for complementary perspectives. For instance, discussions about career transitions, skills development, and networking yielded different approaches in academia and industry, giving participants a well-rounded view of the options available to them.
The session featured two distinguished speakers:
- Dr. Leslie Cusato, PhD in Engineering, Optics Expert and Product Leader at biotechnology company Stämm, representing an industry career path. She shared her journey from undergraduate studies to her current leadership role, emphasizing key decisions, pivots, and lessons learned in industry.
- Dr. Daniel Lanzillotti-Kimura, PhD in Physics, Senior Researcher at the Centre de Nanosciences et de Nanotechnologies (C2N), Université Paris-Saclay, representing an academic career path. He offered insights into navigating research careers, securing funding, and developing a scientific portfolio while balancing collaboration and innovation.
Participation and Impact
The event was supported by four IEEE Photonics Society volunteers and attended by mostly graduate students. Interestingly, this group represented a majority of the PhD attendees at Phonons 2025, resulting in a high participation rate relative to the target audience.
The smaller, intimate audience size fostered close interactions with the speakers, creating opportunities for in-depth discussion and personalized guidance through “fireside chats”. Participants actively asked questions throughout the session, reflecting a genuine interest in exploring career options.
A participant reflected on the session: “The activity was very interesting and valuable. Hearing firsthand about the career paths of two people currently working in different areas (industry and academia) was really helpful. The chance to ask questions was the part I liked the most, as I could clarify doubts I have about my own career path. Both speakers truly understood my concerns, having gone through similar early-career experiences. Being part of an international conference made the discussion even richer, since questions from other students reflected different backgrounds and perspectives, adding a lot of value to the conversation.”
This testimonial captures the impact and relevance of the event, demonstrating how mentoring and knowledge-sharing can directly influence early-career researchers’ decision-making and confidence.
Reflections and Future Directions
The Career Paths Beyond Graduation event successfully provided attendees with actionable insights, inspiration, and a chance to engage with role models from across the photonics community. By focusing on mentorship, open dialogue, and practical guidance, the session not only addressed immediate career questions but also strengthened the broader student community, demonstrating the value of professional development initiatives integrated into major conferences.
Looking forward, this IEEE Photonics Society chapter plans to continue building on this model, expanding opportunities for early-career researchers to connect with mentors, learn from varied career experiences, and explore pathways beyond the lab or classroom. Events like these highlight the Society’s commitment to fostering the next generation of photonics leaders and ensuring students have the tools, insights, and connections needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving field.
