Swedish Scientist interacts with SMVDU Students on Career Development

Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University organized a webinar for PhD scholars featuring Dr. Elena Hoffer, co-founder of Alma.Me from Sweden, as the distinguished speaker. This session offered invaluable guidance on transitioning from academia to industry careers. Dr. Hoffer, a passionate advocate for helping academics transition into non-academic careers, delivered a compelling presentation titled “How to Kickstart Your Career After PhD.” Drawing from her own experiences as a PhD student and entrepreneur, she shared strategies to help early- and mid-career academics explore fulfilling career options outside the traditional academic pathway.

Dr. Hoffer emphasized the critical role of networking, and encouraged participants to proactively expand their professional connections beyond academia. She also provided practical advice on conducting informational interviews to gain insights into various career paths while building meaningful relationships in the industry. The event concluded with an engaging Q&A session, where participants had the opportunity to interact with Dr. Hoffer and delve deeper into strategies for career success.

Her passion, combined with her practical advice, resonated strongly with attendees, many of whom expressed their appreciation for the insights offered. The webinar was attended by students, faculty and scholars of various departments.  Miss Chakshu Gupta, a scholar from the School of Language and Literature, adeptly hosted the session and Mr. Yuvraj Singh Pathania, Alumni Student Coordinated from the School of Biotechnology. Dr. Yugal Khajuria, Dean of International and Alumni Affairs, and Dr. Mir Irfan Ul Haq, Associate Dean of International and Alumni Affairs informed that the university is providing the students an environment to interact with global experts so as to prepare the students for a global market.

The webinar was a reflection of SMVDU’s ongoing commitment under the leadership of Prof. Pragati Kumar (Vice Chancellor, SMVDU) to prepare its students for success both inside and outside the academic realm. The university continues to provide opportunities for its students and scholars to explore diverse career paths and excel in their chosen fields.