PhD Students Get to Explore Futures on LEADERs’ Husky Trek

By Enryka Christopher 

In support of Northeastern University’s commitment to experiential learning, Husky Treks offer students an idea of what it might be like to work at a particular company. Akin to job shadowing, Husky Treks can be virtual or in-person and provide opportunities for students to take a company tour, listen to a panel, or attend a networking event to get a better feel for the work environment. Husky Treks started off as an offering for undergraduate students at Northeastern, and in the past few years, the PhD Network has designed Husky Treks specifically for PhD students. To organize and put on these experiences takes detailed coordination, determined effort, and a number of students willing to jump into hands-on learning. In return, partners in industry are often willing to meet individuals for an entire day, provide refreshments, and organize networking spaces.  

For a recent Husky Trek to Amgen, one of the world’s largest multinational biopharmaceutical companies, over 20 PhD students applied to participate. Three groups of PhD students toured the facilities and learned about what a normal day looked like from current research staff. This intimate setting made more informal sessions possible and spurred more personal conversations that allowed students to better feel the “vibe” of the company. Additionally, Amgen provided time for one-on-one meetings with the scientists, which allowed students to ask more detailed questions and gave current staff a better picture of who might be a good candidate to recruit for a project.   

One lucky student even managed to secure a custom-made fellowship to fulfil the experiential requirement for a LEADERs program certificate. Two other LEADERs students who completed fellowships at Amgen were later hired there.  

Helena Gien, a PhD student in physics, had a one-on-one interview with senior scientists to learn more about Amgen’s projects during her Husky Trek visit. The result of that interview was an opportunity for her to work with the company for a semester, which not only gives her real-world skills and experience, but also meets the “experiential” part of Northeastern’s LEADERs program. 

Nicole Langlois, who earned a chemistry PhD in 2023, was one of the LEADERs students later hired by Amgen. Of her Husky Trek experience, Langlois underscored the feeling of hope that the Husky Trek, and LEADERs program overall, provides students as they think about the future beyond their PhD studies. This positive future orientation was reflected in Gien’s statement on the Husky Trek as well:  

“I think it’s best to always ‘say yes’ to sending your resume along for a project or attending an info session like Husky Trek – even if you don’t feel your skills fully align with the position. I didn’t have any of the specific skills required for this project, but I made sure to let them know I was eager to learn something new once I got an interview. So far, the experience has been great! I would recommend it to any PhD looking to transition into industry after graduation. Not only does it give you invaluable visibility into industry culture (which is wildly different!), but having some prior industry experience is also a huge leg-up for your resume.” 

Other students echoed similar sentiments on thinking about how this experience helped them to envision their future. Farnaz Nouraei, a Computer Sciences PhD student at the Khoury College of Computer Science, reflected on the experience by saying “Engaging directly with professionals allows me to understand industry expectations, emerging trends, and the skills needed to excel post-graduation. This experience can significantly influence my career path by providing clarity and direction, helping me make informed decisions about my future.” Likewise, Jieying Jin, a Mathematics PhD student at the College of Science, noted that the Husky Trek to Amgen allowed them to explore potential career paths and future endeavors in meaningful industry research. 

It isn’t only about finding future jobs, though. Shohreh Vanaei, a Bioengineering PhD student at the College of Engineering, said that the Husky Trek to Amgen opened their mind to the vast possibilities of transitioning out of academia and into industry in general after graduation. Vanaei says that the visit to Amgen “significantly influenced my career outlook” and they “look forward to exploring a career path where I can contribute to meaningful advancements in medicine and healthcare.” 

LEADERs is a certificate-granting program that consists of three portions, the first being a “Leading Self and Others” course and the last being a wrap-up reflection course. In between these two courses is where LEADERs program staff work with partnering companies to identify and recruit PhD students into an experiential fellowship lasting one or two semesters. These PhD fellows are placed in specialized roles that both appeal to the student’s unique interests and help meet the needs of the partnering industry organization.  

The LEADERs program is looking forward to facilitating future Husky Treks to a wider array of industry partners as more organizations learn about these mutually beneficial programs at Northeastern. 

The LEADERs program is run by the PhD Network, which helps prepare students to enter the workforce as impactful researchers. If you are a PhD student interested in the LEADERs program, sign up or contact Wendy Eaton, Director of LEADERs partnership relations. Follow us on LinkedIn.