The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Career day for Early-Career Researchers

A cooperation between the Agenda 2030 Graduate School and ClimBEco graduate research school

We have gathered inspirational speakers from within and outside of academia to give their personal take on career paths for those with university degrees. We will here how these individuals ended up where they are, get ideas on career balance and general tips and tricks along the way.

image of a forest path splitting into two paths

Inspirational Career Day

Wednesday 12 November, 2025
Teknodromen, M-huset, LTH, Lund University and Zoom
9:00-15:30

Organised by: the Agenda 2030 Graduate School & ClimBEco graduate research school
agenda2030graduateschool.lu.se and climbeco.lu.se

Invited participants: The one-day event is open for PhD students and other early-career researchers (within 5 years of PhD) at Lund University, as well as current ClimBEco PhD students from other universities. Master-level students are welcome to attend as space allows.

Register no later than 6 November (below). On-site seats are unfortunately already full, but you can still participate online and you can sign up to be put on a reserve list in case any of the on-site participants are unable to attend.

Programme

08:45-09:00 Welcome with coffee mingle

We start the day with coffee/tea and mingle.

09:00-09:45 Keynote on sustainability

Keynote with Maja Essebo followed by Q/A

profile picture of Maja Essebo

Maja Essebo is Researcher and Director of Studies at the Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies, LUCSUS. She has a research interest in naturalized stories, or myths, and their role in the creation and legitimization of environmental politics and policy. 
Maja Essebo | lu.se

 

09:45-10:00 BREAK
10:00-11:00 Session 1: Career within academia - staying put and jumping out and in again

Some academics follow a traditional route – PhD, postdoc and all the way to professorship. Others step out and come in again, gaining experience in industry or government before returning back. And some even return to academia, but take on an administrative role instead. What can we learn from these different career paths?
Panelists:

11:00-11:15 BREAK
11:15-12:00 Session 2: Career within academia, but at another university

Moving to another university can be a valuable step in your academic career and it is often encouraged to do so. Whether for a postdoc, teaching position, or a new research environment, changing institutions can expand your network, diversify your experience, and open up fresh opportunities. What do you need to keep in mind when doing so?
Panelists:

12:00-13:00 Lunch break
13:00-14:00 Session 3: Recruitment and message

Whether you're applying within academia or beyond, how you present yourself—your message—matters. Recruitment isn't just about qualifications; it's about how well you communicate your strengths, values, and potential fit. Both when you apply for jobs, but also when you use tools such as Linkedin.
Clear, confident messaging helps you stand out—and makes it easier for others to see the value you bring. So how does LU work with communication and outreach?
Panelists:

14:00-14:30 BREAK
14:30-15:30 Session 4: Career outside of academia

Leaving academia doesn’t mean leaving research or impact behind. Early-career researchers are highly valued in sectors like industry, government, non-profits, and consultancy—for their analytical thinking, problem-solving, and ability to handle complex information. But there are of course differences. So what can be good to know if you want to persue a career outside academia?
Panelists:

16:00 onward Afterwork/get together

We will round off the day at a local pub, for those keen on joining. (not part of the official programme. Everyone pays for their own expenses.)

Register no later than 6 November in the form below.

Last updated: 3 Nov 2025 | cheryl [dot] sjostrom [at] cec [dot] lu [dot] se