10th Anniversary Symposium of the CGA
Last year, we began celebrating our 10th anniversary by showcasing the different people involved in our programme, including faculty, alumni, coordinators, PhD students and Master Fellows of the CGA. The celebrations culminated in a festive symposium on November 15, 2024 in Cologne, where our alumni, current students and faculty gathered to reconnect and reflect on a decade of achievements, friendships and cherished memories. Chahat Mehra, a CGA alumni member of the class of 2019, attended the symposium and shares her thoughts and experiences from that memorable day in the article below. Enjoy!
The 10th Anniversary Symposium of the CGA was a fantastic event hosted on November 15, 2024, which I had the privilege to attend. As a current PhD student from the class of 2019 and a CGA alumnus, this event was not just an opportunity to reconnect with old friends and colleagues, but also a chance to think about how far we have all come, and feel excited about what the future holds. The day was filled with inspiring scientific and career related talks a career panel discussion and a lot of networking opportunities with great food and drinks. It was endearing to see that a shared educational experience has developed into a close-knit community of friends.
The various paths after a PhD: Academia, Industry, and Beyond
As a current PhD student, one of the most inspiring aspects of the symposium was realizing where everyone had ended up after obtaining their doctoral degrees. Of course, many of the symposium guest speakers moved up the academic ladder, securing prestigious post-doctoral positions or running their own scientific labs as principal investigators (PI’s). Others had made successful and fruitful transitions into industry. Whether it's product development, project management, scientific consulting, scientific coordination or starting your own company, the career options seemed endless. During the panel discussion, it was reassuring to see that many alumni highlighted that the CGA training courses that are part of our curriculum throughout the graduate school education had equipped them with the necessary skills to thrive at any job. As CGA students we have several mandatory classes such as career development, writing and presentation workshops but also many optional courses such as the Fast Forward course of Mind Matters. It was encouraging to know that my time here as a CGA student has equipped me with critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills that can be applied to any job. My take home was that the PhD is a stepping stone to a plethora of career options and that there are numerous ways to apply the knowledge and skills that we have acquired during our studies.
Valuable Connections and Networking Opportunities
A highlight for me was the chance to reconnect with people from different CGA classes, spanning from my own class to the older and newer generations of CGA students. We were reminiscing about the past, our classes, journeys together but in the end this event emerged to be a great networking opportunity for me. Throughout the day there were several key breaks for coffee, lunch and dinner that allowed us to talk and forge new connections. The environment during these breaks was warm and inviting, allowing to engage in a mix of scientific discussions and casual conversations. I will be finishing my PhD in the next six months and the relaxed environment encouraged me to talk to some of the alumni about job opportunities. Inspired by a conversation with one of the alumni, I reached out to them after the symposium to ask for advice about the skills that I can bring to jobs and which, career paths in industry would be suitable for me. We later set up a digital meeting and I gained invaluable guidance into how to approach my next steps. For me this is the essence of the CGA community: the willingness to help each other, offer support and guidance and mentor the next generation of students. This event was great to reconnect but also to network and build new relationships.
Looking Ahead: What the future holds for the CGA Community
The 10th anniversary symposium gave us all a chance to reflect on the 10 years of CGA. I felt extremely proud of the incredible journey that everyone has been on and also admired the impact that the CGA alumni have had on the scientific landscape from academia to industry. As I move forward in my own journey, I feel a renewed sense of purpose and connection. It will be exciting to see where we all end up in ten years from now when we reconnect at the 20 years of CGA celebration.
Chahat Mehra (Class of 2019)