This award for graduate students and postdocs offers financial support for the production of programming, content or training resources addressing the career and professional development needs of their peers across campus.
The Graduate School encourages graduate students and postdocs to apply for the Reimagining Professional Development Award in recognition of their unique perspectives and abilities to identify and design student need-driven programming and resources for career and professional development.
Award recipients will be supported in their design and creation of resources and programs to be completed and delivered before December 1, 2026
View the 2025-26 Call for Proposals.
Applications Open
Applications are now open for 2025-2026. The deadline is December 2, 2025 at noon.
Upcoming Events
2024-2025 Reimagining Professional Development Projects
Master Your Money: Practical Financial Skills for Graduate Students and Postdocs
Near Peer Learning: A Mentorship Podcast
Communicating Science with Impact: Developing a Micro-Credential
Beyond the Corporate Ladder: Graduate Pathways to Careers in Arts and Nonprofits
Empowering Communication Work: Graduate and Postdoctoral Life with Chronic Illness
Career Transition Guide: How to Pursue Program Officer Positions
Improvisation for Better Communication: An Interactive Workshop
View 2 Completed Projects
Graduate students have created podcasts addressing the career and professional development needs of their peers across campus.
Explore the podcasts that have been produced, including the Uncovering Possibilities Podcast and Liminal: Navigating Graduate Career Transitions Podcast.
Focus Areas for 2026 Reimagining PD
This year, we especially welcome proposals that explore one or more of the following broad themes:
Life Design
Projects that help graduate students and postdocs intentionally design their academic, professional, and personal paths through reflection, exploration, and experimentation. Topics of interest include but are not limited to:
Financial Wellness: Building knowledge and confidence around personal and professional financial decision-making
Navigating the Hidden Curriculum: Demystifying unwritten rules, expectations, and cultural norms within academia and professional life.
Tackling “Wicked Problems”: Addressing complex or uncertain challenges in higher education, research, and the job market through creative problem-solving and resilience.
The Future of Work
Projects that help scholars understand, anticipate, and adapt to changing professional landscapes and emerging opportunities. Topics of interest include but are not limited to:
Artificial Intelligence (AI): Exploring the implications of AI for research, teaching, and career pathways.
Entrepreneurship: Encouraging innovative thinking, venture creation, and entrepreneurial mindsets within and beyond academia.
Proposal Requirements
The proposal must include the following items:
A PDF that outlines:
The proposal title.
A clearly defined graduate student or postdoc need.
Your proposed solution to address the need. The solution must define the format of the in-person program (e.g., one-time workshop, seminar or panel) and any potential digital resource (e.g., video, worksheet, guide, website content or podcast). You are welcome to incorporate other speakers or contributors from UT Austin or beyond in this solution.
A timeline for execution of the project, including projected month of in-person event and completion of entire project.
The targeted population(s) of the project and anticipated number of students served; the project must serve students from more than one school or college.
The award amount requested, within the specified range of up to $1,500 for each individual applicant, or $3,000 per team.
An anticipated itemized budget for associated costs, up to $1,000 per individual proposal or up to $2,000 per team proposal. Associated costs are in addition to the requested award amount.
A video compilation that includes:
- A bio for each named author and your interest in addressing graduate student or postdoc need. The video compilation should be less than two minutes per author.
Proposal Types
Applicants may submit proposals that support either:
“Evergreen” Projects: Development of lasting, reusable content such as toolkits, guides, videos, or digital resources that remain relevant beyond a single event or moment in time.
Programs: Design and facilitation of live or hybrid experiences such as workshops, panels, or discussion series that engage participants directly in learning and professional growth.
Proposed projects must:
Serve a cross-section of disciplinary backgrounds from more than one college or school and are specifically targeted to master’s students, PhD students and postdoctoral scholars.
Address unique and shared career development needs for graduate students and postdocs that aren't currently addressed. Examples include but are not limited to scholars with disabilities, veterans, parents/caregivers, non-traditional and first generation, and international students.
Demonstrate an unmet need and potential for high impact.
Align with the work of the Office of Career & Life Design, focusing on broadly relevant topics rather than discipline-specific research or teaching without duplicating existing programs or projects.
Align the award amount requested with the appropriate level of involvement.
All trainings and content created will be accessible to all students.
Application Process
Eligibility
Applicants must be enrolled in a graduate degree program or be a postdoctoral scholar at The University of Texas at Austin throughout the completion of the project.
Past awardees are eligible to apply with new proposals, but new applicants will be prioritized to diversify engagement and offer equitable access to this award.
Financial Aid
Individual applicants can request up to $1,500. Team applicants of no more than three individuals can request up to $3,000, with each individual limited to $1,200. Applicants must have room in their financial aid package in order to accept this scholarship. Otherwise, loans may be reduced or funding may not be realized. Please contact Texas One Stop with any questions.
The award is distributed in installments. Certain award program milestones must be met to ensure full funding distribution. Funding could be jeopardized if certain requirements are not met, including finalization of the award project.
Application Timeline
Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at noon: Application Deadline
December 2025: Award Notification
January 2026: Project Orientation
Following Orientation (Date TBD): 25% of Award Issued
At time of project completion: Remaining 75% of award issued
Before December 1, 2026: Project Completion Deadline
Guidance for Funding Requests
Funds will be allocated based in part on the level of involvement and effort required. Consult this chart to assess how much involvement your proposal will entail.
View the proposal assessment rubric.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about the Reimagining Professional Development Award, please email us at gradcareer@austin.utexas.edu.