PhD Career Pathways is a nine-month fellowship program for doctoral students in the arts, social sciences and humanities to explore careers in public art and humanities, community outreach, program evaluation, writing, editing and more.
Fellows are employed for 10 hours per week, on or off campus in project-based internships. Examples of past projects include curating exhibits, conducting public outreach projects and developing humanities initiatives. In addition to building their networks and gaining work experience, fellows also receive significant career support through the Office of Career and Life Design, with monthly professional development seminars and a dedicated career coach for the duration of the fellowship.
Fellows are employed and paid by their organizations and are awarded a professional development fellowship for participation in the cohort.
2025-2026 Application Process
Application
Applications are currently closed.
Timeline
Applications Open : June 2, 2025
Applications Close : 11:59 p.m., June 29, 2025
Interview with PhD Career Pathways Team: July 7 – July 18, 2025
Final Decisions Announced: July 30, 2025
Onboarding: August 11 – 17, 2025
Fellowship start date: September 1, 2025
Applications for 2025-26 Cohort will open on June 2, 2025.
Requirements
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
Current doctoral student at UT Austin. Contact Colleen Gleeson with any questions.
Enrolled as a full-time student (at least 9 credit hours) during the 2025-26 academic year.
Able to be employed for at least 10 hours during both the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters.
In good academic standing with approval from academic/graduate advisor.
Past Projects
We work with Pathways sites to scope projects for 9-month internships and facilitate their collaboration with Ph.D. students.
About the PhD Career Pathways Fellowship
Launched in 2020, PhD Career Pathways is a collaborative initiative by the Graduate School Office of Career & Life Design and partner organizations that helps Ph.D. students in the humanities, arts and social sciences prepare for a broader range of careers within, alongside and outside of the academy.
Inspired by the AAU PhD Education Initiative, PhD Career Pathways is a professional development and project-based internship opportunity for students to gain experience working in community and professional organizations.
Fellows are paired with a dedicated graduate career advisor and participate in professional development seminars throughout the academic year, enabling them to:
- Build a community with fellow graduate students from different departments who are exploring similar career experiences.
- Learn how to translate their skills into a variety of professional contexts.
- Explore career options outside of academia.
2025-2026 Fellowship Sites
Participating organizations and internship positions for the 2025-2026 PhD Career Pathways Fellowship can be found below.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about PhD Career Pathways Fellowship, please contact Annie Maxfield.
Meet the Team
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Annie Maxfield, M.S.
Director
The Office of Career & Life Design, The Graduate School
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Colleen Gleeson
Associate Director for Employer Integration
The Office of Career & Life Design, The Graduate School
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Connor Behrmann
DMA Student in Music
Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences Industry Consultant
The Office of Career & Life Design, The Graduate School
2025-2026 PhD Pathways Fellows
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Alec Ainsworth
Digital Research Fellow, Bullock Texas State History Museum
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Luke Bishop
PhD Candidate, Iberian and Latin American Linguistics
Advanced Degree Workforce Research Consultant
The Office of Career & Life Design, The Graduate School
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Jeremy Boorum
Graduate Archival and Historical Assistant, Texas Performing Arts
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Nancy H. Carlson
Content Strategist, APRO
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Vuong Hoang
Digital Content, Fundraising and Social Media Strategist, I’m From Driftwood
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Anandha Lekshmi Nair
Content Strategist, APRO
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Vanessa Lopez
Talent Management Graduate Intern, RWE Clean Energy
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Emily Norman
Mixed Methods Researcher, Affirma Consulting
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Eliane Quintiliano Nascimento
Social Justice Research Analyst, Sol to Soul Harvest Foundation
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Mansi Shah
Advanced Training Programs, Alumni Engagement, and Data Strategy Fellow, Zach Theater
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Katie Trautman
Program Evaluation Analyst, Innovative Learning Center
Past Fellows
Learn about previous fellows, their areas of study and the experiences they gained through PhD Career Pathways Fellowship.