Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Please note: All times listed below are in Eastern Time.
Preparing Graduate Students for Futures Outside the Pharmacy Academy
1:00 p.m.–1:10 p.m.
Welcome and AACP Framework for Graduate Education
Dorothy Farrell, Ph.D., Senior Director of Science Policy and Chief Science Officer, AACP
Introduction to AACP Domains for Graduate Education in the Pharmaceutical Sciences
1:10 p.m.–1:20 p.m.
Training for Impact: Equipping Graduate Students for Evolving Careers
Michael Jarstfer, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Assistant Dean for Graduate Education, and Director of Graduate Studies, The UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy
PhD training in the pharmaceutical sciences is undergoing a fundamental shift as the research enterprise, funding environment, and career pathways for graduates rapidly evolve. Historically, doctoral education has been structured to prepare trainees for careers by emphasizing deep disciplinary expertise and independent investigation based on the dissertation advisors’ research. However, today’s graduates increasingly pursue diverse roles across industry, government, policy, and nontraditional sectors that demand a broader skill set.
This session will briefly examine how changes in team-based science, translational research priorities, technological advances, and workforce expectations are reshaping what it means to be a successful PhD, drawing on the AACP Domains for Graduate Education, including research, scientific communication, leadership and management, and personal and professional development. This overview will highlight key gaps between traditional training models and emerging competencies needed for career success.
The goal is to set the stage for discussion by identifying where current graduate training aligns with and potentially falls short of the evolving landscape, prompting consideration of how programs can better prepare students for a wider range of impactful careers.
1:20 p.m.–2:15 p.m.
Discussion
Moderator Michael Jarstfer, Ph.D.
- How do we best prepare graduate students for careers in the future?
- What can we learn about career development from the next generation of learners?
- What changes in the research landscape need to be addressed in graduate education?
2:15 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Wrap-up and adjournment
Dorothy Farrell, Ph.D.
The September 2026 SuRGE will be a check-in on the state of federal policies related to science, research and graduate education and an update on AACP activities and programs.
