# First Year Career Cohorts

**Source**: https://careeradvancement.uchicago.edu/class-of-2030/student-programs/first-year-career-cohorts/
**Parent**: https://careeradvancement.uchicago.edu/

First Year Career Cohorts help first year students get on the fast track to success with specialized programming and advising. **100% of participants receive funding for a summer internship!**

Applications for the Class of 2030 will open on April 8. All incoming students are eligible to apply, including new transfer students. Students will participate in programming during Autumn Quarter of their first year.

- ## AI, Computer Science & Data Science

  The AI, Computer Science & Data Science cohort empowers first-year students to explore the vast landscape of computing, from software engineering and artificial intelligence to cybersecurity, data science, and more.

  **Sample Programs\
  \**Early Careers in Technology: UChicago Recent Grad Panel\
  Paths to Tech: Engaging with Leading Recruitment Professionals\
  The UChicago Tech Network: Alumni Mixer\
  Career Advancement in Tech: Skill-Building Workshop Series\
  Chicago Tech Immersion: Company Visits & Career Conversations

  **Sample Employers**

  Abbvie\
  Amazon\
  Apple\
  Argonne\
  eBay\
  Epic\
  Google\
  IBM\
  Meta\
  OpenAI \
  Palantir Technologies\
  Snowflake\
  TikTok

  **Questions?**

  Please contact Joey Velez at [jvelez09@uchicago.edu](mailto:jvelez09@uchicago.edu).

- ## Arts & Humanities

  The Arts & Humanities cohort helps students discover career paths that share storytelling, artistic production, and communication at their core, as well as explore the dynamic changes that these industries are undergoing. This fall-quarter program brings together early-career students focused on combining the robust UChicago Arts and Humanities curriculum with cutting-edge skill development to prepare to make an impact on film, literature, visual arts, music, gaming, theatre, animation, academia and more.

  **Sample Programs**

  - JAMfest: Creativity, Communication, and Convergence – a day-long series of panels and workshops on the changing nature of careers in Journalism, Arts, and Media
  - Careers in Publishing: The UChicago Press
  - The Art of the Biography
  - Careers in Film with Directors, Screenwriters and Producers
  - The World of Animation and VFX

  **Sample Employers**

  - ABC News
  - Art Institute of Chicago
  - Disney
  - Penguin Random House
  - Film Independent
  - UChicago Press
  - Simon & Schuster
  - The New York Times
  - The Point Magazine
  - The Goodman Theater
  - HBO
  - Red Wagon Pictures

  **Questions?**

  Please contact Ben Waltzer at [waltzer@uchicago.edu](mailto:waltzer@uchicago.edu).

- ## Business

  The Business cohort empowers first-year students to explore the dynamic world of business, from finance and consulting to entrepreneurship, marketing, and more.

  **Sample Programs**

  Recruiting Readiness: Building a World-Class Business Resume\
  Excelling in the Interview: Business Behavioral and Technical Preparation\
  Building Technical Skills: Excel Best Practices and Data Analysis\
  Making an Impact: Leadership Development for Business and Finance\
  Building Business Acumen: Exploring Business Career Pathways

  **Sample Employers**

  Accenture\
  Amazon Bain & Company Boston Consulting Group\
  Capital One\
  Evercore \
  Goldman Sachs\
  Google \
  JPMorgan Chase \
  McKinsey & Company \
  Morgan Stanley \
  PwC\
  UBS\
  Walmart

  **Questions?**

  Please contact Jackson Lehmar at [jlehmar@uchicago.edu](mailto:jlehmar@uchicago.edu)

- ## Biological Sciences

  The Biological Sciences cohort empowers first-year students to explore careers at the intersection of biology and data, spanning biotech, bioinformatics, neuroscience, pharmacology, and more, by harnessing the power of computer science and analytics to answer big questions in the life sciences.

  **Sample Programs\
  \**Early Careers in Computational Biology: Kickoff Event \
  Internship Preparation & Application Workshop \
  Life After UChicago: Alumni in Computational Life Sciences \
  Phoenix Biology Lab Night and BSCD Fellowship Info Session \
  Beyond the Lab: Employer Spotlights & Career Conversations \
  Cohort Lab Tours

  **Sample Employers\
  \**AbbVie \
  Argonne National Laboratory \
  Biogen \
  Broad Institute \
  Genentech \
  Ginkgo Bioworks\
  GlaxoSmithKline \
  Illumina \
  Moderna \
  National Institutes of Health \
  Pfizer \
  Tempus \
  Tessera Therapeutics

  **Questions?\
  \**Please contact Tony Abeyta at [tabeyta@uchicago.edu](mailto:tabeyta@uchicago.edu)

- ## Education

  The Education cohort empowers students to explore the vast landscape of education via a curriculum that includes professional development workshops, career treks, funded internships, and guest speakers including faculty, administrators, and employers.

  **Sample Programs**

  Local treks to education-focused organizations\
  Professional networking sessions with employers over lunch\
  Panels and conversations with professionals in the field\
  Skill building workshop series

  **Sample Employers**

  Advance Illinois\
  High Jump Chicago\
  Chicago Public Schools\
  Forging Opportunities for Refugees in America\
  Institute for Educational Leadership\
  Teach for America\
  City Year Chicago\
  University of Chicago Consortium on School Research\
  Play Smart Literacy

  **Questions?**

  Please contact Swapna Shaw at [srshaw@uchicago.edu](mailto:srshaw@uchicago.edu)

- ## Entrepreneurship

  The Entrepreneurship cohort creates a platform for first-year students to engage with founders and the startup community to learn more about the ideation process, raising capital, and building a company.

  **Sample Programs**

  Journey to Entrepreneurship Panel\
  Startup Fundraising Process \
  Storytelling: How to Pitch your Startup\
  Working in a Startup Panel\
  How to Secure a Startup Internship Workshop

  **Sample Employers**

  CareLumi\
  Blockalicious \
  KindEd\
  SkinIO\
  Techstars\
  Sifty\
  Three Pillars\
  TipTop Technologies

  **Questions?**

  Please contact Derek Scalf at [dscalf@uchicago.edu](mailto:dscalf@uchicago.edu)

- ## Global Health

  The Global Health cohort introduces students to diverse global and public health career paths including think tanks, multilaterals, government, and domestic and international nonprofits. Students will explore the connections between global, national, and local public health issues and the research, communication and collaboration skills needed to address them.

  **Sample Programs**

  Career Exploration Week in New York\
  Introduction to Global Health Careers \
  Global Health Policy Case Challenge \
  Public Health Research Careers & Skill Building Overview\
  Preparing for your non-profit summer internship\
  Employer Spotlight Sessions with International NGOs with International Rescue Committee, Medecins Sans Frontieres and WHO\
  Mentorship and Networking Dinners with Global Health Scholars

  **Sample Employers**

  mWater\
  NYC Health + Hospitals\
  International Aids Foundation\
  International Rescue Committee\
  Central American Network of Health Informatics\
  Population Services International

  **Questions?**

  Please contact Maha Ezalarab at [ezalarab@uchicago.edu](mailto:ezalarab@uchicago.edu).

- ## Healthcare

  The Healthcare cohort program helps first-year students kickstart their career discernment journey in clinical roles such as physicians, dentists, social workers, and more. This program will introduce students to professional development resources and activities they can utilize to pursue careers as skilled, compassionate, and dedicated care providers.

  **Sample Programs**

  CIH Welcome Mixer (employer, pre-health RSO, and grad school fair at the start of each school year)\
  Pre-Med Bootcamp for Incoming 1st Years and Transfer Students\
  Q&A Panel with Current Med Students\
  “Beyond the Clinic” Speaker Series for students considering non-provider roles

  **Sample Employers**

  Brigham & Women’s Hospital\
  Chicago Center for HIV Elimination\
  Dimension Bio\
  Heartland Alliance\
  Illinois Department of Public Health\
  Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago\
  Mayo Clinic\
  MD Anderson Cancer Center\
  Yale School of Medicine

  **Questions?**

  Please contact Elise Gruneisen at [egruneisen@uchicago.edu](mailto:egruneisen@uchicago.edu).

- ## Law

  The Law cohort helps first-year students kickstart their career discernment journey in the legal field by introducing them to resources and activities they can utilize to plan their journey to law school and a legal career.

  **Sample Programs**

  Legal Resume Writing Workshop\
  How to Get (and Thrive in) a Legal Internship\
  Exploring Civil Discourse in an Adversarial Profession\
  Networking at your Legal Internship\
  Professional Communications in Legal Workplaces

  **Sample Employers**

  Brooklyn Defenders Service\
  Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office\
  Equal Employment Opportunity Commission\
  Harriet Buhai Center for Family Law\
  Hudson Valley Justice Center\
  International Refugee Assistance Project\
  Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office\
  Mexican American Legal Defense & Education Fund\
  NYU Law School’s Policing Project\
  Ropes & Gray\
  Sidley Austin\
  University of Chicago Law School

  **Questions?**

  Please contact Priya Laroia at [plaroia@uchicago.edu](mailto:plaroia@uchicago.edu).

- ## Policy, Government & Nonprofits

  The Policy, Government, and Nonprofits cohort introduces students to a range of public policy career paths including think tanks, state and local government offices, and nonprofits. Students will explore policy research, constituent services, communications, development, and other functional areas within these industries.

  **Sample Programs**

  Local Nonprofit Careers Speaker Series\
  Policy and Government Careers Alumni Dinner and Panel\
  Skills for Policy Research Careers Bootcamp\
  State Government Trek to Springfield\
  Think Tank Careers Virtual Lunch and Learn Series

  **Sample Employers**

  Center for Tax and Budget Accountability\
  Chicago Council on Global Affairs\
  Correctional Association of New York\
  Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights\
  Illinois State Treasurer's Office\
  Milken Institute\
  Northwest Immigrant Rights Project\
  Office of Alderwoman Jeylu Gutierrez, 14th Ward\
  Office of IL Governor J.B. Pritzker\
  Office of IL Senator Javier Cervantes\
  Office of U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth\
  Potomac Institute for Policy Studies\
  Step Up Women's Network

  **Questions?**

  Please contact Tala Ali-Hasan at [talihasan@uchicago.edu](mailto:talihasan@uchicago.edu).

- ## Quantum

  The Quantum cohort empowers first-year students to explore dynamic careers in quantum technology! Programming will support students interested in both technical and business roles in quantum.

  **Sample Programs**

  Introduction to Quantum Careers & Chicago Quantum Landscape\
  Quantum in Finance: Quantum Applications Across Industries\
  Chicago Quantum Exchange Q-Ready Programming\
  Quantum Entrepreneur Networking Luncheon\
  Quantum Workshop & Skill Building Overview\
  Quantum Recruiting Forum \
  Germany Quantum Summer Fellows Program

  **Sample Employers**

  Argonne National Laboratory\
  Duality\
  EeroQ\
  qBraid\
  Infleqtion\
  Qblox\
  GLCT\
  Quantum Rings\
  Ingenii\
  HRL Laboratories\
  Qoro\
  Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

  **Questions?**

  Please contact Lauren Banks at [laurenbanks@uchicago.edu](mailto:laurenbanks@uchicago.edu).