Career Conference in Chemistry
The Career Conference in Chemistry was founded in 2015 by Perry Gee, the department's undergraduate advisor from 2013-2023. The purpose of the event is two-fold. It is a vehicle where majors in Chemistry can learn from recruiters or representatives about what they need to develop when entering their post-graduate careers. It also gives invited companies or organizations the opportunity to meet our majors first-hand.
Holly Vickery, a graduate in Chemical Biology at UC Davis, noted that our conference had been very informative and insightful with her own career search. She explained, "I appreciated the advice each presenter shared about how to be a competitive applicant for an internship or job. And to learn more about their respective company was especially rewarding to hear."
2026 Conference
2026's Career Conference in Chemistry will take place on Saturday, February 21st, at the Student Community Center in the Multipurpose Room. This is an all-day event from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. This year, our event will feature a speed-networking session with industry professionals and a resume workshop hosted by the UC Davis Career Center.
Registration
Student registration for the 2026 Conference will open in February 2026.
Registration is free, and space is limited.
Career Conference Program Agenda
The following is a sample program of events during our conference.
8:30-8:50a = Check-In
9:05-9:20a = Keynote Speaker
9:30-10:30a = Speed Networking with Industry Professionals
10:30-10:45a = Break
10:45a-11:45a = Resume Workshop with the Career Center
12:00-1:00p = Lunch
1:00-3:00p = Tabling Fair with Companies, Organizations, and Services
Historical Conference Funding Partners
Gilead is dedicated to developing innovative medicines for life-threatening illnesses. As we pursue this goal, we strive for positive social and environmental change within our company and our supply chain. Our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program is built to focus on patients, society, the planet, and our business practices.
Gilead’s management approach is designed to create a sustainable future that reflects our integrity and commitment to excellence. Year after year, internal and external stakeholders work to evaluate the effectiveness of our management approach. They identify strengths and opportunities that become guideposts as we reach for new breakthroughs and look at what’s next.
We believe in the power of humanity to solve any challenge, to overcome any obstacle, and to find responsible solutions that work for all of us. We’re a global team united by a shared set of values, called The Chevron Way. From our volunteering initiatives to our commitment to diversity and inclusion, you’ll see that our values are so much more than words on a screen – they’re our way of life. The Chevron Way explains our beliefs, vision, purpose, and values. It guides how we work and establishes a common understanding of our culture and aspirations.
Human ingenuity has the power to solve any challenge and overcome any obstacle. Meeting the world’s growing energy needs demands the pursuit of innovations and advancements that deliver a better future for all.
Our Keynote Speaker
Our 2026 keynote speaker is Dr. Bryan Enderle, a Senior Continuing Lecturer for the University of California, Davis. Dr. Enderle earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Davis, where he now serves as an affiliated faculty member. In addition to his numerous publications, Dr. Enderle has received many awards and been recognized for his work as a faculty member and scientist.
Previous keynote speakers have included: Dr. Matt Amicucci, Dr. Davide Donadio, Dr. William Casey, Dr. Kyle Crabtree, Dr. Susan Kauzlarich, Dr. Mark Kurth, Dr. Marie Heffern, and Dr. Frank Osterloh.
Our Panelists
We are grateful to all of our chemistry professionals who have appeared at our career conference over the years. Each have shared their journey in their respective career pathway since graduating as well as the lessons they learned from their experiences.
Previous panelists include professionals from Thermo Fisher, California Department of Justice, Environmental Protection Agency, and more. Instead of a traditional panel, our team will be hosting a Speed-Networking event where students can have more personal conversations with industry professionals. Here are our panelists for 2026.
- Dr. Bryan Enderle, University of California, Davis, Senior Professor in Chemistry
- Javier Aztiazarain, WaveGuide, Director
- Cory Vierra, One.Bio, Scientist
- Andrew Wilkens, American Chemical Society, Sacramento Chapter
- Mariela de la Paz Carpio-Obeso, American Chemical Society, Sacramento Chapter
- Yaeir Haflon, PTI Technologies, Chemical Engineer
Our Tabling Fair Partners
The tabling (or open fair) portion of the conference gave invited companies and organizations the opportunity to meet our majors first-hand. It was also a forum where majors in Chemistry or related disciplines learned from recruiters or representatives about what they needed to develop when entering their post-graduate careers. We are thankful for the following companies and organizations who have attended our conference over the years. Check out our 2026 Tabling fair partners below:
- ACS Chemistry Club @ UC Davis
- UC Davis Cal Teach/MAST
- ACS Sacramento Chapter
- Agilent Technology
- CA Department of Justice (DOJ)
- One.Bio
- Terracon Consultants, Inc.
- UC Davis Career Center
- UC Davis Graduate Program in Chemistry and Chemical Biology
- UC Davis Chemical Biology Fellowship Program
- UC Davis Health Professions Advising
- US Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District
- United States Geological Survey
Advisor to the Conference Planning Committee
Amber Handling
Student Members of the Conference Planning Committee
Erin Javier
Rhea Dhalla
Moses Mesfin
Dianne Tacandong
Aya Yangurazova
Noorah Dhamim
Danil Furman
Jannah Al Defaaei
Contact Us
The Conference Planning Committee would like to thank all of our sponsors and donors for their generous support of the Career Conference in Chemistry over the years. These include the UCD Department of Chemistry, UCD College of Letters and Science, Chevron Corporation, Gilead Sciences, ACS Chemistry Club at UC Davis, Noah's Bagels, UCD Bookstores, UCD Aggie Compass, and Starbucks.