As a graduated WASP PhD student or WASP postdoc, you have many possible paths in academia, industry, or the public sector. The WASP Career Program is designed to help you explore these options, offering both inspiration and practical guidance for your next step. You will gain concrete tools for navigating the job market, insights from WASP alumni, and opportunities to expand your professional network.
The program runs throughout September and October 2026 and consists of a series of online sessions led by experts, alumni, and industry professionals. The last session is a physical meeting at Academia and Industry Days 2026, Cirkus, Stockholm. You can choose to attend one or several of the sessions depending on your interests. All sessions are presented in the WASP event calendar.
How to show your interest
To receive invitations and updates for the sessions, please fill in the registration of interest.
Deadline to register your interest: August 31, 2026.
Registration of interest – WASP Career Program 2026
Recorded sessions
The sessions “WASP alumni in academia and industry” and “Commercialisation and entrepreneurship” will be recorded and published on this website after the program. The other sessions will not be available afterwards.
Sessions in the program
Behind the scenes of the hiring process
📅 September 3
🕐16:00-17:30
📍Digital (teams link is sent before the event)
Speaker: Elena Hoffer, Alma.me
Gain insight into how hiring decisions are made and what employers are really looking for. This session covers:
- What hiring managers value and what can quietly disqualify candidates
- How decisions are made during the hiring process
- How to craft a CV that matches industry expectations
- How to position yourself effectively
- Practical interview strategies based on real hiring experience
About Alma.Me
We empower PhDs to make the leap from academia to industry with confidence, equipping them with the skills and know-how to achieve their career aspirations, and pave the way for a fulfilling and prosperous future. Read more.
WASP alumni in academia and industry
📅 September 17
🕐16:00-17:30
📍Digital (teams link is sent before the event)
Preliminary speakers: César Soto Valero, Data Scientist, SEB, Veronika Domova, Consultant, GrantSight, Rebekka Wohlrab, Assistant Professor, Interaction Design and Software Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology.
Hear from WASP alumni in both academia and industry as they share their career journeys. The session highlights challenges they have faced, key decisions along the way, and advice for early career researchers.
Commercialization and entrepreneurship
📅 October 1
🕐16:00-17:30
📍Digital (teams link is sent before the event)
Speakers: Sandor Albrecht, Director Innovation, Knut and Alice Wallenberg foundation and responsible for Wallenberg Launch Pad (WALP) and Frank Jiang, FleetMQ.
Interested in starting your own venture or bringing research to market? This session explores different paths into entrepreneurship and commercialisation, with insights from experienced founders and practitioners. Through the Wallenberg Launch Pad (WALP) researchers are offered support in exploring and validating what impact their idea could make in industry or in society. Read more about WALP.
Networking and marketing yourself to industry
📅 October 13
🕐 9:30-10:50
📍Cirkus, Stockholm
Speaker: Elena Hoffer, Alma.me
This session takes place in person during Academia and Industry Days 2026 and focuses on how to build connections and present your skills to employers. Topics include:
- Why networking plays a key role in job opportunities
- How to approach networking in a way that works for PhDs
- Differences in mindset between academia and industry
- What employers outside academia are looking for
- How to communicate your value clearly in your CV and personal presentation
Please note that participation in this session requires registration for the full WASP Academia and Industry Days 2026 which takes place at Cirkus, Stockholm. Limited seats to this session.
The WASP Academia and Industry Days takes place 13-14 October 2026 at Cirkus, Stockholm and is our most vibrant annual gathering, bringing together representatives from academia, industry, and the public sector to explore opportunities for collaboration. This event is a great opportunity to meet new potential collaborators and broaden your network.
Read more about the WASP Academia and Industry Days 2026: https://industrydays.wasp-sweden.org/
Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact info@wasp-sweden.org.