Fueling the Future: Purdue Graduate Engineering Expands National Recruitment and Postdoc Excellence in Fall 2025 - College of Engineering - Purdue University

Virtual Graduate Showcase

The cornerstone of Purdue Graduate Engineering’s Fall 2025 recruitment efforts is the Purdue Engineering Virtual Graduate Showcase, which took place on September 28–29, 2025 with over 3000 participants in attendance. This free online event provides prospective graduate students with live program overviews, faculty panels, admissions and funding workshops, research highlights, and interactive sessions with current Purdue Engineering master’s and doctoral students. By offering both structured presentations and open networking opportunities, the Virtual Graduate Showcase continues to make Purdue’s top- ranked' graduate engineering programs accessible to students around the world.

Conference Engagements

Purdue Graduate Engineering expanded its national footprint in Fall 2025 through participation in major STEM conferences and regional graduate fairs. Representatives attended the National GEM Annual Conference, BRASA Summit Americas, Tau Beta Pi National Convention,  Society for Women in Engineering Annual WE25 Conference, and the SHPE National Convention.

Regionally, Purdue Graduate Engineering also connected with prospective students at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Engineering Job & Internship Fair, Rose-Hulman Graduate Fair, Ohio Northern University Graduate Fair, and the University of Maryland Baltimore County Career Connection event.

Through these national and regional engagements, Purdue reaches thousands of future engineers, introducing them to Purdue’s research strengths, graduate programs, and funding opportunities.

Information Sessions

Purdue Engineering hosts virtual information sessions throughout the year. These sessions provide prospective applicants with program overviews, guidance on application requirements, timelines, funding strategies, and tips for preparing personal statements and recommendation requests. In September of each year, two webinars are provided for prospective students interested in learning more about how to apply for graduate engineering programs and how to fund research master’s and doctoral programs.

Additionally, through EngGAP and the NAGAP Graduate Enrollment Management community, Purdue continues co-leading nationwide webinars designed to help undergraduate students understand and prepare for graduate school'. These events include contributions from more than a dozen peer institutions and help demystify the graduate admissions process.

Visit Prospective Student Events to learn more about Purdue Graduate Engineering events throughout the year.

Excellence in Mentoring Outreach

The GradTrack Scholars Program celebrated its fifth year in 2025, expanding its reach as it prepares undergraduate students for successful entry into graduate engineering programs. Participants received one-on-one mentoring from Purdue graduate students along with workshops on research readiness, fellowship preparation, and graduate applications. As an 'award-winning initiative, GradTrack continues to show significant impact on preparing the next generation of leaders in engineering research and graduate-study.

Contact Dr. Jackie McDermott at jem@purdue.edu with questions.

The Graduate Engineering Navigators (GEN) host virtual sessions for applicants; represent Purdue at recruitment events; support applicants throughout the application process in one-on-one sessions; lead panel sessions during the Virtual Graduate Showcase; and foster community building among future graduate students. The program is expanding to include additional navigators in the coming semester, which will strengthen Purdue Engineering connections both domestically and internationally.

Contact Dr. Colleen Coulter at clc@purdue.edu to collaborate with a navigator.

Postdoctoral Engagement and Support

Recognizing the key role postdocs play in advancing Purdue’s research enterprise, the College of Engineering continues to expand its postdoctoral programming. Fall 2025 activities included co-sponsoring National Postdoc Appreciation week activities on the West Lafayette campus, a grant writing workshop focused on NIH fellowships, a Future Faculty Bootcamp workshop session on developing research statements, collaboration with Rolls Royce and Technion on new postdoctoral fellowship opportunities', and enhanced partnerships with Purdue’s Office of Postdoctoral Studies'. These programs support career readiness and leadership development while strengthening Purdue’s research community.

What’s Next for Purdue Graduate Engineering

Purdue Engineering is preparing for another year of impactful engagement with future graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. February launches the new GradBridge Engineering Career Mentoring Circle program in partnership with UC Berkeley, where 300 professionals and graudate students will come together to learn about career sectors. In the months ahead, you can find Purdue representatives at the National Society of Black Engineers Convention,  outreach and professional development events, and summer research program information sessions, both on campus and online.

To explore upcoming events or connect with the recruitment team, visit our Purdue Graduate Engineering events calendar or email engrgrad@purdue.edu.