2026 Workshop: CEDAR Non-Academic Career Opportunity Panel
Katrina Bossert
Bea Gallardo-Lacourt
Federico Gasperini
Romina Nikoukar
This panel will consist of representatives from the domains of science policy, space weather operations, small satellite industry, and potentially a fourth panelist, a similar stakeholder with skills complementary to CEDAR science. The conveners will guide and lead discussion with prepared questions and move the panel forward between topics, including but not limited to discussing specific skills required for transitioning to the domain, what a day in the life in this career looks like (how it may differ from ‘traditional’ academia), and key insights they have gained from their time. The two hour workshop block will be open to CEDAR community member questions to the panelists, with the opportunity for follow-up questions and continued discussion possible depending on the number of participants. We hope this will be the first in a series of events meant to cultivate a closer relationship between the CEDAR community and the many potential domains our skills provide us the opportunity to transition into in the course of our careers.
The CEDAR community has historically struggled with staying connected to the field outside of traditional research and advertising those career opportunities as available, both for early career scientists looking for positions and as potential pivot points into and out of academia for community members later in their careers. Given the current funding climate, ensuring we have developed close ties to these alternate career paths is crucial as more of our community may need to seek funding or job placement outside of their established disciplines. This panel workshop is one of a number of flagship efforts at CEDAR 2026 meant to promote a closer relationship with stakeholders who work in similar domains.
Feedback from workshop attendees has consistently pointed towards strong interest in interactive workshop sessions with the opportunity for discussion at CEDAR over a series of AGU-style talks, and by providing this platform for subject matter experts at CEDAR 2026, we increase an additional incentive for their attendance. Lastly and perhaps most tangibly, the CEDAR community would benefit from this workshop by learning directly from those firmly situated in the domain about the day to day challenges encountered and skills used on the job.