Conference access fuels career growth for Oregon State chemistry graduate students

For graduate students in chemistry at Oregon State University, conference season is more than a professional milestone — it’s a launchpad for future careers. Each year, students share discoveries and gain experience presenting their work. They connect with leading scientists at national and international gatherings, including the national and regional conferences from the American Chemical Society and the Gordon Research Conferences and Seminars, where opportunities for networking are plentiful and preliminary results and new ideas are discussed by like-minded professionals.

These opportunities play a defining role in graduate education. Presenting research to peers helps students sharpen their ideas and build confidence in their presentation. Just as importantly, conferences create space for meaningful connections — often opening doors to collaborations, postdoctoral positions and industry roles.

A grad student poses next to their research paper at the 2025 American Chemistry Society national conference. He is pointing and making an O shape with his mouth.

Ph.D. graduate student Pakhin Pawornwitoon, from the Stylianou lab, shows off his research poster at the 2025 American Chemical Society national conference.

Conference participation is well documented as a valuable tool in career advancement. A 2019 graduate student survey by the American Chemical Society found that the majority of graduate students rank professional conferences among the most useful career development resources available to them. This is unsurprising, considering conferences play a large part in helping students explore career pathways and prepare for research or industry careers. That’s exactly why Oregon State’s chemistry department works to make these trips possible for as many grad students as they can.

Yet access to these experiences is not always guaranteed. While local and regional events are more affordable, many of the most influential conferences require long-distance travel. Rising costs for registration, lodging and transportation can create significant barriers, limiting students’ ability to participate fully in the scientific community.

“Not all research groups have the resources and budget for student conference travel,” said Department of Chemistry Head Wei Kong. “Attending a conference is a ‘rite of passage’ for a graduate student,” she went on, “but without travel funding, some students may never have the chance to leave OSU for that important milestone in their careers.”

That’s where donor support makes a lasting difference.

Gifts to support the Fuel the Future of Chemistry fund ensure that financial constraints do not stand in the way of opportunity. By funding conference attendance, donors invest directly in the next generation of scientists, empowering students to expand their networks, refine their research and step confidently into their careers.

For OSU chemistry graduate students, a conference is more than a trip. It’s an opportunity that can shape the trajectory of their future in science.

Explore how you can be part of supporting graduate student travel this Dam Proud Day.