On Wednesday, April 24, 2025, Yale’s Office of Career Strategy (OCS) organized a Boston Job Trek, offering 37 Yale PhD students the opportunity to explore career paths in intellectual property law and management consulting. The immersive, day-long event featured site visits to two leading firms—Goodwin Procter LLP and Boston Consulting Group (BCG)—where attendees engaged with professionals, many of whom were Yale alumni, and gained valuable insights into career transitions outside academia.
The day began at Goodwin’s Boston office, where participants were introduced to the firm’s robust life sciences practice and its unique Science Advisor Program. Miho Kaneko, Senior Associate and Yale alumna (‘15 PhD Organic Chemistry), opened the session with an overview of the firm and its commitment to leveraging scientific expertise in the legal field. Miho also serves as an Advisory Trustee of the Yale Graduate School Alumni Association Board, further strengthening the connection between Goodwin and Yale.
A panel discussion followed, moderated by Miho, and featured a distinguished group of Yale PhD alumni currently working at Goodwin:
- Ioana Davies, Associate (‘22 PhD Organic Chemistry)
- Yingying Cai, Science Law Clerk (‘17 PhD Chemical Biology)
- Cathy Amaya, Science Law Clerk (‘21 PhD MB&B)
- Diondra Dilworth, Science Advisor (‘23 PhD Organic Chemistry PhD)
Panelists shared their diverse paths into intellectual property law, discussed the transition from the lab to legal practice, and emphasized the value of scientific training in the patent landscape. Attendees participated in a lively Q&A session and gained clarity on the day-to-day work of science advisors and clerks at a top-tier firm. The visit concluded with a networking lunch and a tour of Goodwin’s stunning 17th floor offices, offering picturesque views of the Boston skyline.
In the afternoon, participants headed to the Boston office of the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to learn about career opportunities in management consulting for advanced degree holders. The session began with an engaging presentation from Taylor Hamilton, Project Leader and ADC program alumna, who earned her PhD in Pharmacology from UNC – Chapel Hill. Taylor shared her own career journey, offering advice on the ADC Bridge Program, what makes a strong applicant, and how BCG supports PhD transitions into consulting roles.
A panel of current Advanced Degree Consultants—who also hold PhDs—offered candid reflections on their experiences at BCG. The discussion touched on daily responsibilities, team culture, travel expectations, and the learning curve for new consultants. The visit concluded with a tour of BCG’s collaborative workspace, leaving participants with a clearer understanding of life at one of the world’s top consulting firms. Following the panel discussion, a tour of BCG’s Boston office offered trekkers a firsthand experience of the working environment and company culture.
This job trek exemplified the powerful connections between Yale and leading employers in Boston, and the breadth of opportunities available to graduate-level scientists and scholars beyond academia. OCS is proud to support PhD students and postdocs in exploring diverse career paths and looks forward to future treks that further strengthen Yale’s partnerships with employers.
A heartfelt thank you to the teams at Goodwin and BCG for welcoming our Yale scholars and to all the alumni and professionals who shared their stories, advice, and time to make this event a success!
