The Graduate Student & Postdoc Industry Recruitment Event (GSPIRE) is the perfect opportunity for individuals with advanced degrees to connect with various industries and organizations. The GSPIRE is offered both virtually (Monday, September 21, 2026) and in-person (Tuesday, September 22, 2026). The Ohio State College of Arts and Sciences and College of Engineering are excited to offer this exclusive hiring opportunity for Master’s, PhD, postdoctoral scholars, and professional-level talent. We invite you to join us and connect with top employers and organizations seeking bright minds like yours.
All individuals, from first-year graduate students to postdocs and alumni, are encouraged to participate. Whether you are considering a career in academia or industry, this event will provide valuable networking opportunities and the chance to explore and secure professional employment in industry or government.
Want to volunteer for the in-person GSPIRE? It's a great way to network with employers! Email Jeremy Hale.516@osu.edu.
2026 Graduate Student & Postdoc Industry Recruitment Event (In-Person)
Tuesday, September 22nd
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm EDT
Location: The Ohio Union, 1739 N High St, Columbus, OH 43210
The Ohio Union: Great Hall (1st floor)
2026 National Graduate Student & Postdoc Industry Recruitment Event (Virtual)
Monday, September 21st
12:00 pm - 4:00 pm EDT
Platform: Handshake Virtual Career Fair
All participants are encouraged to register for both events on Handshake using your Name.# and normal OSU student account password.
If you encounter any issues with accessing Handshake, you can seek assistance from your Career Services office or Buckeye Commons.
POSTDOCS & HANDSHAKE
Because postdoctoral scholars are considered staff at Ohio State, they need to request access to obtain a free Handshake account. The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs has created an intake survey that postdocs interested in accessing Handshake should fill out to begin the student account creation process. If you are currently looking for career opportunities and don’t already have a Handshake account, we strongly encourage you to submit your information. The account creation process can take up to a month, so make your request now.
- OSU Postdocs can request free Handshake access here: https://go.osu.edu/postdoc-handshake.
Please reach out to the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs if you have any questions (osupostdocs@osu.edu).
Graduating Soon?
Individuals who are due to graduate in the next two semesters are strongly encouraged to submit a resume (not a C.V.) using the provided link in the registration confirmation email. It's possible to submit a resume even if you are unable to attend the fairs, as all industry partners will receive any resumes submitted. Submitting a resume is not mandatory for event registration but it is recommended for individuals pursuing a career in industry, as it allows industry partners to track your progress over the next few years.
NOTE: You are not required to submit a resume to attend either event. If you do submit your resume, it is NOT equal to registering for the event—don’t forget to register on Handshake too! You are also highly encouraged to bring multiple copies of your resume to the in-person event.
Companies participating in this event will exclusively offer internships and professional full-time positions for Postdocs, PhDs, and Master's level students/staff. The list of attending companies may expand closer to the event date, so it's important to check back frequently for updates.
For assistance with converting a C.V. to a resume or improving interviewing skills, individuals can utilize resources provided by Buckeye Commons (https://buckeyecommons.osu.edu/), ASC Graduate Student Professional Success (https://asccareersuccess.osu.edu/graduate-students-and-postdocs), Engineering Career Services (https://ecs.osu.edu) or attend workshops offered by your department or career services office (https://careers.osu.edu/students/career-services-offices).
Please note that if you require any accommodations such as live captioning or interpretation to fully participate in this event, please contact asccareer@osu.edu. Requests made two weeks before the event will generally allow us to provide seamless access, but the university will make every effort to meet requests made after this date.
Get ready to take your future to the next level. We look forward to seeing you there!