Mission
Professors for the Future (PFTF) develops the next generation of academic leaders at UC Davis. The program supports Ph.D. candidates and postdoctoral scholars in strengthening their leadership, teaching, and professional skills while contributing to the graduate and postdoctoral community through meaningful service.
The Professors for the Future (PFTF) program is a competitive, two-year fellowship program designed to recognize and develop the leadership and academic skills of outstanding Ph.D. candidates and postdoctoral scholars who have demonstrated their commitment to professionalism, integrity, and academic service. In its first year, the program consists of professional development training through participation in monthly meetings, a seminar in college teaching, and completion of a project to benefit other graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. In the second year, focused on developing mentorship skills, PFTF fellows will serve as mentors to the incoming class.
Applicants are asked to develop projects based on one of these four areas:
- Public communication of academic research
- Pedagogical Innovation: Teaching in the Undergraduate Classroom
- Inclusive excellence
- Wellness and wellbeing
The PFTF program is housed within the GradPathways Institute for Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Scholar Success.
Program Highlights
Founded in 1992, PFTF is a year-long leadership and professional development fellowship for advanced doctoral students and postdoctoral scholars. Fellows receive structured training, a collaborative cohort experience, and the opportunity to design and implement a service project that enhances graduate or postdoctoral life at UC Davis. Fellows receive a $3,000 stipend for their participation.
In 2026, PFTF will pilot a two-year program. In the first year (2026-2027), PFTF fellows will participate in a structured professional development program and will develop and mount a group project based on one of four themes. In the second year (2027-208), focused on developing mentorship skills, the 2026-27 fellows will serve as mentors to the incoming 2027-28 PFTF fellows.
How PFTF Works
PFTF is a competitive fellowship designed to cultivate academic leadership through four core elements:
1. Leadership and Professional Development
Fellows participate in monthly workshops, seminars, and retreats that build skills in communication, project management, leadership, teaching, and navigating academic hierarchies. Through these sessions, fellows gain insight into university structures, shared governance, and the broader context of higher education.
2. Community and Collaboration
Each cohort brings together an interdisciplinary group of doctoral students and postdoctoral scholars. Fellows learn from one another, develop a sense of community across disciplines, and build professional networks that often extend well beyond the fellowship year.
3. Service Project
A signature component of PFTF is the design and implementation of an academic service project. Fellows create a project that addresses a need within the graduate or postdoctoral population—whether related to professional development, inclusive excellence, mentoring, or wellbeing. These projects have lasting impact and contribute directly to improving the UC Davis graduate student and postdoctoral experience. Fellows will propose a project based on one of four pre-selected themes.
Many PFTF projects developed by PFTF Fellows are now an integral part of graduate education at UC Davis. These include:
- Graduate Studies Week of Orientation and Welcome
- The Postdoctoral Excellence Award
- Writing Partners Program
- Postdoctoral Research Symposium
- Graduate Teaching Community
- GradLink E-newsletter
4. Mentorship
Mentoring is a critical aspect in the development of future scholars. PFTF fellows will undergo mentorship training in their second year and will serve as mentors to the next cohort of scholars.
Through these combined experiences, PFTF prepares participants for leadership roles within academia and beyond, equipping them with the vision, confidence, and skills to shape positive change in higher education.
Contacts
Archana Venkatesan
Faculty Co-Director, PFTF
Director, GradPathways
[email protected]
Nicole Rabaud
Staff Co-Director, PFTF
Associate Director, GradPathways
[email protected]
Kevin Porter
Program Coordinator
GradPathways
(530) 754-3041
[email protected]