Academic Job Search Series

A Look at Fall Campus Colors | Duke Today

The Academic Job Search Series is sponsored by The Graduate School and the Office of Postdoctoral Services.

Weds Aug 19, 11 am – 12:30 pm

WHAT: An Intro to NIH NRSA F32 Awards
REGISTER: https://duke.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BidF5tEzSviWB8KE9LfMmA#/registration

The Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA F32) for Individual Postdoctoral Fellowships provide up to three years of support for promising postdocs who have the potential to become productive, independent investigators within the broad scope of biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research, and to help ensure that a pool of highly trained scientists is available to address the Nation’s biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research needs. Please note that F32 awards are limited to US citizens and permanent residents.

In this Zoom seminar, Sohini Sengupta, PhD, MPH, will give an overview of the F32 award mechanism, including positioning oneself for success, responding to core review criteria, and writing to promote a successful application.

Speaker: Sohini Sengupta, PhD, MPH, is Director of the Duke Office of Campus Research Development (OCRD),where she provides proposal development and grant writing programming to help Duke faculty and the broader campus community submit high quality proposals.

Mon Aug 24 through Fri Aug 28, 12-12:45 pm

WHAT: Academic Job Market Boot Camp: A Week of Webinars
REGISTER: https://institutions.beyondprof.com/webinar-academic-job-boot-camp-2026/

Doctoral students and postdocs entering the academic job market today face fewer available positions and significantly more competition than in previous years. In this environment, a strong application package is essential to how you are evaluated by hiring committees. But many doctoral students and postdocs are uncertain about what these documents should include—and how to write them effectively.

This five-day virtual boot camp is designed to help you build and strengthen each component of your academic application package. Each session focuses on a specific document, giving you the knowledge and strategies to present yourself clearly and professionally as an educator and scholar.

Unable to attend a session live? Replays will be available—register in advance to receive access.

This boot camp is designed for doctoral students, PhDs, and postdocs from all academic disciplines who are preparing to apply for faculty positions.

• Aug 24: Cover Letters
• Aug 25: Research Statements
• Aug 26: Teaching Statements
• Aug 27: Teaching Portfolios
• Aug 28: What If I Am Not Successful This Year?

Graduate students and postdocs can attend this webinar series for free, including access to replays of events when available, through Duke’s subscription to Beyond the Professoriate, sponsored by The Graduate School and the Office of Postdoctoral Services. Advance registration is required.

Weds Aug 26, 11 am – 12 pm

WHAT: Info Session: NIH Loan Repayment Programs for Health Professionals (LRP)
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_exuqRw3l337S2sS

Are you a biomedical or biobehavioral PhD researcher? Did you know that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will help pay back your student loans? You’re invited to an in-depth overview of the NIH Loan Repayment Program from the Division of Loan Repayment Director, Matthew Lockhart MBA. The NIH Loan Repayment Program (LRPs) are a set of programs established by Congress designed to recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals into biomedical or biobehavioral research centers. The NIH LRPs pay up to $50,000 annually of qualified educational debt in return for a commitment to engage in NIH mission-relevant research.

Applicants must hold a PhD, MD, PharmD, DVM, or equivalent doctoral-level degree and must be a US citizen or permanent resident. The NIH LRPs will accept applications from Sept 1-Nov 19, 2026. Don’t miss your opportunity to learn how you could receive up to $100,000 in educational debt relief!

Weds Sept 16, 12-12:45 pm

WHAT: Is a Faculty Job Right for You?
REGISTER: https://institutions.beyondprof.com/webinar-faculty-job-right-for-you/

Many doctoral students and postdocs enter their PhD program with the goal of becoming a university professor. But today’s academic job market is highly competitive, and a tenure-track role may not be the right fit for everyone. As your values, life circumstances, and career goals evolve, it is important to reassess what career paths align with your personal and professional needs. So how do you decide if a faculty job is right for you?

Join the Beyond Prof team for this webinar where we’ll walk you through the key factors to consider as you evaluate whether a faculty career is the right path for you. PhDs are building careers in a wide range of roles—both within and beyond academia—and understanding your options is an important first step.

This webinar is designed for doctoral students, PhDs, and postdocs from all academic disciplines who are wondering:

How do I know if pursuing a faculty position is the right choice for me?
How long should I stay on the academic job market?
What are my options if I decide not to pursue a tenure-track path?

Graduate students and postdocs can attend this workshop series for free, including access to replays of events when available, through Duke’s subscription to Beyond the Professoriate, sponsored by the Office of Postdoctoral Services and the Graduate School. Advance registration is required.

Thurs Sept 17, 12-1:15 pm

WHAT: Faculty Positions: What Search Committees Are Looking For
REGISTER: go.ncsu.edu/professional-development-registration Under ‘Workshop Name’ scroll down to The PREPP 2026 Fall Series.

Hear from department heads, administrators, and faculty who have served on search committees for assistant faculty positions to find out what they are looking for and how to best prepare for a faculty interview.

Panelists:

Aaron Franklin PhD, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs; Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Duke University School of Engineering
Allyn Howlett PhD, Professor, Physiology and Pharmacology; Assistant Dean, Biomedical Graduate Programs, Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Terri Long PhD, Department Head, Plant & Microbial Biology, NC State University
Christian Wallen PhD, Associate Professor, Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences, Appalachian State University

The Postdoctoral Readiness to Enter the Professorship Program (PREPP) is a Zoom series designed to help postdocs successfully transition into faculty positions. PREPP was established by the NCSU Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and is co-sponsored by Duke Postdoctoral Services, UNC-Chapel Hill Postdoctoral Affairs, and other area universities. PREPP features panel discussions with faculty and administrators from local institutions, thereby providing diverse perspectives and advice on preparing for the professoriate. For more information: https://grad.ncsu.edu/professional-development/opa/professional-development/

Thurs Oct 15, 12-1:15 pm

WHAT: Writing Teaching and Research Statements for the Faculty Application
REGISTER: go.ncsu.edu/professional-development-registration Under ‘Workshop Name’ scroll down to The PREPP 2026 Fall Series.

Both teaching and research are vital aspects of a faculty position. Assistant professors and/or department heads will share what to include in teaching and research statements submitted for assistant professor positions.

Panelists:

Susanna Brantley PhD, Assistant Professor, Biology, UNC-Greensboro (former Duke postdoc and DUPA president emerita)
Maggie Ellis Curry PhD, Assistant Professor, Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, NC State University
Sydney Reichin PhD, Assistant Professor, Psychology, NC State University
Todd Stincic PhD, Assistant Professor, Behavioral Neuroendocrinology, Appalachian State University

Weds Nov 18, 12-12:45 pm

WHAT: Building a Network to Help you in Academia and Beyond
REGISTER: https://institutions.beyondprof.com/network-in-academia-and-beyond/

Networking is one of the most overlooked skills in a PhD job search. It is often seen as awkward, transactional, or evidence of “nepotism.” But in practice, networking is how academics and professionals build community.

It is through community that academics and professionals find mentors, learn from others in their field, and stay informed about opportunities and areas of growth. Networking is also standard practice outside of academia, and an essential part of an effective job search—academic or nonacademic. The earlier you start building your network, the more it will work in your favor when opportunities arise.

Join the Beyond Prof team for this webinar where we’ll walk you through how to build and grow a network that supports your career goals, whether you are exploring careers in academia or beyond.

This webinar is designed for doctoral students, PhDs, and postdocs from all academic disciplines who are wondering

How can networking help me in an academic or nonacademic job search?
Where do I find people to connect with?
How do I start if I have never done anything like this before?

Thurs Nov 19, 12-1:15 pm

WHAT: The Non-Tenure Track Option: Other Faculty Positions in Higher Education
REGISTER: go.ncsu.edu/professional-development-registration Under ‘Workshop Name’ scroll down to The PREPP 2026 Fall Series.

One does not always have to pursue a tenure track faculty position in academia to remain in higher education. Hear from those who are not on the tenure track path to learn more about their positions, how they got them, and what they like about them.

Panelists:

Joseph Burclaff PhD, Research Assistant Professor, Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, NC State University & UNC-Chapel Hill
Audrey Fikes PhD, Assistant Teaching Professor, Chemistry, NC State University
Devjanee (Devi) Swain Lenz PhD, Director, Sequencing and Genomics Technologies Core Facility; Assistant Research Professor, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine
Bita Nickkholgh PhD, Senior Staff Scientist, Institute for Regenerative Medicine- Regulatory Initiatives; Adjunct Faculty, Graduate School Biomedical Programs, Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Mon Dec 7 through Thurs Dec 10, 12-12:45 pm

WHAT: How to Decide Between An Academic and Nonacademic Career: A Week of Webinars
REGISTER: https://institutions.beyondprof.com/webinar-series-how-to-decide-2026/

PhDs build careers in every part of the economy—industry, nonprofits, higher education, and government. A faculty career is only one of many paths available to PhDs seeking meaningful and intellectually engaging work.

But how do you determine which career pathway is right for you?

This special workshop series is designed to walk doctoral students, PhDs, and postdocs through the key questions, frameworks, and strategies you need to clarify your values, identify your most marketable skills, and evaluate your options—so you can make an informed decision about whether a faculty career or a nonacademic path is the right fit for you.

Prerecorded: How to decide and what you will need to consider
Dec 7: How to identify your values
Dec 8: How to identify your most marketable skills
Dec 9: How to build your network using on-campus resources
Dec 10: Practical considerations and your decision rubric