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