The Academic Job Search Series is sponsored by The Graduate School and the Office of Postdoctoral Services.
Tues Jan 23, 10-11 am
WHAT: Leaving the Ivory Tower: Managing the Emotional Side of Career Change
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3f4XJ0MKMh7r8fs
A large part of how we define ourselves and how others define us is based on what we do for a living – our professional identity. But what happens when we are no longer a [fill in the blank]? How do we deal with the loss of self, the loss of professional status, the loss of affiliation with an elite group that we’ve been aligned with as long as we can remember?
The overall loss of identity that we feel when we decide to leave academia is comparable to healing after the loss of a loved one or after the breakup of a long-term, and possibly dysfunctional, relationship. Letting go can be difficult, but we have to let go and give ourselves permission to grieve before reaching a point where we are ready to commit to making a career change.
In this informative session, participants will learn about the emotional obstacles that can keep us stuck in an academic career path that is no longer fulfilling. Participants will also learn how former postdocs and graduate students found the courage to follow a more rewarding career path.
Dara Wilson-Grant, Director of Career and Professional Development at the UNC Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, will discuss:
- Strategies for letting go and moving on to form, and eventually embrace, a new professional identity.
- Resources that can help you navigate through the transition phase and into a more rewarding career.
Speaker: Dara Wilson-Grant is Director of Career and Professional Development at the UNC Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and a Licensed Professional Counselor. With over fifteen years of experience providing career education and counseling, Dara’s mission is to help individuals develop a framework for choosing a meaningful and rewarding career path, plus develop the skills necessary for a lifetime of career success.
Weds Jan 31, 4-4:45 pm
WHAT: Non-Faculty Research Career Pathways
WHERE: Trent Semans Center for Health Education – Great Hall
Interested in a career in research but not sure the faculty route is right for you? Explore potential non-faculty career opportunities that allow you to stay in academic research.
Speakers:
- Lisa Cameron, PhD, Director, Light Microscopy Core Facility
- Mark Walters, PhD, Director, Shared Materials Instrumentation Facility
Sponsored by the Duke Office for Research & Innovation as part of Research & Innovation Week.
Weds Feb 7, 11 am-1 pm
WHAT: From Dissertation to Book in the Humanities and Social Sciences: How to Overcome Imposterism and Write A Book That Matters
WHERE: The Edge Workshop Room, Bostock Library (rm 127)
REGISTER: https://gradschool.duke.edu/event/dissertation-book-humanities-and-social-sciences-how-overcome-imposterism-and-write-book/
This interactive workshop will help graduate students and postdocs revise their dissertations for publication. We will confront and begin to dismantle some of the common forms of imposter syndrome that prevent emerging scholars in the humanities and social sciences from realizing their potential for research impact. (Come to this workshop to learn why Dr. Berger calls it “imposterism.”) Participants will leave the workshop with some guiding questions to help them transition their mindsets and their research material from dissertation to book. Lunch will be provided.
Speaker: LaNitra Berger, PhD’09 (Art, Art History & Visual Studies) is Associate Professor of Art History and Director of African and African American Studies as well as senior director of the Office of Fellowships in the Office of Undergraduate Education at George Mason University (GMU). In addition, she is president and chair of the board of directors of NAFSA, the Association of International Educators. At GMU, Berger promotes internationalization through student advising, university service, and research, leading one of only a few fellowships offices in the nation with a social justice focus. In 2015, she received the GMU Spirit of King Award for diversifying study abroad. She is the author of two books, the monograph Irma Stern and the Racial Paradox of South African Modern Art: Audacities of Color (Bloomsbury, December 2020), and Exploring Education Abroad: A Guide for Racial and Ethnic Minority Participants (NAFSA, 2016). She is also the editor of Social Justice and International Education: Research, Practice, and Perspectives (NAFSA, 2020).
Tues Feb 20, 11 am-12 pm
WHAT: Faculty Careers Beyond the Tenure Track in the Humanities and Social Sciences: A Panel Discussion
REGISTER: https://gradschool.duke.edu/event/faculty-careers-beyond-tenure-track-humanities-and-social-sciences-panel-discussion/
Are you looking for a way to maintain your involvement in teaching, service, or research in an academic institution, but not sure you want the same kind of career as tenure-stream faculty in your discipline? Our panel will discuss the opportunities and challenges of faculty positions beyond the tenure track in the social sciences and humanities.
Panelists:
- Lexi Bass, MFA’18 (Experimental and Documentary Arts), Lecturer, School of Art and Visual Studies, University of Kentucky
- Sandie P. Blaise, PhD’15 (Romance Studies), Lecturer, Department of French & Italian, Princeton University
- Anna Gibson, PhD’14 (English), Assistant Teaching Professor of English, North Carolina State University
Watch on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
Weds Feb 21, 11 am-12 pm
WHAT: Careers in Research Translation & Commercialization
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2lRcU7l7GrinVuC
Are you a postdoc or PhD student who wants to stay involved in academic research, but not necessarily as faculty or at the bench?
The Duke Office for Translation and Commercialization (OTC) evaluates new inventions from Duke innovators. It works closely with Duke faculty and trainees, industrial partners, and the venture community to transfer technologies from the lab to the market and ensure societal impact of Duke innovations. Graduates of the OTC Fellows Internship Program have landed jobs in life science consulting, business development, product management, and more.
Join our Zoom panel discussion to learn about this rewarding career path from current and former Duke PhD students and postdocs.
Speakers:
- Paul Cray PhD is an OTC Senior Fellow and Senior Lab Research Analyst in the Department of Surgery. Paul researches sterile inflammation and methods for mitigating inflammation in solid organ transplant in the lab of Dr. Justin Pollara. Drs Cray and Pollara developed a novel, non-viral gene therapy platform to treat genetic diseases that currently have no effective treatment or cure, and leveraged Duke and NC Biotech resources to help accelerate the promising technology.
- Daniel Luo PhD is Assistant Director for Duke Capital Partners, part of Duke OTC. As a postdoc, he worked with the Capital Partners team as an Associate and then Lead PhD Associate, where he learned about successful entrepreneurship, venture funding, and market research. Daniel was a postdoc in Duke Pharmacology and Cancer Biology department, and earned his PhD in Toxicology from Iowa State University.
- Shweta Krishnan PhD is Assistant Director for Life Sciences. As Assistant Director, Shweta works with the associate directors of licensing to evaluate the market opportunity, competitive and patent landscape of Duke technologies, develop online communications for marketing, identify potential licensees and assist with licensing negotiations and agreements. Shweta also manages the OTC Fellows internship program. Shweta received her PhD in Pharmacology and Cancer Biology from Duke University.
- Yunqi (Lily) Yang PhD is an OTC Senior Fellow and a postdoc in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. She received her PhD from the Duke Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, and her BS in Chemistry from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Lily’s graduate work focused on the synthesis and characterization of DNA and other biomaterial-based nanoparticles for drug delivery. As a postdoc, Lily works on the delivery of mRNA by lipid nanoparticles.
Watch on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
Thurs Feb 22, 10-11 am
WHAT: How to Avoid Self-Sabotage and Win at Salary Negotiations
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bxDgYuWDQfz6MB0
Let’s face it, for most of us, the negotiation process is one of the most stressful parts of the job search. Not long after the initial excitement of receiving an offer comes panic followed by dread.
- Do I negotiate for more money and risk seeming pushy or ungrateful?
- Will I lose this opportunity if I negotiate for too much?
- What should I ask for?
If one or more of these thoughts swirl through your head when you think about salary negotiations, you are not alone! This workshop is a step-by-step guide to navigating the negotiation process, especially when it comes to managing your emotions.
Speaker: Dara Wilson-Grant is Director of Career and Professional Development at the UNC Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and a Licensed Professional Counselor. With over fifteen years of experience providing career education and counseling, Dara’s mission is to help individuals develop a framework for choosing a meaningful and rewarding career path, plus develop the skills necessary for a lifetime of career success.
Tues Feb 27, 11 am-12 pm
WHAT: Careers in Academic Administration for Humanities and Social Sciences PhDs: A Panel Discussion
REGISTER: https://gradschool.duke.edu/event/careers-academic-administration-humanities-and-social-sciences-phds-panel-discussion/
During this panel discussion, hear from PhD alumni in humanities and social sciences disciplines who have found fulfilling careers in higher education. They will discuss their paths, how to locate job opportunities, and how to apply for these types of jobs.
Panelists:
- Gray F. Kidd, PhD’21 (History), Assistant Director, Graduate Research Programs, Center for Research and Fellowships; Part-Time Faculty, Department of History, Villanova University
- Emma W. Dowd, PhD’16 (Psychology), Executive Director of Analytics, Data to Insights, at the University of Texas at Austin
- Lindsey Brandt-Bennett, PhD’15 (German Studies), Director of the Office of Teaching and Learning Excellence, Montana State University, Northern
Watch on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
Weds Feb 28, 12-1 pm
WHAT: Beyond the Professoriate Webinar: How to Write an Academic CV That Will Make You Stand Out
REGISTER: https://beyondprof.com/upcoming-events/
Your CV serves as a comprehensive record of your educational background, teaching experience, academic research, and scholarly service. This document represents your academic credentials when applying for postdoctoral positions or for faculty positions at four-year institutions. Join us in this webinar where we’ll review how to write an academic CV that will help you stand out in the hiring process.
This webinar is uniquely designed for doctoral students, PhDs, and postdocs from all academic disciplines who are wondering:
- What do I need to include in my academic CV?
- How should I format an academic CV?
- How can I make my CV stand out from others?
Duke is an Institutional Member of Beyond the Professoriate, featuring information and strategies you need to confidently apply for faculty/academic jobs, or to build a nonacademic career. No matter what academic discipline you’re coming from – Humanities, Education, Social Sciences, STEM, or Biological Life Sciences – you’ll find information to help you prepare for your job search. Log in at https:/institutions.beyondprof.com/your-account/ to set up your Duke account.
Thurs Feb 29, 11 am-12:15 pm
WHAT: Take Your Teaching Skills Anywhere: Identifying Transferable Skills from your Teaching Experiences
REGISTER: https://gradschool.duke.edu/event/take-your-teaching-skills-anywhere-identifying-transferable-skills-your-teaching-experiences/
How can you capitalize on the skills you’ve developed through the many hours you’ve devoted to teaching? These skills can help you position yourself for success in industry, government, nonprofit, or even academic administration. In this interactive workshop, Melissa Bostrom PhD, assistant dean for graduate student professional development, will help you uncover how your teaching experiences are an ideal way to help potential employers understand the crucial skills you’ve learned in graduate school—skills that are transferable to a variety of careers beyond faculty positions.
Tues Mar 5, 11 am-12 pm
WHAT: Careers in Research Administration
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_23ROv5ccKtYAvCC
As a postdoc or grad student, you already know that research is the lifeblood of a university. Research Administration is a broad field encompassing research compliance, research support, proposal development, and grant administration. This Zoom panel will give insight into a rewarding academic career path you may not have considered.
Panelists:
- Lauren Anderson, PhD, is Director of the Duke Surgery Office of Research Development. She has a PhD in Neurobiology from UNC-Chapel Hill and is a former Duke postdoc in Neurology.
- JL (Jenny) Ariansen, MS, is Director of Research Integrity for the Duke Advancing Scientific Integrity, Services and Training (ASIST) Office. She has an MS in Neurobiology and Neuroscience from UNC-Chapel Hill.
- Brandon Hall, PhD, is Scientific Program Leader for the Duke Surgery Office of Research Development. He has a PhD in Pharmacology from Georgia Health Sciences University and was a Duke postdoc in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.
- Sunita Patil, PhD, is Associate Director of Research Operations for the Duke myRESEARCHnavigators. She was a postdoc in Dermatology at UCSF.
Watch on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
Weds Mar 6, 13, 20, 27, 12-12:30 pm
WHAT: Beyond the Professoriate Webinar: How to Decide Between an Academic and Nonacademic Career Series
REGISTER: https://beyondprof.com/upcoming-events/
PhDs work wherever smart people are needed. In today’s creative economy, a faculty career isn’t the only option for PhDs who are seeking engaging and rewarding work. PhDs work in every part of the economy – industry, nonprofits, higher education, and government. But what career pathway will be right for YOU? This special workshop series is designed to walk doctoral students, PhDs and postdocs through a series of exercises to help them evaluate career options and identify next steps in building their career either as faculty or beyond academia.
The virtual workshops include instruction, reflective prompts and exercises, and opportunities for participants to ask questions directly to the Beyond Prof team. This series is uniquely designed for doctoral students, PhDs, and postdocs from all academic disciplines who are wondering:
- Is a faculty career path right for me?
- What other career options are available to PhDs in my discipline?
- How to identify career pathways that are right for me?
- What can I do with my PhD?
Tues Mar 26, 11 am-12 pm
WHAT: Careers in Academic Administration for STEM PhDs
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eLni4HlPq86e0yG
During this Zoom panel discussion, hear from postdoc and PhD alumni in STEM who have found fulfilling careers in higher education. They will discuss how they moved into these jobs from their postdoc/PhD training, how to locate job opportunities, and how to apply for these types of jobs.
Panelists:
- Karis Boyd-Sinkler, PhD, is Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Community for the Pratt School of Engineering. She has a an MEng in Industrial and Systems Engineering and a PhD in Engineering Education from Virginia Tech.
- William Krenzer, PhD, is Research Project Manager for the Duke Office of Scientific Integrity (DOSI). He earned his PhD in Psychological Science from DePaul University and was a postdoctoral associate in the Science, Law, and Policy Lab at Duke’s Initiative for Science and Society.
- Lydia Greene, PhD, is Director of Academic Engagement, Natural & Quantitative Sciences for the Duke Academic Advising Center. She earned her PhD from the Duke University Program in Ecology and was a postdoc in the Duke Lemur Center.
- Becca Moreci, PhD, is Team Science Project Leader for the Duke CTSI Accelerator. She received her PhD from Duke Cell Biology and Dermatology. She also collaborated with two fellow graduate students and a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) to launch DEVELPMNT, a program aimed at introducing trainees to project management as a career and transferrable skillset.
Watch on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
Thurs Mar 28, 4-5 pm
WHAT: Dissertation to Book: A Conversation with Two Editors
WHERE: Smith Warehouse, Ahmadieh Family Lecture Hall, Bay 4, C105
REGISTER: https://duke.is/dissertation-to-book
How should a scholar think about subject, tone, length, and audience in revising their dissertation into a first book? What are the most important elements of a book proposal, and how should new authors approach editors? How are second books different? In an interview-style format, executive editors from two distinguished university presses will offer advice about the process, challenges, and possibilities of writing and publishing scholarly books. Reception follows at 5 pm. Free and open to the public. Hosted by the Publishing Humanities Initiative, John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute and co-sponsored by The Graduate School, Faculty Advancement, and the Faculty Write program.
Speakers:
- Gita Manaktala, Executive Editor at Large, MIT Press
- Ken Wissoker, Senior Executive Editor at Duke University Press and Director, Intellectual Publics, The Graduate Center at CUNY
- Moderator: Christine Folch, Bacca Foundation Associate Professor of Cultural Anthropology, Duke University
Weds Apr 24, 12-1 pm
WHAT: Beyond the Professoriate Webinar: How to Use This Summer to Prepare for Your Faculty Job Search
REGISTER: https://beyondprof.com/upcoming-events/
The academic job market is highly competitive, and you want to stand out as a candidate. By attending this webinar, you’ll gain the insights and knowledge you need to prepare application documents that will highlight your potential as a scholar in your field.
This webinar is designed for doctoral students, PhDs, and postdocs from all academic disciplines who are wondering:
- What are the major stages of an academic job search?
- What are faculty search committees looking for in a candidate?
- What documents do I need to write to prepare to go on the market?
- How do I navigate interviews during the academic job search process?
Duke is an Institutional Member of Beyond the Professoriate, featuring information and strategies you need to confidently apply for faculty/academic jobs, or to build a nonacademic career. No matter what academic discipline you’re coming from – Humanities, Education, Social Sciences, STEM, or Biological Life Sciences – you’ll find information to help you prepare for your job search. Log in at https:/institutions.beyondprof.com/your-account/ to set up your Duke account.
Weds May 22, 2-3:15 pm
WHAT: Communicating Your Strengths: A CliftonStrengths Workshop
REGISTER: https://gradschool.duke.edu/event/communicating-your-strengths-cliftonstrengths-workshop-2/
How do you describe your five greatest strengths? How can you leverage this information to communicate your capabilities to colleagues and potential employers? Using the CliftonStrengths assessment, this workshop will help you explore a new way to talk about your skills. We will investigate strategies for communicating your strengths to others, the challenges that your strengths might pose for you, and ways you can use information about your strengths to thrive in a team setting. Our facilitator is Melissa Bostrom, PhD, Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Professional Development.
The online CliftonStrengths assessment is offered to all registered participants in this limited-enrollment workshop open exclusively to Graduate School students and postdocs. If you have not yet taken the assessment, please request your code by Thurs May 16.