The 2022-23 Academic Job Search Series is co-sponsored by the Office of Postdoctoral Services and The Graduate School.
Weds Aug 31, 1-2:30 pm
WHAT: Managing Your Research Career Using an Individual Development Plan (IDP)
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bvWXruBhI6i0BzU
For better or for worse, your experiences and the training you receive as postdoctoral researchers and graduate students can greatly shape the rest of your career. However, there are strategies and resources that can increase your chances of getting what you came for. During this program, participants will learn how to develop clear and specific goals and objectives, along with a plan for executing them.
Topics include:
- The importance of setting goals and developing an IDP
- Introduction to the SMART goals model
- Resources for crafting and executing your IDP
- Strategies for establishing expectations and effectively communicating research and career goals with your mentor/PI.
SPEAKER: Dara Wilson-Grant is the Associate Director at the UNC-Chapel Hill Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor. With over fifteen years experience providing career management 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.
NOTE: This seminar provides Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) credit. Note that you will not receive credit if you arrive for this event late or leave early. Questions? Email Molly Starback, Director of Duke Postdoctoral Services, at molly.starback@duke.edu, or Hugh Crumley, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, at grad-rcr@duke.edu
Fri Sept 9, 1-1:45 pm
WHAT: Research Tools for Exploring Your Career Options
REGISTER: https://gradschool.duke.edu/student-life/events/research-tools-exploring-your-career-options-2
Turn your research acumen to the task of exploring your career options. This workshop will introduce key tools that help you identify potential career alignment opportunities and learn about them in depth. In preparation for this workshop, please register for an account on The Versatile PhD website through Duke’s subscription. Our facilitator will be Dr. Melissa Bostrom, Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Professional Development in the Graduate School.
Tues Sept 13, 11 am – 12:30 pm
WHAT: Writing Your DEI Statement
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b7mYU32PwlEeb8q
Many employers – not just colleges and universities – have made a commitment to hiring and retaining a diverse and inclusive staff. As part of that approach, many job applications ask that you include a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement (or DEI Statement) in your application materials. But what exactly is a DEI statement, and what goes in it? We will address these and other questions in this workshop on Writing Your DEI Statement.
Speaker: Garth A. Fowler, PhD, is a recognized leader in professional training for early career researchers and scientists. As a former Program Manager for Science magazine’s Science Careers Program, a faculty member and graduate program director at Northwestern University, and an Associate Executive Director for the American Psychological Association, he has delivered hundreds of presentations on career and professional development. A recognized expert in STEM workforce development, he has authored peer-reviewed manuscripts, articles, and whitepapers on preparing the next generation of STEM workers and served on committees for agencies including the National Academy of Sciences, The National Science Foundation, The National Institutes of Health, and The Burroughs Wellcome Fund. He received his PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience from the University of Washington and completed his postdoctoral training at The Salk Institute in La Jolla CA.
Thurs Oct 6, 3-4:30 pm
WHAT: Crafting a Teaching Statement and Portfolio
WHERE: French Family Science Center Rm 2231 (Bonk Auditorium)
REGISTER: https://gradschool.duke.edu/professional-development/programs/college-teaching-workshops
A teaching portfolio is more than a collection of documents: it is set of claims about your teaching and evidence to support them. In this workshop, you will examine how claims and evidence can be framed in way that allows you demonstrate your skill (or potential) as a university instructor in a teaching statement supported by materials created by you (such as videos, handouts and student assignments). This workshop is suitable for postdocs and graduate students in all academic disciplines and is open to recent alumni of The Graduate School. This workshop is facilitated by Dr. Hugh Crumley, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs in The Graduate School.
Thurs Oct 13, 10-11 am
WHAT: How to Avoid Self-Sabotage and Win at Salary Negotiations
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9LZ4HcKc1Q9anAi
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 Associate Director of the UNC Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and a Licensed Professional Counselor. With over fifteen years 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.
Thurs Oct 18, 7 pm
WHAT: Not a Bad Gig: Academic Careers at Two-Year Colleges
WHERE: Social Sciences Building, Room 139
REGISTER: https://gradschool.duke.edu/professional-development/programs/college-teaching-workshops
Everyone knows the higher education job market is…challenging. But did you know two-year colleges make up about a third of the market? For that reason alone, PhDs interested in academic careers should at least consider applying at two-year colleges. But there are other good reasons, too, especially for people who enjoy teaching and working with underserved students. This workshop, led by one of the nation’s leading experts on two-year colleges, will explore the pros and cons of two-year college academic careers, empowering participants to decide for themselves whether this route appeals to them. It will also cover the mechanics of applying to and interviewing at a two-year college, along with expectations and opportunities for two-year college faculty.
Speaker: Rob Jenkins has spent over 35 years at five different two-year colleges in four states, as a faculty member, a department chair, and an academic dean. For 15 years, he wrote the popular “Two-Year Track” column for The Chronicle of Higher Education. He is also the author of six books, including Building a Career in America’s Community Colleges and Welcome to My Classroom. Rob currently serves as an associate professor of English at Perimeter College of Georgia State University in Atlanta.
Recommended Reading:
- What graduate students want to know about community colleges by Rob Jenkins
- The community college interview by Rob Jenkins
Weds Nov 9, 2-4 pm
WHAT: The Inclusive Research Mentor
REGISTER: https://gradschool.duke.edu/professional-development/programs/college-teaching-workshops
College teaching extends beyond the classroom into research environments. Over the course of your career you may have the opportunity to mentor undergraduate students, graduate students, and/or postdoctoral fellows in research. Join us in this interactive, virtual workshop as we discuss inclusive approaches and behaviors that can be employed across disciplines. Our facilitator will be Dr. Courtnea Rainey, Assistant Dean for Assessment and Evaluation in the Graduate School.
