Fall 2023 | Academic Job Search Series

The Fall 2023 Academic Job Search Series is sponsored by The Graduate School and the Office of Postdoctoral Services.

Aug 21-25, 12-1 pm

WHAT: Academic Job Market Boot Camp
REGISTER: https://beyondprof.com/upcoming-events/

Designed to help you stand out as a candidate, these workshops will demystify the various documents that make up an application package. You’ll learn strategies you need to clearly and confidently communicate who you are as an educator and scholar to hiring committees.

These virtual workshops are designed for doctoral students and postdocs from all disciplines who want to strengthen their application package. Can’t make it live? Not to worry, all workshops will be available as a replay. Register in advance to receive notifications.

Mon Aug 21: Cover Letter
Tues Aug 22: Research Statement
Weds Aug 23: Teaching Statement
Thurs Aug 24: Teaching Portfolio
Fri Aug 25: Diversity Statement

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 Sept 7, 9:30-11 am

WHAT: Behind the Scenes with the Search Committee: The Academic Application Process (for Postdocs and Graduate Students in the Sciences and Engineering)
WHERE: Virtual discussion-Zoom link provided upon registration
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_42rnLhwoA9SSPAO

In this Zoom session, a faculty panel in the sciences and engineering will discuss the faculty recruitment process from the search committee’s perspective. Topics include what the search committee looks for in application documents (CV, cover letter, research/teaching statements), the screening process, and selecting candidates to interview.

Panelists:

Maria Gorlatova PhD, Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Nicholas Heaton PhD, Associate Professor of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology
Anne West, MD, PhD, Professor of Neurobiology
John Willis PhD, Professor of Biology

Tues Sept 12, 1-2 pm

WHAT: Careers in Higher Education Administration Supporting Graduate Students and Postdocs
REGISTER: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIkcuGurD8uEtyvu0zw5K7llMQis3lwgNaT#/registration

This free virtual panel discussion features three pairs of collaborators from three institutions, focusing on ways that teaching and learning professionals partner with career and professional development colleagues to successfully support their institution’s graduate students and postdocs. Please note that this session will not be recorded.

The goals of the session are to: (1) highlight innovative collaborations to serve graduate students and postdocs and (2) raise awareness of the value of membership in these organizations. The speakers represent the Graduate Career Consortium and the POD Graduate Student, Professional Student, and Postdoctoral Scholar Development (GPPD) special interest group. Both organizations offer discounted membership for trainees.

Panelists:

Preston Cumming PhD, Professional Development Lead at the Center for Teaching & Learning, and Leslie Blood PhD, Director of Graduate Community & Professional Development in the Graduate School at the University of Colorado Boulder
Jennifer Teitle PhD, Assistant Dean for Graduate Development and Postdoctoral Affairs in the Graduate College, and Katherine Beydler PhD, Assistant Director in the Office of Teaching, Learning & Technology at the University of Iowa
Stefanie Baier PhD, Director of Instructional Development for Graduate Students and Postdocs, and Julie Rojewski PhD, Director of PhD Career Services, Michigan State University Graduate School

Moderators:

Denise Leonard PhD, Associate Director for Graduate Student and Postdoc Programs at Washington University in St Louis and Co-Chair, POD Graduate Student, Professional Student & Postdoctoral Scholar Development Special Interest Group
Melissa Bostrom,PhD, Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Professional Development, Duke University and GCC Professional Development Officer

Weds Sept 13, 10-11:30 am

WHAT: Managing Your Research Career Using an Individual Development Plan (IDP)
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_29UEv56fmnP6kfQ

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.

Thurs Sept 14, 11 am – 12 pm

WHAT: Preparing for Postdocs in the Social Sciences and Humanities
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_em7A2IpPJPvuJpA

Join a panel discussion featuring Duke PhD alumni currently in postdoctoral roles to gain insights on navigating the application process for these positions, as well as making the most of your time in a postdoc.

Panelists:

Danbee Chon, PhD ’22 (Business Administration), Postdoctoral Fellow of Organizational Behavior, Stanford Graduate School of Business
Tori Lee, PhD ’22 (Classical Studies), Postdoctoral Fellow, Boston University
Meghan Woolley, PhD ’22 (History), Postdoctoral Research Associate, Purdue University Writing Lab

Watch on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel

Tues Sept 19, 11 am – 12 pm

WHAT: Crafting a Teaching Statement and Portfolio
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2c7cFRDpyz7wdVQ

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.

Speaker: Hugh Crumley PhD, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, The Graduate School

Tues Sept 26, 11 am – 12 pm

WHAT: Creating Your DEI Statement
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bj6mjmahx2WzLXU

The DEI Statement is a part of application materials for many faculty positions. In this workshop, learn what you should include in the statement and what search committees are looking for.

Speaker: Courtnea Rainey PhD, Assistant Dean for Assessment and Evaluation, the Graduate School

Thurs Sept 28, 11 am – 12 pm

WHAT: Behind the Scenes with the Search Committee: Preparing Application Materials for Faculty Positions in the Humanities and Social Sciences
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9RjITd5S0AH1DXU

In this session, a panel of faculty in the humanities and social sciences will discuss the faculty recruitment process from the search committee’s perspective. Topics include what the search committee looks for in application documents (CV, cover letter, research/teaching statements), how the committee handles the screening process, and ways that applicants can help themselves become candidates to interview.

Panelists:

Samantha Deffler, PhD ’16 (Psychology), Associate Professor of Psychology, York College of Pennsylvania
Dalmacio Dennis Flores, PhD ’16 (Nursing), Assistant Professor of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania
Mashal Saif, PhD ’14 (Religion), Associate Professor of Religion, Clemson University
Nikki Taylor, PhD ’01 (History), Professor of History, Howard University

Watch on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel

Tues Oct 3, 10-11:30 am

WHAT: Networking: How to Build Professional Relationships for Long-Term Career Success
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eUJi99mW8AECuVM

Networking is one of the most effective approaches to getting your career on the fast track, whether you are seeking a traditional academic career or a career beyond the academy. It can help to inform your next steps, expand your connections, and enhance your professional reputation. This informative session will show you techniques for effective and tactful networking in the post-pandemic era. Participants will leave this session with a networking action plan that can be implemented immediately.

Speaker: Dara Wilson-Grant is the Associate Director at the UNC-Chapel Hill Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and a Licensed Professional 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.

Thurs Oct 5, 9:30-11 am

WHAT: The Academic Interview (for Postdocs and Graduate Students in the Sciences and Engineering)
WHERE: Rm 143 Jones Bldg
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9sIY9dewV3nIqwK

In this session, a panel of faculty members in the sciences and engineering will discuss the interview process for faculty jobs, including the campus visit, the job talk/chalk talk, and typical interview questions.

Panelists:

Allison Ashley-Koch PhD, Professor, Duke Molecular Physiology Institute; Medicine; and Biostatistics and Bioinformatics
Prasad Kasibhatla PhD, Professor of Environmental Chemistry and Senior Associate Dean of Research and Doctoral Programs, Nicholas School of the Environment
Briana Simms PhD, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati (former Duke postdoc and 2022 DUPA president)
John Willis PhD, Professor of Biology

Thurs Oct 5, 11 am-12 pm

WHAT: Dress for Success Workshop
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7QgrN6MRB8LAMB0

While workplaces have become more casual since 2020, there are still expectations of what “professional dress” looks like in different industries. This workshop will address first impressions, dressing authentically, and tailoring your professional image. We will discuss how to determine an organization’s unofficial dress code, dressing appropriately for the occasion (eg, career fair, coffee chat, networking event, interview) and shopping on a budget. Attendees will have the opportunity to put what they’ve learned into action in a short exercise.

Speaker: Laura Coutts, Associate Director for Career Services, Duke Biostatistics and Bioinformatics

Weds Oct 11, 12-1 pm

WHAT: Publish or Perish: Academic Publishing Demystified
REGISTER: https://beyondprof.com/upcoming-events/

To land a tenure-track job, you’ve got to publish. To be successful, you need to know where to submit your work and what academic publishers are looking for in submissions. This interactive workshop will explain the academic publishing process to you. You’ll learn tips and strategies to help you be successful as a scholar.

This virtual workshop is designed for doctoral students and postdocs from all academic disciplines who are wondering:

How do I know when my research is ready to be published?
How do I draft and revise my own work to improve its chances of publication?
How does peer review work?
What is an expected timeline for academic publishing?

Thurs Oct 12, 11 am – 12 pm

WHAT: Preparing for the On-Campus Interview: A Panel Discussion with Faculty in the Humanities and Social Sciences
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_07HjoRSGOZwLbb8

In this session, a panel of faculty members in the humanities and social sciences will discuss the interview process for faculty jobs, including strategies for succeeding in job talks, teaching demonstrations, and interviews with multiple stakeholders.

Panelists:

Darren Mueller, PhD ’15 (Music), Assistant Professor of Musicology, Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester
Taneisha Means, PhD ’16 (Political Science), Assistant Professor of Political Science on the Class of 1951 Chair, Vassar College
Emily Pakhtigian, PhD ’20 (Public Policy), Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Jeffrey L. and Sharon D. Hyde-McCourtney Career Development Professor, Pennsylvania State University
Alejandro Velasco, PhD ’09 (History), Associate Professor of History and Associate Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs at Gallatin School of Individualized Study, New York University

Watch on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel

Weds Oct 18, 10-11:30 am

WHAT: Job Talks & Interviewing Workshop with Scott Morgan
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9Svr1rXtVrai0V8

Whether you are applying for positions in academia, industry, or government, renowned public speaking coach Scott Morgan will help you ace the interview!

During this virtual session, you will learn tips for perfecting the broad interviewing skills needed to secure scientific positions and increasing your comfort level and confidence. You will have the opportunity to analyze expected questions, themes, and dilemmas through interactive exercises and peer review.

Tips to help you prepare for your interviews and present yourself professionally
Types/examples of questions you can expect
Strategies for delivering your best answers
Types of questions to ask your interviewers
Adapting your interviewing skills to virtual platforms

Speaker: Scott Morgan has been teaching leadership and communication skills for over 30 years. His clients include nearly all the institutes at the National Institutes of Health and dozens of universities: Harvard Medical School, UC Berkeley, UNC Chapel Hill, Cornell, Maryland, Ohio State, Duke, NC State, NYU, and the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University. Corporate clients include GE Appliances, Mandiant Cybersecurity, Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Infosys, International Paper, Merck, Celgene, Tanium, and Northrop Grumman. With 30 years of broadcast experience, Scott teaches media and communication strategy to many think tanks and research organizations around the globe with clients from Central Asia, Japan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, and South Africa. He is a Senior Mentor at the Leadership Academy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and holds a master’s degree in psychology from Columbia University. He authored the book ‘Speaking about Science’, published by Cambridge University Press.

Thurs Oct 19, 10-11:30 am

WHAT: Speaking about Science with Scott Morgan
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5cNZ7JHcB9is5bE

In evaluations, postdocs say that this Scott Morgan workshop is one of the most useful they have attended! This interactive virtual seminar addresses the main issues of good scientific presentations. The core of the workshop is a step-by-step preparation process that will help you deliver a clear and engaging talk for a variety of audiences, including academic, industry, and government employers. Topics include:

Identifying the theme and focus,
How to create effective visual aids, and
How to begin and end a talk.

Mon Oct 23, 1-2:30 pm

WHAT: Moving from Mentee to Mentor
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5j0K6wXVLbwLAq2

Congratulations! You are finishing your PhD or postdoctoral research and hoping to secure a faculty or industry position soon! You feel confident about your research, but you may have questions about building your lab personnel. How do you figure out whom to hire? How do you set up productive, working relationships with your mentees from the beginning? How can you give feedback? In this interactive session, discover how to successfully move from mentee to mentor.

This workshop is highly interactive and attendees should be prepared to actively participate on camera. Workshop size is limited to 25 participants to facilitate small group discussion. Because space is limited, please do not register unless you are sure you can attend.

Speaker: Melissa Segal, LCSW, is CEO of InterHuman Solutions and a licensed clinical social worker who has provided individual, couples, and family counseling; facilitated a variety of support and educational groups; and implemented professional development and training.

Thurs Nov 2, 9-10 am

WHAT: Negotiating the Academic Job Offer (for Postdocs and Grad Students in the Sciences and Engineering)
WHERE: Rm 143 Jones Bldg
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aXD5D4IWA9lS3YO

In this session, a panel of faculty members will discuss the negotiation process. Questions include:

What does a typical start-up package look like? How much can you negotiate it, and how can you provide justification for asking for more?
How much grant money are you expected to bring if you get hired?
What are some common pitfalls in the negotiation process?
Can you negotiate for a position for your partner or spouse? If so, when do you bring it up?

Panelists:

Nicholas Heaton PhD, Associate Professor of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology
Briana Simms PhD, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati (former Duke postdoc and 2022 DUPA president)
John Willis PhD, Professor of Biology

Thurs Nov 2, 2-3 pm

WHAT: Knowing Your Worth: How to Approach Negotiations in Academia
REGISTER: https://www.facultydiversity.org/webinars/negotiations

In this webinar, Dr. Jocelyn Olcott and Dr. Lori Flores, co-editors of The Academic’s Handbook (Duke UP), will discuss how to negotiate salaries, leave, and other elements of employment at an academic institution. They will consider how to assess academics’ leverage, what elements might constrain possibilities for obtaining a better offer, and how to know when you’ve exhausted the negotiating process.

Speakers: Jocelyn Olcott is Professor of History; International Comparative Studies; and Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies at Duke University. She is the author of Revolutionary Women in Postrevolutionary Mexico (Duke UP, 2005) and International Women’s Year: The Greatest Consciousness-Raising Event in History (Oxford UP, 2017). She edited a special issue of Hispanic American Historical Review (2011) on paid and unpaid domestic labor and co-edited Sex in Revolution: Gender, Politics, and Power in Modern Mexico (Duke UP, 2006; in translation with Fondo de Cultura Económica, 2009) and The Academic’s Handbook (2020). She has published numerous articles and chapters in edited collections and served as a senior editor of the Hispanic American Historical Review (2012-17) as well as on the editorial boards of several other journals. She is the founder and co-director of Revaluing Care in the Global Economy.

Lori Flores is Associate Professor of History at Stony Brook University (SUNY) where she teaches courses in Latinx, US, labor, immigration, and borderlands history. She is the author of Grounds for Dreaming: Mexican Americans, Mexican Immigrants, and the California Farmworker Movement (Yale University Press, 2016) and a forthcoming book on the history of Latinx food workers in the US Northeast from World War II to COVID. She is also co-editor of The Academic’s Handbook (Duke) with Jocelyn Olcott. Her research and writing have been supported by institutions including the Russell Sage Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center in Italy.

Duke graduate students and postdocs are invited to activate a free membership to the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD). Benefits include webinars, multi-week courses, a discussion forum, a career center, and more. Visit www.facultydiversity.org and register as an Institutional Sub-account Member. You must use your Duke email address for registration.

Weds Nov 15, 12-1 pm

WHAT: First-Round Academic Job Market Interviews
REGISTER: https://beyondprof.com/upcoming-events/

Congratulations! You’ve landed a first-round interview with a hiring committee. But in a brief interview, how do you convince them that you’re the candidate they need? This interactive workshop will show you the ins and outs of academic job interviews, whether they are conducted virtually or in-person.

This virtual workshop is designed for PhDs and postdocs from all academic disciplines who are wondering:

What questions am I likely to be asked in a first-round academic interview?
What are the differences between an in-person interview and one conducted over Zoom?
How can I best prep my interview answers without coming off as over-rehearsed?
What should I wear to my interview?