Spring 2022

Career Tools: The Mentoring Relationship | Duke Today

The 2021-22 Mentoring and Communication Series is co-sponsored by The Graduate School and the Office of Postdoctoral Services

Fri Jan 14, 1-2:30 pm

WHAT: Becoming an Upstander: Learning How to Step In When We See Harmful Behavior
WHO: 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.
REGISTER: https://gradschool.duke.edu/student-life/events/becoming-upstander

In order to help create a culture of respect and civility, we need to learn how to “step in” when we see harmful or disrespectful behaviors. Through presentation, discussion, and role plays, we’ll consider barriers to intervening, explore different ways we can intervene, and then share tips for moving forward. This workshop is highly interactive and attendees should be prepared to actively participate on camera.

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.


Weds Jan 26, 1-2 pm (followed by 30 minute Q&A)

WHAT: Understanding Professional Competency in Your Career Planning
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3ZS1sLwoFLHNjlI

The job you’re applying for lists ‘leadership’ as a required skill. No problem – you can say you helped organize the Summer Picnic for your Postdoc or Graduate Student Association. But in the workforce, employers are looking for a level of performance from new hires. Or what we call competence. So how do you demonstrate competency in your cover letter or interview? And more importantly, how do you take advantage of your current opportunities (like organizing the summer picnic) to build your competency and score your dream job?

Speaker: Garth Fowler, PhD, is the former Associate Executive Director for the Center for Education in Psychology at the American Psychological Association, where he directed the APA’s efforts in producing resources and information to help psychology graduate students, postdoctoral trainees, and mentors improve their training and career success. Before coming to APA, Garth was a faculty member and Assistant Chair in the Northwestern University Department of Neurobiology. His first job after finishing his postdoc was the Outreach Program Manager for Science Careers, the online career resources for Science Magazine & AAAS. Garth has a BA in Psychology from the College of Wooster, a PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience from the University of Washington-Seattle, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Salk Institute in San Diego, CA.


Weds Feb 2, 1-2:30 pm

WHAT: Assertiveness Training and Conflict Management: A Participatory Workshop
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eS96c9MZejiRzim

The work environment is filled with conflict, often as a result of differences in work styles and passive-aggressive communication techniques. Minimizing or resolving conflict often means that you must engage in difficult conversations, which is challenging and requires both practice and competency. This workshop revisits the content from the November 2021 event, but offers attendees the chance to practice assertiveness techniques in small groups, sharing their experiences, struggles, and successes in becoming more assertive. Individuals that attended the previous event are welcome (as are new attendees) – because there is no such thing as practicing too much assertiveness! Attendees must be prepared to actively participate and join breakout rooms for discussion and practice.

Speaker: Garth Fowler, PhD, is the former Associate Executive Director for the Center for Education in Psychology at the American Psychological Association, where he directed the APA’s efforts in producing resources and information to help psychology graduate students, postdoctoral trainees, and those that teach them, improve their training and career success. Before coming to APA, Garth was a faculty member and Assistant Chair in the Northwestern University Department of Neurobiology. His first job after finishing his postdoc was the Outreach Program Manager for Science Careers, the online career resources for Science magazine & AAAS. Garth has a BA in Psychology from the College of Wooster, a PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience from the University of Washington-Seattle, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Salk Institute in San Diego, CA.


Tues Feb 22, 3-4:30 pm

WHAT: Building Your Skills in Intercultural Communication
REGISTER: https://gradschool.duke.edu/student-life/events/building-your-skills-intercultural-communication

How can you communicate more effectively with colleagues and faculty from other cultures? In this workshop, you will learn the three major cultural communication styles. You’ll also build an understanding of how your preferences might interact with those of your team members. By the end, you will gain concrete strategies to collaborate more effectively with colleagues from other cultures.

In preparation for the workshop, all registrants must complete a communication style assessment by Fri Feb 18 at 12 noon. All registrants must agree to attend the workshop in order to receive access to the assessment.

Speaker: Tim Flood, PhD is Associate Professor of Management and Corporate Communication at the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. He is also Acting Executive Director of Launch Chapel Hill, a startup accelerator and co-working space, and Managing Director of the Management Communication Association. He teaches courses on presentation skills, global communication, business writing, and US language and culture for international and exchange students. Dr. Flood is the author of MBA Fundamentals: Business Writing and a licensed partner for global and cross-cultural training with Richard Lewis Communications and CultureActive. He received his PhD from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.


Thurs Mar 17, 3-4:30 pm

WHAT: Moving from Mentee to Mentor
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_el0ekBBgXgyaHwq

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.


Tues June 14, 11 am – 12 pm

WHAT: Building Your Skills as an Inclusive Mentor
REGISTER: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cRMAQK9o3Wf0dHo

Good mentoring has multiple benefits, providing positive relationships and rewarding experiences for both the mentee and the mentor. It leads to increased productivity in work and research settings and promotes career satisfaction. Good mentoring can also increase accessibility and inclusion, which ultimately can increase diversity in the research and scientific workforce. But how can you ensure that your role as a mentor leads to an increased sense of belonging and self-efficacy in your mentees? This workshop will present general principles and guidelines that are the foundation of successful, inclusive, and meaningful mentoring.

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 well over 200 workshops, seminars, and 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 given expert testimony and served on committees, panels, and taskforces for agencies like 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 studies at The Salk Institute in La Jolla, CA. In his spare time, he enjoys running, cycling, traveling to see symphonies, and writes novels.