Registration Deadline: Ph.D. Transitions Group Coaching Program

The Ph.D. Transitions Group Coaching Program, established in 2019, helps Duke Ph.D. students from all disciplines navigate the many changes and learning curves embedded in a five-to-seven-year doctoral program. At each stage of a doctoral program (regardless of discipline), students confront new challenges and develop different competencies and skills. The Ph.D. Transitions program helps students make sense of all the changes within a safe, confidential space facilitated by a professional coach, within the company of a small group of supportive peers. The program is sponsored by Duke Interdisciplinary Studies.

Through this program, doctoral students work closely with a certified professional coach for an entire semester, in the company of up to three of their peers. Each group will meet several times over fall semester, and will provide a safe, confidential, and nonevaluative space for participants to discuss any issue or challenge related to their doctoral training. Popular topics for group coaching include research productivity, relationships with advisors, time management, career discernment, work-life integration—and more! Students who fully participate in the program will receive 2 hours of RCR credit.

These groups are open to all rising second-year Duke doctoral Ph.D. students and beyond, including students who have just completed their dissertation. Entering first-year students will have the opportunity to join peer mentoring groups in Spring 2024. The registration deadline has been extended to June 15.

Please note: Registration does not guarantee a slot in the program, as each group also needs to be balanced in terms of disciplinary diversity, similar stage in PhD training, and alignment in schedules. Everyone who registers will be individually contacted by late July, to confirm participation and continued interest in the program. 

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