Events in the Professional Development Series can help students evaluate and prepare for the range of career options open to master's- and PhD-prepared professionals. This series is designed to broaden graduate students’ career perspectives and develop competencies in communication, self-awareness, professional adaptability, leadership, and professionalism.
Programming is offered on a two-year cycle and change each semester; over the course of two years, the series includes opportunities to learn about career paths in each of the five major career sectors available to alumni of The Graduate School: academia, business, entrepreneurship, government, and nonprofit.
Spring 2018 Events
Academic Job Search Series
Graduate students and postdocs interested in exploring career options in academia can participate in the Academic Job Search Series throughout the 2017-18 academic year. The series addresses tenure-track faculty positions during the fall semester and broad career options in academia during the spring semester. You can find topics relevant to all students as well as specialized panels for two broad disciplinary areas: the humanities and social sciences, and sciences and engineering. This series is offered every two years and is co-sponsored with the Duke Career Center and the Office of Postdoctoral Services.
Visit the Academic Job Search Series webpage for a complete listing of events.
Core Competencies
An Introduction to Your Professional Development at Duke: A Workshop for Master’s Students
Friday, January 12, 12:00-1:30 p.m.
Whether you’re a new master's student or about to finish your program, this workshop will help you familiarize yourself with the career and professional development resources, programs, and opportunities available at Duke and beyond. More information
An Introduction to Your Professional Development at Duke: A Workshop for Ph.D. Students
Wednesday, January 17, 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Whether you’re a new PhD student or about to finish your program, this workshop will help you familiarize yourself with the career and professional development resources, programs, and opportunities available at Duke and beyond, including the new Duke OPTIONS tool. More information
The Elevator Pitch, or Making a Successful Introduction
Wednesday, January 31, 12-1:30 p.m.
In this workshop, communication expert Joy Javits, President of In the Public Eye, will help you draft, edit, and practice your elevator pitch. You'll receive feedback on how to sharpen your pitch and establish your professional image in this limited-enrollment workshop. More information
Advanced Time Management
Thursday, February 1, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
This workshop will equip you with strategies to understand your strengths in managing short- and long-term goals. You will also learn ways to build new habits and break with old ones to ensure your success. More information
Leveraging Your Strengths
Monday, February 5, 12:00-1:30 p.m.
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. More information
Cultivating a Successful Presentation Presence
Thursday, February 15, 3-4:30 p.m
Enhance your public speaking skills with coaching from Joy Javits, President of In the Public Eye.This workshop gives you tools, not rules and an education, not a critique. Please bring a 2-minute presentation and your questions to this limited-enrollment workshop. More information
Perfecting your Pitch: An Application Strategy Workshop for Biomedical PhDs
Friday, April 6, 12:00-1:00 p.m.
This interactive workshop is for PhD students and postdocs who are interested in developing skills to effectively market themselves for postdoctoral or faculty positions at academic and non-profit research institutions. More information
Versatile Humanists at Duke Summer Writing Kickoff
Thursday, May 3, and Friday, May 4
VH@Duke and campus partners will once again offer workshops and conversations to help doctoral students in the humanities and humanistic social sciences prepare for summer writing projects. Join us for conversations on “The Strategic Dissertator,” “Writing is Thinking,” summer goal setting, and more. Graduate students will also have the option to sign up for interdisciplinary summer writing accountability groups. More information
An Introduction to Your Professional Development at Duke
Tuesday, June 5, 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm
Whether you’re a new graduate student or in the later stages of your program, this workshop will help you familiarize yourself with the career and professional development resources, programs, and opportunities available at Duke and beyond. More information
Professional Development Progress Lunches
Summer is a wonderful time to make progress on your professional development goals. Whether your aspirations include updating your LinkedIn profile, starting your teaching portfolio, preparing faculty job application materials, conducting informational interviews, or researching career options, join our informal lunch gathering to share your progress and your questions. Join one lunch or all five.
Wednesday, June 6, 12-1 pm
Wednesday, June 20, 12-1 pm
Wednesday, July 11, 12-1 pm
Wednesday, July 25, 12-1 pm
Wednesday, August 8, 12-1 pm
Ph.D. Career Paths
Introduction to ImaginePhD: An Online Tool for Humanities and Social Sciences PhD Students and Postdocs
Monday, January 22, 2018, 12-1:00 p.m.
This workshop will introduce you to the ImaginePhD online tool, designed for humanities and social sciences PhD students, postdocs, and alumni. We’ll complete skills and interests assessments, explore the tool’s resources for careers of interest, and begin creating a plan for career exploration and professional development. More information
Alumni Lunch: Physical Sciences and Engineering
Tuesday, April 3, 12-1:30 pm
The Alumni Lunch is an opportunity for graduate students in the physical sciences and engineering to meet distinguished and recent alumni in an informal setting. More information.
Alumni Lunch: Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Wednesday, April 4, 12-1:30 pm
The Alumni Lunch is an opportunity for graduate students in the biological and biomedical sciences to meet distinguished and recent alumni in an informal setting. More information.
Alumni Lunch: Humanities and Social Sciences
Thursday, April 5, 12-1:30 pm
The Alumni Lunch is an opportunity for graduate students in the humanities and social sciences to meet distinguished and recent alumni in an informal setting. More information.
Science Policy Careers for PhDs Panel
Tuesday, April 24, 5-7 pm
Join Duke INSPIRE and other graduate students for a panel discussion with Duke science doctoral degree alumni who have chosen policy career paths in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. The alumni panel will address non-academic careers in public policy and the paths that led them to their current roles. More information.
Career Options for STEM Ph.D.s
Friday, June 1, 8:30 am to 12:00 pm
Want to build connections with the local biotech, pharma, and government community and learn more about these careers? Duke postdocs and graduate students are invited to attend a networking event at the North Carolina Biotech Center. Guests will include bench scientists, business owners, entrepreneurs, consultants, CEOs, venture capitalists, government researchers, tech transfer specialists, and patent specialists from local companies. More information
Past Events
- Fall 2017
- Spring 2017
- Fall 2016
- Summer 2016
- Spring 2016
- Fall 2015
- Spring 2015
- Fall 2014
- Spring 2014
- Fall 2013
- Summer 2013
Contact
Melissa Bostrom, PhD
Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Professional Development
Duke University Graduate School
melissa.bostrom@duke.edu