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 2017 Events
Careers Beyond Academia
Graduate students and postdocs interested in exploring career options in industry, government, and nonprofit can learn about opportunities in the Careers Beyond Academia series throughout the 2016-17 academic year. You can find topics relevant to all students as well as specialized programming 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 Careers Beyond Academia webpage for complete details
Core Competencies
Advanced time management: a workshop for Graduate students
Tuesday, January 24, 12-1:30 pm
Join us for a workshop with Joy Birmingham, Senior Practitioner at Duke Learning & Organization Development. This workshop will equip you with strategies to understand your strengths in managing short- and long-term goals. More information
what does confidence look, feel, and sound like? A workshop for Graduate students
Thursday, January 26, 12:30-2 pm
How do you wish you came across to your colleagues? Want to experience confidence that is truly felt? Express yourself with clarity and conviction? This workshop with In The Public Eye President Joy Javits will help you develop skills in confidence and communication. More information
Working in DC: what to know before you go to jobs and internships in government, think tanks, nonprofits, and more
Friday, January 27, 12:00-1 pm
Are you interested in working in Washington, DC for an internship or professional employment? Learn about the range of opportunities available in DC, successful job-seeking strategies specific to the area, and ways to prepare for the experience. Our speaker is Chris Simmons, Duke’s Associate Vice President for the Office of Government Relations. More information
An Introduction to Your Professional Development at Duke: A Workshop for Ph.D. Students
Monday, January 30, 12-1:30 pm
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. More information
An Introduction to Your Professional Development at Duke: A Workshop for Master’s Students
Tuesday, January 31, 12-1:30 pm
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
Making a Successful Impression (and How to Handle Mistakes If You Make Them): A Workshop for Graduate Students
Wednesday, February 8, 3-4:30 pm
Do you have an upcoming conference presentation, challenging conversation, or other situation for which you'd like advice? This workshop with In The Public Eye President Joy Javits will help you build the skills you need to make a good impression. More information
Leveraging Your Strengths: A Workshop for Graduate Students
Monday, February 13, 12-1:30 pm
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
PUblic Intellectuals: Bringing a public into being
Friday, March 3, 12-1:00 pm
What does it mean to write to "bring a public into being"? Why do this sort of writing? How does the practice of writing for a public affect other, more academic-focused forms of scholarly writing? Join us for a discussion with two scholars who write frequently for non-academic publications. More information
Fulbright Grants for Graduate and phd Students
Tuesday, March 21, 3-4:00 pm
Get professional or research experience abroad for 6-12 months! Staff from Nationally Competitive Scholarships at Duke will tell you about all you can do around the world with a Fulbright and the various grant types. More information
Cultivating a Culture of Mentoring
Tuesday, April 4, 3-4:30 pm
How can you establish supportive mentoring relationships? What is the role of good mentoring in your success as a graduate student? Join in the conversation in this interactive workshop. More information
Humanities research and transferable skills for phd students: a lunchtime conversation
Wednesday, April 26, 12-1:30 pm
This panel of Ph.D. students will address the relationship between research activity and skill building—specifically, how their research engagements with Bass Connections, Humanities Labs, and Data+ honed project management skills that can transfer to myriad academic and nonacademic work settings. More information
An Introduction to Your Professional Development at Duke: A Workshop for graduate Students
Thursday, June 1, 12-2 pm
Whether you’re a new graduate 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
How Do You Lead People Who are Not Like You? Myers-Briggs Type and Leadership
Wednesday, June 14, 2017, 1-3 pm
Have you ever wondered how your personality preferences shape the way you interact with other people? This interactive workshop will help you learn not only about your own behaviors and preferences but also how people with different personality types might perceive those behaviors and preferences, impacting your effectiveness as a leader, whether in the classroom or beyond. More information
Conflict Resolution, with Rhonda Sutton, Ph.D.
What strategies can you use to resolve conflict effectively? This workshop, led by Dr. Rhonda Sutton, will help you identify your preferred mode for handling conflict and learn how and when to use this approach successfully. More information
Ph.D. Career Paths
Careers in think tanks for Humanities and Social Science Ph.D.s (Online)
Monday, March 6 through Friday, March 10
In this free online panel discussion, hear from ABDs and PhDs from Humanities and Social Science fields who have made the transition to careers in think tanks. More information
Careers in CONServation for STEM Ph.D.s (Online)
Monday, February 6 through Friday, February 10
In this free online panel discussion, hear from ABDs and PhDs from STEM fields who have made the transition to careers in conservation. More information
Careers in think tanks for sTEM Ph.D.s (Online)
Monday, April 3 through Friday, April 7
In this free online panel discussion, hear from ABDs and PhDs from STEM fields who have made the transition to careers in think tanks. More information
Alumni Lunch: Humanities and Social Sciences
Tuesday, April 4, 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. Current graduate students who wish to attend must register. More information
ALUMNI LUNCH: Physical sciences and Engineering
Tuesday, April 5, 12-1:30 pm
The Graduate School will host a lunch for current graduate students and alumni in the physical sciences and engineering on Wednesday, April 5. Students will get a chance to meet distinguished and recent alumni in an informal setting. Current graduate students who wish to attend must register. More information
ALUMNI LUNCH: Biological Sciences
Tuesday, April 6, 12-1:30 pm
The Graduate School will host a lunch for current graduate students and alumni in the biological sciences on Thursday, April 6. Students will get a chance to meet distinguished and recent alumni in an informal setting. Current graduate students who wish to attend must register. More information
Past Events
Contact
Melissa Bostrom, PhD
Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Professional Development
Duke University Graduate School
melissa.bostrom@duke.edu