Summer 2013 Professional Development Series

2013 Professional Development Summer Institute: Broadening Career Perspectives for the Humanities and Social Sciences

Tuesday, June 4, 2013, 1:00–5:00 p.m., Durham Hilton (3800 Hillsborough Road)
Applications: http://bit.ly/2013ProfDevSummerInstitute

A limited number of spaces are available for this intensive-half-day professional development experience, designed to broaden empoyment contexts and perspectives for social sciences and humanities PhDs. Participants will leave the institute with an understanding of the job search process for positions beyond faculty careers, new networking contacts, and skills to continue expanding their networks.

Applications will be accepted through Monday, May 20 at 5 p.m. Applicants will be notified of their selection status by May 24.

The Institute will include a welcome from the Dean of the Graduate School and the opportunity to attend three of nine breakout sessions. Topics include:

•    Career Options Beyond Faculty Positions for PhDs in the Humanities: A Panel Discussion
•    Career Options Beyond Faculty Positions for PhDs in the Social Sciences: A Panel Discussion
•    The Rhetoric of Transforming from CV to Résumé
•    Starting Your Job Search
•    How and Why to Conduct Informational Interviews
•    Take Your Teaching Skills Anywhere: Identifying Transferable Skills from your Teaching Experiences
•    How to Make the Most of a Postdoc: A Panel Discussion

Negotiation, Problem-Solving and Conflict Resolution

Two half-day sessions on Thursday, May 30: 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. OR 1:30-5:30 p.m.
Room 4067, Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans Center for Health Education
Registration:

•    Morning session for master’s and early-career doctoral students: http://bit.ly/morning_negotiation
•    Afternoon session for late-career graduate students and postdocs: http://bit.ly/afternoon_negotiation

This seminar is designed to build understanding of mutual interest-based negotiations or solution finding. The content encourages

•    developing understanding of the parties’ interests;
•    clearly asking for what you want;
•    developing alternatives that enhance the possibility of reaching agreement;
•    packaging of the possibilities, and
•    introducing the concepts of anchoring and a zone of possible agreement.

Sometimes, no matter how hard one tries, an agreement is not achieved. In this case, participants will learn to develop and consider using a BATNA or the “best alternative to a negotiated agreement” before they start to negotiate. Participants will evaluate their personal conflict resolution styles. Case studies will reinforce the use of effective styles in negotiating and problem-solving. Case practice includes various topics, such as a competitive job offer, committee service, salary increase and research resources. These cases help define patterns of negotiations when choice and stress are factors. Development of supporting data, options and packaging solutions are examined relative to these cases. Participants are introduced to a negotiations planning work sheet to be used in preparation for negotiations. If time permits, attendees practice their own cases and receive coaching feedback. Several methods of responding to difficult tactics are demonstrated and discussed.

SPEAKER: Jane Tucker, PhD, has over 25 years experience in higher education in both the administrative and teaching areas. She taught negotiation skills in the Fuqua School of Business at Duke and is currently a consultant educator for COACh through the National Science Foundation. She has also taught ADVANCE program seminars in negotiations and teaches with the Center for Creative Leadership, where she works on leadership programs with leaders from both corporations and not-for-profit organizations. She directed three areas of Human Resources at Duke, doing teambuilding and organizational interventions for departments and teaching leadership skills and communication strategies to administrative leaders in the university. She has her own consulting firm and is Principal of J Tucker & Associates, LLC, specializing in negotiation, leadership skills, and executive coaching.

Dr. Tucker received her PhD in Organizational Development from the University of North Carolina and is an alumna of Wellesley College. She has published papers on learning strategies and organizational development. Her current research interest is focused on tactics and strategies used to balance career and home.

Career Opportunities in Biotechnology and Drug Development

Toby Freedman, PhD
Wednesday, June 12, 12:00–2:00 p.m.
CIEMAS Auditorium

Co-sponsored by the PhD Plus Program in Pratt School of Engineering, The Office of Postdoctoral Services, and the Graduate School

Dr. Toby Freedman is President and founder of Synapsis Search, http://www.synapsissearch.com, a recruiting company specializing in the life sciences. Her practice is focused on recruitment for biotechnology startups, service companies, non-profits, biofuel, consumer health, healthcare informatics and personalized medicine companies for business and scientific positions.  She is also the author of Career Opportunities in Biotechnology and Drug Development (http://www.careersbiotech.com).

Previously, Dr. Freedman served as an executive search consultant in the life sciences at BioQuest, where she conducted searches for CEO, VP and Director level positions for emerging venture-backed biotechnology companies. Before that, she was in corporate development in a biotechnology startup developing cancer therapeutics. She received a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Fall 2013 Professional Development Series

  • Academic Job Search Series
    • Sciences and Engineering
    • Humanities and Social Sciences
    • All Disciplines
  • Communicating with the Media Series
  • Core Competencies Series
  • Entrepreneurship Series
  • PhD Career Paths Series

Academic Job Search Series

The 2013 Academic Job Search Series is co-sponsored by Duke Career Center, the Graduate School, and the Office of Postdoctoral Services.

Note: Most of the seminars are being video recorded and can be seen on the Duke Postdoctoral Services Youtube Channel.  As each one becomes available online, the link will be added to the corresponding seminar description below.

Sciences and Engineering Seminars

Thurs Sept 5, 9:00–10:30 a.m.

WHAT: Behind the Scenes with the Search Committee: The Academic Application Process (for postdocs and graduate students in the sciences and engineering)
WHERE: Rm 143 Jones Bldg (http://myatlascms.com/map/?id=21&mrkId=2832)
REGISTER: http://bit.ly/STEM-Application-Pckg

In this 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:

  • Patrick Charbonneau, PhD, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Physics, and Computational Biology & Bioinformatics
  • Micah Luftig, PhD, Assistant Professor of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology
  • Anne West, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Neurobiology
  • Jennifer West, PhD, Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Watch on the Duke Postdoctoral Services Youtube Channel

Thurs Sept 12, 9:00–10:30 a.m.

WHAT: The Academic Interview (for postdocs and graduate students in the sciences and engineering)
WHERE: Rm 143 Jones Bldg (http://myatlascms.com/map/?id=21&mrkId=2832)
REGISTER: http://bit.ly/STEM-Interview-Process

In this session, a panel of Duke 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:

  • Dennis Ko, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology and Medicine
  • Jennifer Roizen, PhD, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
  • James Siedow, PhD, Vice Provost for Research and Professor of Biology
  • Anne West, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Neurobiology

Watch on the Duke Postdoctoral Services Youtube Channel

Tues Sept 17, 9:00–10:30 a.m.

WHAT: STEM Faculty Careers Beyond Duke (for postdocs and graduate students in the sciences and engineering)
WHERE: Rm 143 Jones Bldg (http://myatlascms.com/map/?id=21&mrkId=2832)
REGISTER: http://bit.ly/STEM-Faculty-Careers-Beyond-Duke

At R-1 institutions like Duke, faculty often focus on research, grant-writing, and publications, sometimes to the exclusion of teaching. However, many postdocs and graduate students seek positions that provide more of a balance between teaching and research. In this session, faculty from schools that focus on both teaching and research will discuss applying, interviewing, and negotiating for positions at their respective institutions. They will also discuss the split between teaching and research, what a typical day is like, and “what they know now that they wish they’d known then”.

Panelists:

  • Jason Andrus, PhD, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, Meredith College
  • Antonio Izzo, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biology, Elon University
  • Garrett Love, PhD, Assistant Professor of Environmental, Earth and Geospatial Sciences, North Carolina Central University
  • Kathy Zarilla, PhD, Discipline Chair for Science, Durham Technical Community College

Watch on the Duke Postdoctoral Services Youtube Channel

Tues Oct 1, 9:00-10:30 a.m.

WHAT: Negotiating the Academic Job Offer (for postdocs and graduate students in the sciences and engineering)
WHERE:  Rm 143 Jones Bldg (http://myatlascms.com/map/?id=21&mrkId=2832)
REGISTER: http://bit.ly/STEM-Negotiating-the-Offer

In this session, a panel of Duke 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?

Panelists

  • James Siedow, PhD, Vice Provost for Research and Professor of Biology
  • Jennifer Roizen, PhD, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
  • Debra Silver, PhD, Assistant Professor of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology
  • George Truskey, PhD, Professor and Chair of Biomedical Engineering

Watch on the Duke Postdoctoral Services Youtube Channel

Thurs Dec 5, 9:30-11:00 a.m.

WHAT: “How To Give a Job Talk, and Why It’s Not the Same as a Research Talk” with Bill Schrader, PhD, Deputy Scientific Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
WHERE: Rm 143 Jones Building (http://maps.duke.edu/map/?id=21&mrkId=2832)
REGISTER: http://bit.ly/How-To-Job-Talk-STEM

The job talk is not about your research. Although you will certainly be talking about your research, the job talk is your chance to show how you are the right fit for the institution. In this talk, Dr Bill Schrader will discuss how you can tailor your talk not only to showcase your research, but also to demonstrate that you are the best candidate for the job. Having held positions in academia, government, and industry, Dr Schrader will compare what all three employers are looking for in a job talk.

PRESENTER: Dr. William T. Schrader received his PhD in Biology from Johns Hopkins University in 1969 and did post-doctoral research at Vanderbilt Medical School before joining the faculty at Baylor College of Medicine, where he became Assistant Dean of the Graduate School in 1991. He joined Ligand Pharmaceuticals in 1995 as Vice President for Endocrine Research, and in 2000 he co-founded XenoPharm, Inc. and served as the company’s Chief Scientific Officer and Vice President for Research. Dr. Schrader joined the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in 2003 as Deputy Scientific Director. In that role he deals extensively with postdoctoral training and career development. An author of over 100 scientific papers, he has served on numerous editorial boards, study sections and advisory panels for educational, governmental and for-profit organizations.

Watch on the Duke Postdoctoral Services Youtube Channel

Humanities and Social Science Seminars

Thurs Sept 12, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

WHAT: Behind the Scenes with the Search Committee: The Academic Application Process (for postdocs and graduate students in the humanities & social sciences)
WHERE: Rm 217 Perkins (http://myatlascms.com/map/?id=21&mrkId=2750)
REGISTER: http://bit.ly/Application-Package-HumSS

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), the screening process, and selecting candidates to interview.

Panelists:

  • Candace Bailey, PhD, Professor, Music, North Carolina Central University
  • Rodney Clare, PhD,  Associate Professor, History, Elon University
  • Thomas Gould, PhD, Dean and Department Head, Arts, Sciences, and University Transfer, Durham Technical Community College
  • Ann Marie Rasmussen, PhD, Professor of German and Director of Graduate Studies, German Studies, Duke University

Watch on the Duke Postdoctoral Services Youtube Channel

Tues Sept 17, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

WHAT: The Academic Interview (for postdocs and graduate students in the humanities & social sciences)
WHERE: Rm 217 Perkins (http://myatlascms.com/map/?id=21&mrkId=2750)
REGISTER: http://bit.ly/Interview-Process-HumSS

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

Panelists:

  • Beth Mulvaney, PhD, Professor and Head, Art History, Meredith College
  • Nancy Harris, PhD, Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, Elon University
  • David Bell III, PhD, Professor of French and Co-Director, PhD Lab in Digital Knowledge, Duke University
  • Saunjuhi Verma, PhD, Postdoctoral Associate, Sociology, Duke University

Watch on the Duke Postdoctoral Services Youtube Channel

Tues Sept 24, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

WHAT: Negotiating the Academic Job Offer (for postdocs and graduate students in the humanities and social sciences)
WHERE: Rm 217 Perkins (http://myatlascms.com/map/?id=21&mrkId=2750)
REGISTER: http://bit.ly/Negotiating-the-Offer-HumSS

In this session, a panel of faculty members from the humanities and social sciences address common elements that can be negotiated when an offer is extended. They will also answer questions about common pitfalls in the process.

Panelists:

  • Tamah Morant, PhD, Director of Graduate Program and Teaching Associate Professor, Economics, North Carolina State University
  • Angel Harris, PhD, Professor, Sociology, Duke University

Seminars for All Postdocs and Graduate Students

Fri Oct 4, 12:00–1:15 p.m.

WHAT: The Tech Savvy Job Search (for postdocs and graduate students in all departments)
WHERE: Rm 229 Social Sciences (Computer Lab) (http://myatlascms.com/map/?id=21&mrkId=2824)
REGISTER: http://bit.ly/Tech-Savvy-Job-Search

In this hands-on workshop, you will learn how to use an RSS aggregator to simultaneously collect search results from hundreds of job posting sites, including the Chronicle of Higher Education and many other well-established, reputable sources of academic job postings (it really is much more efficient than getting email alerts.) This session is in a computer lab.

PRESENTER: Hugh Crumley, PhD, Director, Certificate in College Teaching Program, Duke University Graduate School

Tues Oct 8, 12:00–1:30 p.m.

WHAT: The Teaching Statement (for postdocs and graduate students in all departments)
WHERE: Rm A156 LSRC (http://myatlascms.com/map/?id=21&mrkId=2766)
REGISTER: http://bit.ly/Teaching-Statement

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).

PRESENTER: Hugh Crumley, PhD, Director, Certificate in College Teaching Program, Duke University Graduate School

Fri Oct 11, 12:00–1:15 p.m.

WHAT: Academic CV Writing (for postdocs and graduate students in all departments)
WHERE: 201 Flowers Building, Duke West Campus, 2nd floor (http://myatlascms.com/map/?id=21&mrkId=2694)
REGISTER: http://bit.ly/Academic-CV

An exceptional CV goes far beyond simply listing your academic accomplishments. This document allows you to market yourself to search committees as a compelling candidate with directly relevant skills and knowledge. The drafting process for this document is your opportunity to emphasize how your specific skills and experiences will fit within and enrich the targeted academic institution. In this workshop you will learn how to craft a compelling academic CV that highlights the knowledge, skills, results, and distinctions that comprise your qualifications.

PRESENTER: Paul Miceli, PhD, Assistant Director, Graduate Student Career Services, Duke Career Center

Fri Oct 18, 12:00–1:15 p.m.

WHAT: Academic Cover Letter Writing (for postdocs and graduate students in all departments)
WHERE: 305 Languages Building, Duke West Campus (http://myatlascms.com/map/?id=21&mrkId=2772)
REGISTER: http://bit.ly/Academic-Cover-Letter

Academic cover letters are your opportunity to expand on the information in your CV, tell your story for an institution in a way that makes it explicit how and why you add value, and illustrate your communication and persuasion skills all at once. The drafting process for this document is your opportunity to emphasize how your specific skills and experiences will fit within and enrich the targeted academic institution. In this workshop you will learn how to craft a powerful structure for your cover letter in order to make explicit the fit between what you bring and what the institution wants.

PRESENTER: Paul Miceli, PhD, Assistant Director, Graduate Student Career Services, Duke Career Center

Communicating with the Media Series

Talking to Reporters
Office of News & Communications Staff
Friday, October 4, 9:00–11:00 a.m., 103 Bryan Research Building (corner of Research Dr and Coal Pile Dr)
Registration: http://bit.ly/registration_reporters

Don’t get caught off guard! Learn how to handle an interview, become a resource for reporters, and use media outreach to bolster your research visibility. Co-sponsored with the Office of News & Communications, whose staff has trained over 500 faculty in these principles. Participant pre-work: Prepare a 60-second elevator pitch of a current research project, accessible to a lay audience.

Writing Op-Ed Articles
Office of News & Communications Staff
Friday, October 25, 9:00–11:00 a.m., 217 Perkins Library
Registration: http://bit.ly/registration_oped

Do you want to share your opinions effectively in an op-ed piece … and get published within days? Several participants in last year’s workshop published op-ed articles that grew out of their workshop experience! Join staff from the Office of News & Communications and get the inside scoop on how you can get published in leading newspapers. They have trained many Duke faculty and students to apply their principles and achieve success. Participant pre-work: Identify three current news stories that relate to your research.

Using Social Media Effectively
Office of News & Communications Staff
Friday, November 15, 9:00–11:00 a.m., Von Canon Room, Bryan Center
Registration: http://bit.ly/Using-Social-Media

How can you leverage your social media presence to increase your visibility as a scholar? Learn from the experts at the Duke Office of News & Communications how you can best use blogs, Twitter, and other social media options wisely to establish your professional profile. 

Core Competencies Series

Orientation Week 2013 Professional Development Workshop
Gautham Pandiyan, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Mi-Co
Wednesday, August 21, 1:30–3:00 p.m., 217 Perkins Library
Registration: http://bit.ly/ProfDevWkshp_Orient2013 

Duke alumnus Gautham Pandiyan leveraged his multidisciplinary experiences and an on-campus internship to jump-start his career. Now a leader in the Triangle business community, he will share strategies that helped him develop important skills, network effectively, and focus on his career while in graduate school. Open to new and returning graduate students.

Graduate Student Etiquette Dinner
Mary Crane, Owner, Mary Crane & Associates
Wednesday, September 4, 5:30–8:30 p.m., Durham Marriot Convention Center
Registration link was sent via email to eligible Graduate School students on Thursday, August 8

Important professional relationships are formed and strengthened in social settings including formal meals and cocktail hours. The Professional Dining Etiquette Program is designed to enhance students' competence and comfort in any professional-social setting. Graduate students will learn rules for navigating a professional lunch or dinner, which are often part of the search process in both academic and professional interviewing contexts, and an integral part of professional careers. Students will also learn tips on how to select appropriate restaurants, timing of business discussions, addressing wait staff and other essential skills. Co-sponsored with the Duke Career Center.

Creating an Individual Development Plan
Brian Rybarczyk, Director of Graduate Academic and Professional Development, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Wednesday, September 11, 3:00–4:30 p.m., 217 Perkins Library
Registration: http://bit.ly/registration_individualplan

An IDP is a tool to identify professional goals, reflect on past accomplishments, assess skills relative to career goals, and plan actions for academic progress to achieve short- and long-term career objectives. When students are actively involved in their own development process, they not only experience individual growth but also greater gains in productivity and satisfaction with their career trajectory. In this workshop, participants will reflect on their developmental needs related to career objectives and will results in the generation of tangible goals and actions as part of the IDP process. Co-sponsored with Women in Science and Engineering.

Pre-work for participants: Complete a Skills Self-Assessment either through (1) Science Careers’ MyIDP website [for sciences] or (2) download Professional Skills Self-Assessment document [for all disciplines]. Bring a laptop and/or printed results to the workshop to access your completed assessment.

Networking: Building Professional Relationships for Graduate Students
Wednesday September 18, 12:00–1:30 p.m., Flowers 201
Registration: http://goo.gl/uKyFM7

Get ready to network with alumni during Homecoming Weekend events! Graduate students frequently report that face-to-face networking feels uncomfortable, inauthentic, or both. Because you will work with others for most of your working life, your ability to build and maintain productive relationships is foundational. In this highly interactive workshop you will learn and practice how to create conversation with people you don’t know learn networking norms and strategies, and identify effective ways to follow up to create and sustain mutually beneficial professional relationships. Sponsored by the Duke Career Center.

How to Handle Difficult Conversations
Rhonda Sutton, PhD, LPC, LPCS, Owner, InnerSights Counseling and Consultation
Thursday, October 17, 2:00–3:30 p.m., Perkins Library 217
Registration: http://bit.ly/register_conversations

As a graduate student and in your professional career that follows, you’ll find yourself navigating difficult conversations—announcing a career path change, handling a conflict with a colleague, or managing your committee’s expectations for your progress, for example. This workshop will help you consider your options in approaching difficult conversations and prepare to handle them in the most professional way possible. Learn more about Dr. Sutton at her website, www.innersightscounseling.com.

Presenting Yourself Successfully
Joy Javits, Founder, In the Public Eye
Thursday, October 24, individual one-hour appointments available, Graduate School 207

Do you have an upcoming conference presentation, challenging conversation, or other situation for which you’d like one-on-one coaching? Communications professional Joy Javits will conduct individual sessions during this time for you to get the practice that you desire. Morning and afternoon appointments are available by registration. Open only to Graduate School students (doctoral and research master’s).

Career Symposium for Graduate Students and Postdocs
Saturday, November 2, 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m., Frank Porter Graham Student Union, UNC Campus
Registration: http://tinyurl.com/n5jp853

Duke University, UNC-Chapel Hill, and NC State University are co-sponsoring a full day of career workshops and networking opportunities open only to graduate students and postdocs. Registration required; registration fee of $15 includes lunch. Co-sponsored with the Duke Career Center.

Master’s and PhD Career Fair
Thursday, November 21, 12:00–4:00 p.m., Friday Center, UNC Chapel Hill

Join 60+ employers as part of this annual event, co-sponsored by a consortium of six North Carolina universities. For registration, directions, and more details, visit the Master's and PhD Career Fair website. Sponsored by the Duke Career Center.

Entrepreneurship Series

Thinking like an Entrepreneur: An Introduction
Carl Nordgren, Visiting Associate Professor, Markets & Management Studies, Duke University
Monday, September 23, 2:00–3:30 p.m., 217 Perkins Library
Registration: http://bit.ly/Thinking-Entrepreneur-Intro

Whether you are interested in for-profit entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, or simply want to explore a new perspective, you can benefit from the principles of this workshop that helps you view the world through an entrepreneurial lens. This talk will help you be more usefully creative and more effectively entrepreneurial in all of your life’s work and in all of your adventures. It will help you see problems as opportunities, help you generate better ideas, identify your most promising ones, and nurture them to make them better.

Thinking like an Entrepreneur: Intensive Workshop 1
Carl Nordgren, Visiting Associate Professor, Markets & Management Studies, Duke University
Monday, September 30, 1:30–3:30 p.m., 218 Perkins Library
Registration: http://bit.ly/Thinking-Entrepreneur-Intensive

This workshop introduces 'the Generative Way', an approach to creative and entrepreneurial work that is based on academic research with highly successful entrepreneurs and Professor Nordgren’s 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur and creative professional. This workshop will help you build the entrepreneurial principles and practices tool kit that will serve you along the way, including divergent discovery and convergent creation, the importance of being action-oriented, and kaleidoscopic thinking.

Thinking like an Entrepreneur: Intensive Workshop 2
Carl Nordgren, Visiting Associate Professor, Markets & Management Studies, Duke University
Wednesday, October 23, 2:00–4:00 p.m., 218 Perkins Library
Registration: http://bit.ly/entrepreneur_pt2

Starting from scientific research on naturally generative complex forces, this workshop examines how we can influence complexity to meet our entrepreneurial goals. Professor Nordgren will leverage two case studies of start-ups in which he’s been involved to demonstrate how these ideas were put into practice.

Entrepreneurship Workshop: Insights from Duke Alumni
Saturday, October 19, 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., Washington Duke Inn
Registration: http://bit.ly/Entrepreneurship-Workshop-Alumni

A group of Duke alumni will share their stories of becoming entrepreneurs and their strategies for success, from conceiving an idea to finding investors. The workshop will include a networking lunch and the opportunity to receive feedback on a five-minute pitch of your business idea. Enrollment is limited and is open only to Graduate School students. Read our panelists' bios to learn more!

  • Maya Ajmera, MPP., Founder, The Global Fund for Children, and Visiting Scholar and Professorial Lecturer at The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at The Johns Hopkins University
  • Todd Brady, MD, PhD, Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Domain Associates and President and Chief Executive Officer, Aldexa Therapeutics
  • Lucinda Camras, PhD, Founder, Camras Vision and Visiting Research Scientist, Duke University
  • Micah Gilmer, PhD, Senior Partner, Frontline Solutions, Inc.; and Clinical Assistant Professor of Social Innovation, Department of Public Policy, and Social Entrepreneur in Residence, University of North Carolina
  • Nathan Kundtz, PhD, Founder, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Kymeta Corporation

Put your enthusiasm for entrepreneurship to work! Participate in the Duke Start-Up Challenge. Share your business idea by October 30 to sign up.

PhD Career Paths Series

Careers in Industry for Physical Scientists (Versatile PhD Online Panel Discussion)
Monday, September 23 through Friday, September 27, online
No pre-registration required; set up membership at Versatile PhD website for access

Free online panel discussion featuring STEM PhDs currently working as working as scientists, systems engineers, product developers, etc. in a variety of industry sectors. Panelists introduce themselves on Monday, September 23 and answer your questions until Friday, September 27. Asynchronous; visit the STEM Forum during that week and look for threads starting with the word "Panel." Registration at Versatile PhD is free and can be anonymous. Co-sponsored with the Duke Career Center.

Science Education, Communication, and Outreach: A Quasi-Linear Career Path
Dr. Stephanie Chasteen, Science Teaching Fellow, University of Colorado at Boulder
Thursday, September 26, 3:30–4:30 p.m., 217 Perkins Library
Registration: http://bit.ly/registration_quasi-linear

Dr. Stephanie Chasteen has explored diverse opportunities after completing a Ph.D. in Physics: she’s worked as an intern for National Public Radio, a museum and teacher educator, a science education researcher, and an education reformer. An “eclectic generalist,” she’ll share her career path and success stories in creating her blog and business. Learn more about her at http://sciencegeekgirl.com.

E-Learning and Instructional Design Careers (Versatile PhD Online Panel Discussion)
Monday, October 14 through Friday, October 18, online
No pre-registration required; set up membership at Versatile PhD website for access

Free online panel discussion featuring PhDs working in instructional design from across the humanities, social sciences, and STEM fields. Panelists introduce themselves on Monday, October 14 and answer your questions until Friday, October 18. Asynchronous; visit the Humanities Forum during that week and look for threads starting with the word "Panel." Registration at Versatile PhD is free and can be anonymous. Co-sponsored with the Duke Career Center.

Workshop for Faculty: Preparing Graduate Students in the Social Sciences and Humanities for a Comprehensive Job Search
Dr. L. Maren Wood, Founder, Lilli Research Group and contributor to the Chronicle of Higher Education's PhD Placement Project
Monday, October 28, 10:00–11:30 a.m., Biological Sciences 154
Registration: http://bit.ly/facultyworkshop_jobsearch

Faculty and departments can reinforce the value of the doctoral degree by communicating the career options available to PhD-qualified job-seekers. This workshop will be led by Dr. L. Maren Wood, founder and lead researcher of Lilli Research Group, an educational consulting company. Having studied the career outcomes of 3,200 history PhDs, Dr. Wood offers a unique perspective on the challenges facing current graduates. Where do PhDs find employment upon graduation? What can students do in graduate school to prepare for a comprehensive job search? And what can faculty members do to help support and encourage students who – by choice or necessity – pursue employment beyond the professoriate? To help answer these questions, Dr. Wood will share preliminary results from the American Historical Association’s study of careers for history PhDs, which will be published in November.

Dr. Wood graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2009 with a PhD in Early American history. In 2012, she left academia (and the adjunct world) to start the Lilli Research Group, a company that helps departments, graduate schools, and professional associations track the career outcomes of PhD alumni. Wood also designed and teaches the Lilli Research Group Boot Camp for Post Academic Job Seekers, a month-long course to help PhDs transition to post-academic employment.

Beyond the Professoriate: Preparing for a Comprehensive Job Search in the Social Sciences and Humanities
Dr. L. Maren Wood, Founder, Lilli Research Group and contributor to the Chronicle of Higher Education's PhD Placement Project
Monday, October 28, 12:30–2:00 p.m., Bryan Center, Von Canon Room
Registration: http://bit.ly/beyond_professoriate

In today’s job market, it is important to realize the flexibility of career options available to PhD-qualified job-seekers. Dr. L. Maren Wood offers a unique perspective on the academic job search and careers beyond the tenure track for graduate students. She will lead a workshop for current graduate students interested in exploring their employment options. What can graduate students and recent PhDs do now to prepare for a comprehensive job search? Dr. Wood will share preliminary findings from the American Historical Association’s study on the career outcomes of 3200 history PhDs, which will be published in November. Lunch will be provided to all participants who pre-register by October 24.

Dr. Wood graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2009 with a PhD in Early American history. In 2012, she left academia (and the adjunct world) to start the Lilli Research Group, a company that helps departments, graduate schools, and professional associations track the career outcomes of PhD alumni. Wood also designed and teaches the Lilli Research Group Boot Camp for Post Academic Job Seekers, a month-long course to help PhDs transition to post-academic employment.

A Humanities PhD's Career in Academic Administration and Nonprofit
Dr. Rebecca Bryant, Director of Community, ORCID
Friday, November 1, 12:00–1:00 p.m., Friedl Building 225
Registration: http://bit.ly/humanities_career_path

After completing her PhD in musicology, Rebecca Bryant leveraged the transferable skills and experiences she’d developed as a graduate student to begin a career in academic administration, serving as Assistant Dean and Director of Graduate Career Services in the Graduate College at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for a decade. More recently, she has transitioned into a new role as Director of Community at ORCID, an open, non-profit, community-based effort to provide a registry of unique researcher identifiers and a transparent method of linking research activities and outputs to these identifiers. Join us for an informal lunch and conversation. Lunch provided to all participants who pre-register by October 28.

Career Decisions: How to Find a Science Career that Fits YOU
Bill Lindstaedt, Director of the Office of Career and Professional Development at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF); co-creator, myIDP
Friday, November 1, 2:00–4:00 p.m., Nanaline Duke Building 147
Registration: http://bit.ly/Career-Decisions

Do you want to find a career path that you'll enjoy and find rewarding? Of course! But HOW do you find such a path, especially since there are so many different directions scientists can go with their careers? There are more than FIFTY career options available to biomedical science PhDs. If you'd like to see a list of these career options, while learning about how to select the best option for you, then don't miss this thought-provoking and interactive workshop. Here you will learn about a logical, step-by-step process for exploring your career options and deciding which will provide the best fit for your own set of skills, values and interests.

This workshop uses the myIDP tool from Science Careers. Please bring a laptop or tablet to use myIDP during the session. Co-sponsored with Duke Office of Postdoctoral Services and the School of Medicine Biomedical Graduate Education.

A Natural Sciences PhD’s Career in Government and Academia
Dr. Melissa Kenney, Research Assistant Professor, University of Maryland
Monday, November 4, 12:00–1:00 p.m., Teer 114
Registration: http://bit.ly/nov4_registration

Since completing her PhD in Water Quality Modeling and Decision Analysis at Duke, Dr. Melissa Kenney has done a postdoc at Johns Hopkins, funded by the National Center for Earth-Surface Dynamics; held a AAAS fellowship, hosted by the NOAA Climate Program Office; and served as Lead PI of the US Global Change Research Program’s National Climate Indicator System. Now a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland, she brings a unique perspective on working in both government and academia. Lunch provided for the first 15 people who register before 10 a.m. on November 1.

Careers in Industry for Life Scientists (Versatile PhD Online Panel Discussion)
Monday, November 18 through Friday, November 22, online
No pre-registration required; set up membership at Versatile PhD website for access

Free online panel discussion featuring life science PhDs currently working in the pharmaceutical, agriculture, biotech, and consumer goods industries. Panelists introduce themselves on Monday and answer your questions until Friday. Asynchronous; visit the STEM Forum during that week and look for threads starting with the word "Panel." Registration at Versatile PhD is free and can be anonymous. Co-sponsored with the Duke Career Center.

Spring 2014 Professional Development Series

  • Academic Job Search Series
    • Sciences and Engineering
    • Humanities and Social Sciences
    • All Disciplines
  • Core Competencies Series
  • PhD Career Paths Series

See the Graduate School’s professional development calendar for a chronological list of the PDS workshops and events, as well as other professional development opportunities sponsored by The Graduate School and the Duke Career Center. More events are added throughout the semester.

Academic Job Search Series

Graduate students and postdocs interested in pursuing careers in academia can learn about opportunities beyond tenure-track positions during the spring semester. You can find topics relevant to all students as well as specialized panels for 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 web page for complete details.

Science and Engineering Seminars

Non-Tenure-Track Faculty Careers in the Sciences and Engineering
Thursday, Feb 27, 9:00–10:0 a.m., Jones 143
Registration: http://tinyurl.com/STEM-Non-Tenure-Regis

Want to keep doing research in an academic institution, but not sure you want the same kind of career as your tenured or tenure-track PI? What if you love to teach, or are thinking about an administrative career? Our panel will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of non-tenure-track faculty appointments in the sciences and engineering.

Panelists:

  • Sherilynn Black, PhD,  Assistant Professor of the Practice, Medical Education, and Director, Office of Biomedical Graduate Diversity
  • Jennifer Carbrey, PhD,  Assistant Research Professor, Cell Biology
  • Arthur Moseley, PhD,  Associate Research Professor, IGSP, and Director of Proteomics
  • Walter Neal Simmons, PhD, Gendell Family Associate Professor of the Practice, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

Non-Faculty Careers in Academia for Science and Engineering PhDs
Thursday, March 6, 9:00–10:00 a.m., Bryan Research Bldg 103
Registration: http://tinyurl.com/non-faculty-careers

Watch on YouTube

Teaching and academic research aren’t the only career opportunities at colleges and universities. PhDs are employed in departmental administration, proposal development, science education, student affairs, and career services, to name just a few options. If you have a PhD in the sciences or engineering, this panel will provide a wealth of information about academic career paths you may not have considered.

Panelists:

  • Lauren Anderson, PhD, Research Development Associate, School of Medicine Office of Research Development (PhD Neurobiology)
  • Elizabeth Johnson, PhD,  Associate Director, Duke Institute for Brain Sciences (PhD Neural Science)
  • La Tondra Murray, PhD, Associate Director, Professional Masters Programs, Pratt School of Engineering (PhD Industrial Engineering)
  • Jory Weintraub, PhD,  Assistant Director, Science Education and Outreach, National Evolutionary Synthesis Center [NESCent] (PhD Immunology)

Managing a Lab: Insights from Academia and Industry
Thursday, March 13, 9:00–11:00 a.m., Bryan Research Bldg 103
Registration: http://tinyurl.com/ngghaxq

Watch on YouTube

For scientists conducting laboratory-based research, effective lab management can be as crucial to career success as the research itself. In this seminar, Dr. Sally Kornbluth, Vice Dean for Basic Sciences, Duke School of Medicine, will speak on topics ranging from staffing your laboratory to establishing successful research collaborations. Dr. Kornbluth will then be joined by lab managers from academia and industry to answer questions from the audience and compare/contrast experiences.

Panelists:

  • Sally Kornbluth, PhD, Vice Dean for Basic Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine
  • Jessica Monserrate, PhD, Scientist at Bayer CropScience
  • Mohamed Noor, PhD, Professor and Chair of Biology, Duke University
  • Susan Smith, PhD, Scientific Investigator at Stiefel, a GSK company

Note: This workshop provides Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) credit for attendees. Postdoctoral RCR requirements are outlined at http://ors.duke.edu/orsmanual/rcr-postdoctoral-researchers. Graduate student RCR requirements are outlined at http://gradschool.duke.edu/academics/degree_reqs/rcr/index.php.

Humanities and Social Science Seminars

Non-Faculty Careers in Academia for Social Sciences/Humanities PhDs
Wednesday, February 5, 3:30–5:00 p.m., Perkins Library 217, Duke West Campus
Registration: http://bit.ly/Non-Fac_Hum_SS

Watch on YouTube

Teaching and academic research aren’t the only career opportunities at colleges and universities. PhDs are employed in departmental administration, program development, science education, student affairs, tech transfer, career services, and fundraising, to name just a few options.If you have a PhD in the social sciences or humanities, this panel will provide a wealth of information about academic career paths you may not have considered.

Panelists:

  • Margaret Lou Brown, PhD, Senior Research Scholar and Director of Programs, Forum for Publics and Scholars
  • Christian Ferney, PhD,  Student Programs Manager, Kenan Institute for Ethics
  • Alan Kendrick, PhD,  Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Development, Duke Graduate School
  • Heidi Madden, PhD, Librarian for Western European Studies and Adjunct Asst Prof of Germanic Languages & Literature, Duke University Libraries

Non-Tenure-Track Faculty Careers in the Social Sciences and Humanities
Friday, February 28, 2:30–3:45 p.m., Biological Sciences 144
Registration: http://goo.gl/vixL22

Want to keep doing research or teaching in an academic institution, but not sure you want the same kind of career as your tenured or tenure-track PI? Our panel will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of non-tenure-track faculty appointments in the social sciences and humanities.

Panelists:

  • N. Grace Aaron, PhD, Senior Lecturer in Spanish, UNC-Chapel Hill
  • Martha Alexander, PhD, Lecturer in Spanish, UNC-Chapel Hill
  • Steven Buzinski, PhD, Lecturer and Director of Undergraduate Research in Psychology, UNC-Chapel Hill
  • Sharon Lynne Joffe, PhD, Teaching Associate Professor of English, NC State University
  • Karin Shapiro, PhD, Associate Professor of the Practice, African and African American Studies, Duke University

Seminars for All Graduate Students and Postdocs

The Art of Interviewing
Greg Justice, Associate Professor of Theater Arts, Virginia Tech
Tuesday, February 4, 9:00–11:00 a.m., Jones 143
Registration: http://bit.ly/artofinterviewing

Professor Gregory Justice is an executive coach and offers workshops on teaching and interviewing for future faculty. In this workshop, participants will learn ways to improve communication effectiveness during academic or industry interviews.  Prof. Justice will help you:

  • Clarify the purpose of the job interview
  • Reflect on when and how the interview actually ‘begins’
  • Consider skills utilized to be successful before, during and after an interview
  • Identify how personal fears and nerves impact people during an interview
  • Learn and rehearse skills toward a successful interview from entrance to exit

Developing a Teaching Statement and Online Teaching Portfolio
Hugh Crumley, PhD, Director, Duke Certificate in College Teaching and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Education, Duke University
Monday, March 24, 12:00–1:30 p.m., Perkins Library 217, Duke West Campus
Registration: https://duke.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_8A1vzaX2AOwDmu1

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).

Core Competencies Series

The Art of Interviewing
Greg Justice, Associate Professor of Theater Arts, Virginia Tech
Tuesday, February 4, 9:00–11:00 a.m., 143 Jones Building
Registration: http://bit.ly/artofinterviewing

Professor Gregory Justice is an executive coach and offers workshops on teaching and interviewing for graduate students and postdocs. In this workshop, participants will learn ways to improve communication effectiveness during academic or industry interviews. Professor Justice will help you:

  • Clarify the purpose of the job interview
  • Reflect on when and how the interview actually “begins”
  • Consider skills utilized to be successful before, during and after an interview
  • Identify how personal fears and nerves impact people during an interview
  • Learn and rehearse skills toward a successful interview from entrance to exit

This workshop is co-sponsored with the Office of Postdoctoral Services and the Duke Career Center and is also part of the Academic Job Search Series.

Enhancing Your Leadership by Understanding Your Personality Type
Shelly Hoover-Plonk, Career Consultant
Monday, February 10, 1:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., Von Canon Room, Bryan Center
Registration: http://bit.ly/MBTI_Feb_10

Have you ever wondered how your personality shapes the way you interact with other people? Do you prefer quiet time alone or interacting with a lot of people? Do you like to be highly organized or fly by the seat of your pants? 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. Using an assessment based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, this workshop will help you apply your understanding to your interactions with others.

Detailed instructions for the assessment available upon registration; all participants must register and complete the assessment by Thursday, February 6 at 5 p.m. At the workshop, delicious pizza will be served; please bring your own beverage to enjoy.

Navigating the Mentoring Relationship
Rhonda Sutton, LPC, Owner, InnerSights Counseling and Consultation
Tuesday, February 18, 9:00-11:00 a.m., 143 Jones Building
Registration: http://tinyurl.com/qyf9g9w

Ask yourself: do you have a good mentor, or a tor-mentor? Mentoring is critical to the graduate student and the postdoc experience. However, it is not always the easiest relationship to navigate. To succeed, you must understand the culture of the department as well as the communication style of your mentor. This interactive workshop will provide a focus on the typical communication styles of mentoring relationships, as well as the role mentoring has within the Responsible Conduct of Research arena. You will gain tools to build a successful mentoring relationship with your PI or faculty advisor. You will also learn communication strategies and behavioral approaches. This workshop is appropriate for graduate students and postdocs in the sciences, social sciences, humanities and engineering. Co-sponsored with the Office of Postdoctoral Services, this workshop fulfills 2 credits of Responsible Conduct of Research training requirements.

Finding Yourself in the National Archives
David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States
Monday, March 3, 11:00 a.m.–12:15 p.m., 217 Perkins Library
Registration: Duke E-Recruiting

Master’s and doctoral students are invited to join this special opportunity to hear from National Archivist David Ferriero. David Ferriero was nominated by President Obama and later confirmed as the 10th Archivist of the United States in 2009. He is the first librarian to become Archivist and lead the National Archives and Record Administration (NARA). Prior to his current role, Mr. Ferriero served as the Director of the New York Public Libraries (2004-2009), and before that he was University Librarian and Vice Provost for Library Affairs at Duke University (1996-2004). Duke bestowed Mr. Ferriero with an honorary degree in May 2013. Co-sponsored with Duke Career Center.

Managing a Lab: Insights from Academia & Industry
Thursday, March 13, 9:00–11:00 a.m., 103 Bryan Research Building (Corner of Research Dr. and Coal Pile Dr.)
Registration: http://tinyurl.com/ngghaxq

For scientists conducting laboratory-based research, effective lab management can be as crucial to career success as the research itself. In this seminar, Sally Kornbluth, vice dean for basic sciences at the Duke University School of Medicine, will speak on topics ranging from staffing your laboratory to establishing successful research collaborations. Kornbluth will then be joined by lab managers from academia and industry to answer questions from the audience and compare/contrast experiences.

Panelists:

  • Sally Kornbluth, PhD, Vice Dean for Basic Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine
  • Jessica Monserrate, PhD, Scientist at Bayer CropScience
  • Mohamed Noor, PhD, Professor and Chair of Biology, Duke University
  • Susan Smith, PhD, Scientific Investigator at Stiefel, a GSK company

Co-sponsored with the Office of Postdoctoral Services and the Duke Career Center, this workshop is also part of the Academic Job Search Series and fulfills 2 credits of Responsible Conduct of Research training requirements.

Managing Your Research Career Using an Individual Development Plan (IDP)
Dara Wilson-Grant, Associate Director at the UNC-Chapel Hill Office of Postdoctoral Affairs
Tuesday, March 18, 9:00–11:00 a.m., 143 Jones Building
Registration: http://tinyurl.com/qgm26bp

For better or for worse, your experiences and the training you receive as graduate students and postdoctoral researchers can greatly impact and shape the rest of your career. However, there are strategies and resources that can enhance 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 covered in this RCR module 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

Co-sponsored with the Office of Postdoctoral Services, this workshop fulfills 2 credits of Responsible Conduct of Research training requirements.

The Elevator Pitch
Joy Javits, Founder, In the Public Eye: Effective Communication
Thursday, March 20, 3:00–5:00 p.m., The Graduate School, Room 102
Registration: http://bit.ly/pitch320

The elevator pitch can work as an introduction at networking opportunities and as a great Summary section for your LinkedIn profile. In this workshop, communication expert Joy Javits 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. Open only to Graduate School students (doctoral and research master’s).

Detours and Straight Lines: Navigating Evolving Career Goals
Gary Glass, Associate Director for Outreach and Developmental Programming, CAPS
Friday, March 21, 2:30–4:00 p.m., Biological Sciences, Room 144
Registration: http://bit.ly/CAPS_321

Do you remember being an undergraduate, when the possibilities that went along with declaring a major were wide open? As graduate students, the road ahead seems to be more focused and narrow than you could have imagined back then. One of the advantages, now that you're a graduate student, is that your goals are easier to declare because the options seem more narrowly defined. One of the disadvantages is that your goals are easier to declare because the options seem more narrowly defined. This program will introduce some of the commonly experienced (but less commonly discussed) questions of career direction for graduate students. The level of investment often dictates a mindset that doesn't allow you to think about alternative paths. Still, you sometimes feel a pull away from the career path you're on. Using your values, needs, and fears, this workshop will offer a framework to use as you navigate the questions about what your career options can be and the many different forms of commitment your current path can take. Co-sponsored with CAPS.

Dress for Success
Mark Coffey, Store Manager, Brooks Brothers Flatiron Shop, Durham; and Kelly Fishburne, Brooks Brothers Store Manager, Crabtree Valley Mall, Raleigh
Tuesday, March 25, 3:30-4:45 p.m., Perkins Library, Room 217
Registration: http://bit.ly/dress_325

If you've ever wondered the difference between business formal and business casual, how to match a tie to a dress shirt, or whether to choose pants or a skirt for an interview, this presentation is for you! The presenters will bring clothes and examples to demonstrate how to dress for success. Co-sponsored with Graduate Student Appreciation Week.

Presenting Yourself Successfully: One-on-One Coaching
Joy Javits, Founder, In the Public Eye: Effective Communication
Thursday, March 27, 1-hour individual appointments, The Graduate School, Room 207
Registration: http://bit.ly/javits0327

Do you have an upcoming conference presentation, challenging conversation, or other situation for which you’d like one-on-one coaching? Communications professional Joy Javits will conduct individual sessions during this time for you to get the practice that you desire. Morning and afternoon appointments are available by registration. Open only to Graduate School students (doctoral and research master’s). Co-sponsored with Graduate Student Appreciation Week.

Networking: Building Professional Relationships for Graduate Students
Paul Miceli, Assistant Director, Graduate Student Career Services, Duke Career Center
Thursday, March 27, 10:00–11:30 a.m., Biological Sciences 154
Registration: Duke E-Recruiting

Graduate students frequently report that face-to-face networking feels uncomfortable, inauthentic, or both. Because you will work with others for most of your working life, your ability to build and maintain productive relationships is foundational. In this highly interactive workshop you will learn and practice how to create conversation with people you don't know, learn networking norms and strategies, and identify effective ways to follow up to create and sustain mutually beneficial professional relationships. Sponsored by the Duke Career Center; co-sponsored with Graduate Student Appreciation Week.

Thinking On Your Feet (Improvisation Workshop)
Gregory Hohn, Senior Lecturer, Management and Office Communication, Kenan-Flagler Business School, UNC-Chapel Hill
Friday, March 28, 10:00–11:30 a.m., Carr Building, Room 240 (East Campus)
Registration: http://bit.ly/GSAW14ThinkingonyourFeet

Thinking on Your Feet is an experiential, interactive program designed to improve participants’ ability to handle unexpected situations. Using improvisational theater exercises and games, participants will explore ways to improve communication, creativity, and collaboration in unplanned moments. Co-sponsored with Graduate Student Appreciation Week.

PhD Career Paths Series

Careers in Finance for Humanities and Social Science PhDs (Versatile PhD Online Panel Discussion)
Monday, January 20 through Friday, January 24, online
Information available: http://vphd.info/1f916nw

Free online panel discussion featuring humanities and social science PhDs currently working in in roles such as investment strategy, proposal writing, analysis and research, client relations, and others. Panelists introduce themselves on Monday and answer your questions until Friday; join in the conversation at any time during the week. Registration at Versatile PhD is free; use your Duke NetID to access premium content like the Career Finder. Co-sponsored with the Duke Career Center.

Careers in Finance for STEM PhDs (Versatile PhD Online Panel Discussion)
Monday, February 10 through Friday, February 14, online
Information available: http://vphd.info/1d6oD11

Free online panel discussion featuring STEM PhDs currently working in finance. Panelists introduce themselves on Monday and answer your questions until Friday; join in the conversation at any time during the week. Registration at Versatile PhD is free; use your Duke NetID to access premium content like the Career Finder. Co-sponsored with the Duke Career Center.

Careers in Social Media for Humanities & Social Science PhDs (Versatile PhD Online Panel Discussion)
Monday, March 10 through Friday, March 14, online

Free online panel discussion featuring PhDs in the humanities and social sciences currently working in social media. Panelists introduce themselves on Monday and answer your questions until Friday; join in the conversation at any time during the week. Registration at Versatile PhD is free; use your Duke NetID to access premium content like the Career Finder. Co-sponsored with the Duke Career Center.

Detours and Straight Lines: Navigating Evolving Career Goals
Gary Glass, Associate Director for Outreach and Developmental Programming, CAPS
Friday, March 21, 2:30–4:00 p.m., Biological Sciences, Room 144
Registration: http://bit.ly/CAPS_321

Do you remember being an undergraduate, when the possibilities that went along with declaring a major were wide open? As graduate students, the road ahead seems to be more focused and narrow than you could have imagined back then. One of the advantages, now that you're a graduate student, is that your goals are easier to declare because the options seem more narrowly defined. One of the disadvantages is that your goals are easier to declare because the options seem more narrowly defined. This program will introduce some of the commonly experienced (but less commonly discussed) questions of career direction for graduate students. The level of investment often dictates a mindset that doesn't allow you to think about alternative paths. Still, you sometimes feel a pull away from the career path you're on. Using your values, needs, and fears, this workshop will offer a framework to use as you navigate the questions about what your career options can be and the many different forms of commitment your current path can take. Co-sponsored with CAPS.

Alumni Lunch: Basic Medical Sciences
Tuesday, March 25, 12:00–1:30 p.m. The Graduate School, Room 102
Registration: http://bit.ly/GSAW14AlumLunchIBasSci

Meet distinguished graduate alumni in an informal lunch setting. Confirmed guests include:

  • Steve Greenbaum, Vice President, BAI, Inc. and Managing Partner, Sciversify (Ph.D., Immunology)
  • David McDonald, Postdoctoral Fellow at North Carolina Central University (Ph.D, Genetics and Genomics)

Co-sponsored with Graduate Student Appreciation Week.

Alumni Lunch: Humanities and Social Sciences
Wednesday, March 26, 12:00–1:30 p.m., The Graduate School, Room 102
Registration: http://bit.ly/GSAW14AlumlunchHumSS

Meet distinguished graduate alumni in an informal lunch setting. Confirmed guests include:

  • Richard L. Collier, Archivist, Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History, Rubenstein Library, and Instructor, Cultural Anthropology (Ph.D., Cultural Anthropology)
  • Marianne Wardle, Andrew W. Mellon Curator of Academic Programs, Nasher Museum of Art (Ph.D., Art History)
  • Timothy Young, Assistant Director, Development & Alumni Relations, Sanford School of Public Policy (M.A., Liberal Studies)

Co-sponsored with Graduate Student Appreciation Week.

Humanities and Social Sciences Postdoc Panel Discussion: “What to Know Before You Go”
Wednesday, March 26, 3:00–4:00 p.m., Perkins Library, Room 217
Registration: http://bit.ly/GSAW14HumSSPostdocPanel

Graduate students navigating career paths face many challenges as they seek postdoctoral work, fellowships, or both. This humanities and social sciences panel will address many career-related concerns facing graduate students in related disciplines. Confirmed panelists include:

  • Guy Hochman, Research Fellow, Fuqua School of Business
  • Martha Kenney, Postdoctoral Associate, Women’s Studies
  • SaunJuhi Verma, Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellow, Sociology

Co-sponsored with Graduate Student Appreciation Week.

Alumni Lunch: Engineering and Natural Sciences
Thursday, March 27, 12:00–1:30 p.m., The Graduate School, Room 102
Registration: http://bit.ly/GSAW14AlumlunchIIIEngNatSci

Meet distinguished graduate alumni from engineering and natural sciences in an informal lunch setting. Confirmed guests include:

  • Robert Schutte, Process Development Manager, Humacyte (PhD, Biomedical Engineering)
  • Charles S. (Steve) Wallace, Jr., Instructor, Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering (PhD, Biomedical Engineering)

Co-sponsored with Graduate Student Appreciation Week.

A Humanities PhD's Career Path in Museums and Art
Valerie Hillings, Curator and Manager, Curatorial Affairs, Abu Dhabi Project, Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation
Thursday, April 17, 1:00–2:00 p.m., Friedl 225
Registration: http://bit.ly/Hillingschat

Hillings joined the curatorial staff of the Guggenheim Foundation in 2004, and since that time she has curated and cocurated exhibitions at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Deutsche Guggenheim, and the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum. She is currently part of the curatorial team developing exhibits and a permanent collection for the future Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. She has published and lectured on curatorial practice and post-World War II art; she served on the jury for the Kandinsky Prize for Russian contemporary art from 2007-2009, and she currently serves on the ZERO Foundation Scientific Board. Join Hillings to learn how she launched her art and museum career through her PhD in Art History in an informal conversation over coffee and tea. Find more details about Hillings’ visit to campus on April 16 and 17 on the Duke Colloquium website.