2020-21 Professional Development Series

Summer 2020

Core Competencies

Thursday, May 14, 2020

2:30 pm to 3:15 pm

What Can I Do with a Graduate Degree? Identifying My Transferable Skills (via Zoom)

This workshop will help you identify the transferable skills you’ve already developed in graduate school or your postdoc experience, brainstorm opportunities to continue growing your skills, and connect with tools to help you plan for further development.

Friday, May 15, 2020

10:00 am to 11:00 am

Parenting and Working at Home: A Facilitated Discussion for Grad Students and Postdocs (Via Zoom)

Join your fellow grad and postdoc parents to learn about and discuss best-practices for managing work at home with children. Talk through maintaining structure for children, maintaining balance for adults, being creative, supporting children, promoting positive behavior, and participating in self-care. Share what is working and what is not working for you!

Thursday, May 21, 2020

2:30 pm to 3:15 pm

Using Self-Assessments and Career Research Tools to Learn about Careers of Interest (via Zoom)

This workshop will introduce several key tools that support you in assessing your skills, interests, and values as you consider possible career alignment. In addition, you’ll learn about two important resources for further career exploration.

Thursday, May 28, 2020

2:30 pm to 3:15 pm

Using the Alumni Network, LinkedIn, and Informational Interviews Effectively

Learn how to leverage the Duke Alumni Network together with LinkedIn to maximize your career research and possibilities for connections. Find out how you can put that knowledge into action through informational interviews with professionals in organizations and careers of interest.

Thursday, June 4, 2020

2:30 pm to 3:15 pm

Professional Development Progress Meetup

Stay on track with your momentum by joining this progress meetup. Whether you’re seeking structure, feedback, or community in working on your professional development goals, please join in this informal gathering to share what you’re working on with graduate student colleagues, find solutions to challenges you’re encountering, and create accountability to keep your progress moving forward. Registration is limited to allow for conversation.

Thursday, June 18, 2020

12:00 pm to 1:00 pm

Becoming an Ally (Rescheduled from March 25)

Learn how to “step in” to create a culture of respect and civility. We’ll explore how we can intervene when we see behavior that feels disrespectful or harmful.

Monday, June 22, 2020

2:00 pm to 3:15 pm

Take Your Teaching Skills Anywhere: Identifying Transferable Skills from your Teaching Experiences

How can you capitalize on the skills you’ve developed through the many hours you’ve devoted to teaching? These skills can help you position yourself for success in industry, government, nonprofit, or academic administration. In this interactive workshop Dr. Melissa Bostrom, assistant dean for graduate student professional development, will help you uncover how your teaching experiences are an ideal way to help potential employers understand the crucial skills you’ve learned in graduate school—skills that are transferable to a variety of careers beyond faculty positions.

Friday, June 26, 2020

11:00 am to 12:00 pm

Addressing Power Dynamics

Whether or not we work remotely, power dynamics are part of an academic setting. In this safe space, we will discuss hierarchy in academia, share ideas for navigating situations with power differentials, and brainstorm how to promote a positive work culture.

Thursday, July 2, 2020

11:00 am to 12:00 pm

Is It Okay? (Rescheduled from April 22)

Is it okay to ask a colleague a question about their identity? Have you given a compliment that generated an unexpected negative reaction? Have you received an identity-based comment that felt hurtful? Join us to discuss these questions and how we can work towards matching our intention and its impact.

Academic Job Search Series

Thursday, July 9, 2020

4:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Managing the Job Search as a Couple

Planning for one person's career is tough; planning for two simultaneously is even harder. In this workshop, we will discuss how to establish professional priorities, how to have productive conversations with your partner, and what additional resources you can use to manage the dual job search process.

Thursday, July 9, 2020

10:30 am to 12:00 pm

Academic Job Market Materials Bootcamp: CV

Will you be on the academic job market this year? Summer is a great time to start preparing your materials and get feedback on drafts. Even if you haven't started working on your CV, we'll cover the basics of structure and formatting in the first half of the session. In the (optional) second half, you'll have the opportunity to work on your own CV and ask questions of a career adviser.

Thursday, July 16, 2020

10:30 am to 12:00 pm

Academic Job Market Materials Bootcamp: Cover Letters

Will you be on the academic job market this year? Summer is a great time to start preparing your materials and get feedback on drafts. Even if you haven't written a cover letter before, in the first half of this session we'll discuss the basics of structure and formatting and how to tailor the letter for different institutions. In the (optional) second half, you'll have the opportunity to work on, edit, and ask questions about your cover letter.

Thursday, July 23, 2020

10:30 am to 12:00 pm

Academic Job Market Materials Bootcamp: Research, Teaching, and Diversity Statements

Will you be on the faculty job market this year? Summer is a great time to start preparing your materials and to get feedback on drafts. In the first half of this session, we'll discuss the purpose, structure, and formatting of research, teaching, and diversity statements. In the (optional) second half, you'll have the opportunity to work on your documents and ask questions.

Ph.D. Career Paths

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

11:00 am to 11:30 am

Alum Zoom: 5 Career Questions with a Duke Ph.D.

Please join us for a summer series of short, focused career conversations with former Duke postdocs and PhD students. On May 13, our guest is Donna Crabtree, PhD, former Duke postdoc in Pediatrics-Hematology/Oncology. Donna is now Research Program Leader for the Duke Office of Clinical Research (DOCR).

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

1:00 pm to 1:30 pm

Alum Zoom: 5 Career Questions with a Duke Ph.D.

Please join us for a summer series of short, focused career conversations with former Duke PhD students and postdocs. On May 26, our guest is Sarah Diringer, PhD '16 (Civil & Environmental Engineering), Senior Researcher with the Pacific Institute, a Bay Area research nonprofit.

Thursday, June 4, 2020

11:00 am to 11:30 am

Alum Zoom: 5 Career Questions with a Duke Ph.D.

Please join us for a summer series of short, focused career conversations with former Duke postdocs and PhD students. On June 4, our guest is Jen Shen, PhD '16 (Public Policy), Quantitative UX Researcher at Google.

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

11:00 am to 11:30 am

Alum Zoom: 5 Career Questions with a Duke Ph.D.

Please join us for a summer series of short, focused career conversations with former Duke PhD students and postdocs. On June 16, our guest is Dana Hancock, PhD '08 (Genetics), Sr. Genetic Epidemiologist and Director of the Center for Omics Discovery and Epidemiology at RTI International.

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

11:00 am to 11:30 am

Alum Zoom: 5 Career Questions with a Duke Ph.D.

Please join us for a summer series of short, focused career conversations with former Duke PhD students and postdocs. On June 23, our guest is Jonathan (Jonny) Williams, former Duke postdoc and currently Technical Director, R&D, at LabCorp, where his team is heading up the Serology Antibody validation and product launch response to COVID19.

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

1:00 pm to 1:30 pm

Alum Zoom: 5 Career Questions with a Duke Ph.D.

Please join us for a summer series of short, focused career conversations with former Duke PhD students and postdocs. On June 30, our guest is Steffen Kaupp, PhD '16 (German Studies), Director of Language Programs and Deputy Director at Goethe-Institut Boston. The Goethe-Institut is the Federal Republic of Germany’s cultural institute, active worldwide, which promotes the study of German abroad and encourages international cultural exchange.

Tuesday, July 7, 2020

11:00 am to 11:30 am

Alum Zoom: 5 Career Questions with a Duke Ph.D.

Please join us for a summer series of short, focused career conversations with former Duke PhD students and postdocs. On July 7, our guest is Jeff Blackinton, PhD, Senior Scientist at Celldom.

Thursday, July 16, 2020

11:00 am to 11:30 am

Alum Zoom: 5 Career Questions with a Duke Ph.D.

Please join us for a summer series of short, focused career conversations with former Duke PhD students and postdocs. On July 16, our guest is Ana Sanchez, PhD '10 (Immunology), Sr. Director, R&D Program Management at Locus Biosciences, Inc.

Tuesday, July 21, 2020

11:00 am to 11:30 am

Alum Zoom: 5 Career Questions with a Duke Ph.D.

Please join us for a summer series of short, focused career conversations with former Duke PhD students and postdocs. On July 21, our guest is Stephanie Stefanski, PhD '19 (Environmental Policy), Associate with McKinsey & Company.

Thursday, July 30, 2020

11:00 am to 11:30 am

Alum Zoom: 5 Career Questions with a Duke Ph.D.

Please join us for a summer series of short, focused career conversations with former Duke PhD students and postdocs. On July 30, our guest is Lindsay Marjoram, PhD, former Duke postdoc and currently Assistant Study Director at Powered Research, LLC.

Core Competencies

Thursday, May 14, 2020

2:30 pm to 3:15 pm

What Can I Do with a Graduate Degree? Identifying My Transferable Skills (via Zoom)

Friday, May 15, 2020

10:00 am to 11:00 am

Parenting and Working at Home: A Facilitated Discussion for Grad Students and Postdocs (Via Zoom)

Thursday, May 21, 2020

2:30 pm to 3:15 pm

Using Self-Assessments and Career Research Tools to Learn about Careers of Interest (via Zoom)

Thursday, May 28, 2020

2:30 pm to 3:15 pm

Using the Alumni Network, LinkedIn, and Informational Interviews Effectively

Thursday, June 4, 2020

2:30 pm to 3:15 pm

Professional Development Progress Meetup

Thursday, June 18, 2020

12:00 pm to 1:00 pm

Becoming an Ally (Rescheduled from March 25)

Learn how to “step in” to create a culture of respect and civility. We’ll explore how we can intervene when we see behavior that feels disrespectful or harmful.

Monday, June 22, 2020

2:00 pm to 3:15 pm

Take Your Teaching Skills Anywhere: Identifying Transferable Skills from your Teaching Experiences

Friday, June 26, 2020

11:00 am to 12:00 pm

Addressing Power Dynamics

Thursday, July 2, 2020

11:00 am to 12:00 pm

Is It Okay? (Rescheduled from April 22)

Academic Job Search Series

Thursday, July 9, 2020

4:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Managing the Job Search as a Couple

Thursday, July 9, 2020

10:30 am to 12:00 pm

Academic Job Market Materials Bootcamp: CV

Thursday, July 16, 2020

10:30 am to 12:00 pm

Academic Job Market Materials Bootcamp: Cover Letters

Thursday, July 23, 2020

10:30 am to 12:00 pm

Academic Job Market Materials Bootcamp: Research, Teaching, and Diversity Statements

Ph.D. Career Paths

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

2:00 pm to 2:30 pm

Information Session: Career Community - Government, NGOs, and Nonprofit Focus

Are you exploring career options in government, nonprofit, and NGOs? Find the support of graduate student and postdoc colleagues with similar interests as well as structured resources through a Career Community. Learn how to maximize your use of sites like LinkedIn, discover the best career research tools Duke offers, strengthen your communication skills, and make contacts who can help you succeed as a candidate. Join this information session to learn about the new Career Community initiative, with a focus on jobs in government, NGOs, and nonprofit.

Thursday, August 6, 2020

1:00 pm to 1:30 pm

Alum Zoom: 5 Career Questions with a Duke Ph.D.

Please join us for a summer series of short, focused career conversations with former Duke PhD students and postdocs. On August 6, our guest is Elliott Hazen, PhD '08 (Marine Ecology), Research Ecologist at NOAA, the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration.

Fall 2020

Core Competencies

Friday, August 21, 2020

2:00 pm to 2:45 pm

What Can I Do with a Graduate Degree? Identifying My Transferable Skills

Friday, August 28, 2020

2:00 pm to 2:45 pm

Key Connections: A Professional Development Workshop for Master’s Students

This workshop will help you make the most of your master's experience at Duke by connecting you with the most important campus resources and strategies to build your career and professional development.

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

11:30 am to 1:00 pm

RCR Forum: Moving From Mentee to Mentor (GS716.02)

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.

Friday, September 4, 2020

2:00 pm to 2:45 pm

Self Assessments and Career Research Tools for Exploring Your Options

Thursday, September 10, 2020

2:00 pm to 3:15 pm

Presenting Yourself in a Virtual Environment: A Workshop - Cancelled

This workshop aims to help graduate students and postdocs build confidence in virtual environments, including class discussions, individual and group presentations, and technical and behavioral interviews. We’ll begin the session with an overview of best practices, followed by opportunities to put your learning into practice and get peer feedback in small-group breakouts. Get individualized tips on how to improve your online presence in this camera-on Zoom workshop. This workshop has been cancelled due to low enrollment.

Friday, September 11, 2020

2:00 pm to 2:45 pm

Making the Most of LinkedIn, the Duke Alumni Network, and Informational Interviews

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

2:00 pm to 3:30 pm

Expressing Yourself: Improving Communication by Understanding Preferences - Cancelled

Have you ever wondered why a colleague always wants an agenda to prepare for a meeting or needs to know the big picture in order to work on the small details of a project? Using a free online assessment to explore your Myers-Briggs personality preferences, we’ll focus on how you can leverage a better understanding of others’ preferences to improve your communication with your research colleagues. This workshop has been cancelled.

Thursday, September 24, 2020

10:00 am to 11:30 am

RCR Forum: Managing Your Research Career Using an Individual Development Plan (GS717.02)

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.

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

2:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Faculty Job Search Q and A Hosted by Duke Graduate School and Penn Career Services

Please join Melissa Bostrom, PhD, Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Professional Development at Duke University Graduate School, and Helen Pho, PhD, Associate Director at Career Services at the University of Pennsylvania, for a Q&A conversation on the faculty job search. We’ll discuss some of the most commonly asked questions related to applying for faculty jobs this year and share advice for navigating through the application process. Please come with questions for us related to any aspect of the academic job search!

Thursday, October 1, 2020

1:00 pm to 2:30 pm

RCR Forum: Cultivating a Culture of Mentoring: A Workshop for Graduate Students (GS716.03)

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.

Thursday, October 29, 2020

1:00 pm to 2:15 pm

Preparing Ph.D. Applications: A Workshop for Master’s Students

Master's students can pursue many options after graduation. If you’re considering applying to Ph.D. programs, join us for a workshop that will provide insight into the decision-making processes of doctoral admissions committees. Learn how to tailor your application to the institution and compete successfully in this workshop.

Friday, October 30, 2020

2:45 pm to 4:00 pm

Virtual Speed Networking with Duke Alumni

Whether you're interested in meeting professionals in industry, startup, government, or academia, you'll find leaders in these sectors among Duke alumni. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to meet Duke alumni in a virtual speed-networking context. Registration closes Monday, October 26 at 11:59 p.m.

Careers Beyond Academia

Monday, August 17, 2020

11:59 pm

Application Deadline: Career Community - Government, NGO, and Nonprofit Focus

Find the support of graduate student and postdoc colleagues with similar interests as well as structured resources through a Career Community with a focus on jobs in government, NGOs, and nonprofit. Applications are due Monday, August 17.

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

11:00 am to 11:30 am

Alum Zoom: 5 Career Questions with a Duke Ph.D.

Please join us for a series of short, focused career conversations with former Duke PhD students and postdocs. On August 18, our guest is Ryan Overcash, PhD, Principal Clinical Research Scientist and Head of the Medical Writing Fellowship Program (currently accepting applications!) at Impact Pharmaceutical Services.

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

11:00 am to 11:30 am

HR Zoom: 5 Career Questions with a Human Resources Professional

Want to get the inside scoop on hiring? Wondering what companies are looking for when evaluating PhDs? Join us for a series of short, focused career conversations with Human Resources professionals about the recruiting and hiring practices at their organizations. Our guest on August 25 is Stacy Schnieber, VP of People and Culture at Camargo Pharmaceutical Services.

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

4:00 pm to 4:45 pm

Preparing for Virtual Career Fairs and Employer Events

Career Fairs and employer events are great ways to explore opportunities, practice communication skills, and network with recruiters and hiring managers. This fall all Career Center employer events will be online, and preparation for this format will be helpful in order to have a successful experience. This workshop will focus on the strategies and tools you can incorporate in order to prepare for these events and stand out as a candidate.

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

1:00 pm to 1:30 pm

Alum Zoom: 5 Career Questions with a Duke Ph.D.

Please join us for a series of short, focused career conversations with former Duke PhD students and postdocs. On September 2, our guest is Erin Parish, Ph.D. '15 (Cultural Anthropology), Design Strategist for the City of Durham.

Wednesday, September 9, 2020

1:00 pm to 1:30 pm

HR Zoom: 5 Career Questions with a Human Resources Professional

Want to get the inside scoop on hiring? Wondering what companies are looking for when evaluating PhDs? Join us for a series of short, focused career conversations with Human Resources professionals about the recruiting and hiring practices at their organizations. Our guest on September 9 is Jessica Keough, Recruiting and Onboarding Manager with Research Square.

Wednesday, September 9, 2020

10:00 am to 10:45 am

Virtual and Phone Interview Tips

Internship and job interviews are an opportunity to tell your story while clearly conveying your skills and interest for a specific position and organization. Since interviews this fall will either be conducted online or via phone, this workshop will help you learn useful strategies to prepare strong responses to some of the most common behavioral-style interview questions.

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

12:30 pm to 1:00 pm

HR Zoom: 5 Career Questions with Syneos Health

Want to get the inside scoop on hiring? Wondering what companies are looking for when evaluating PhDs? Join us for a series of short, focused career conversations with Human Resources professionals about the recruiting and hiring practices at their organizations. Our guests on September 15 are Susan Akers-Smith, Sr. Vice President, Medical Management & Scientific Services and Christine Cantu, Global Leader, University and Early Career Programs from Syneos Health.

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

4:00 pm to 4:45 pm

Transforming Your CV to a Resume

Non-academic employers typically request that applicants provide a focused 1-2 page resume instead of a more comprehensive CV. What are the essential accomplishments to include in a resume? How do you identify the relevant qualifications that highlight the best of what you have to offer? In this workshop you’ll learn how to convert your CV into a focused, tailored resume that creates a compelling depiction of your significant skills and experiences.

Thursday, September 17, 2020

3:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Developing Your Personal Leadership Brand

In this workshop, you will learn how to determine your destination and create your map by defining your purpose, values and principles through development of a Leadership Brand. Besides providing you with a “life compass,” this will differentiate you from others and allow you to present yourself in a consistent manner to everyone with whom you interact and lead. Learn why you need a Leadership Brand and what it can do for you.

Monday, September 21, 2020

3:00 pm to 3:30 pm

Alum Zoom: 5 Career Questions with a Duke Ph.D.

On September 21, our guest is Nick Rizzo, PhD ’17 (Genetics & Genomics), Associate Manager of Strategic Feasibility at IQVIA Biotech. Nick will discuss his background, job searching in industry, roles in clinical research, and opportunities for PhDs. IQVIA Biotech provides integrated clinical and commercial solutions designed to help smaller biotech companies move forward in their effort to get treatments to patients.

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

11:00 am to 12:00 pm

What is Management Consulting? An Introduction with the Members of APD Consulting Club

Are you curious about how you can apply your research skills in a consulting career? Join us for this workshop offered in collaboration with the APD Consulting Club to learn about careers in consulting for graduate students and postdocs and to practice a mini-case interview.

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

1:00 pm to 1:30 pm

HR Zoom: 5 Career Questions with Human Resources Professionals

Want to get the inside scoop on hiring? Wondering what companies are looking for when evaluating PhDs? Join us for a series of short, focused career conversations with Human Resources professionals about the recruiting and hiring practices at their organizations. Our guests on September 23 are from RTI International: Bob Miles, Manager of Talent Acquisition and Programs, and Aaron Turner, Talent Acquisition Manager.

Monday, September 28, 2020

8:00 pm to 8:45 pm

Your Confident LinkedIn Profile: A Workshop for Duke Graduate Students and Postdocs

Advice about optimizing your LinkedIn profile is readily available online. Attend this session to make sense of the advice for your specific field and goals, take advantage of recent product changes, and get feedback from other attendees.

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

8:00 pm to 8:45 pm

Networking Strategies During a Global Pandemic

We all know that networking is essential for your career and professional development. But how exactly should you approach this process during a global pandemic? This workshop will highlight useful strategies and tools for networking right now during COVID-19.

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

11:00 am to 11:30 am

Alum Zoom: 5 Career Questions with a Duke Ph.D.

Please join us for a series of short, focused career conversations with former Duke PhD students and postdocs. On September 29, our guest is Rebecca Beerman, PhD, Scientific Integrity Associate, Duke Advancing Scientific Integrity, Services and Training (ASIST) Office. The ASIST office supports the Duke research community by promoting a culture of scientific integrity, improving data management practices, developing educational materials, organizing outreach activities, and providing individual consultations. In addition to discussing academic administration roles at Duke, Rebecca will talk about the position currently open at ASIST.

Tuesday, October 6, 2020

12:00 pm to 12:45 pm

Career Planning at Any Stage

Sometimes the hardest part of career planning is knowing where to start. Your personal and professional goals along with where you are in the process can determine what actions are most appropriate. Learn how to design an effective method for exploring, evaluating and deciding on the next steps in your career. Whether you are a first-year student or getting ready to graduate, this workshop can help you!

Wednesday, October 7, 2020

12:00 pm to 1:00 pm

What to Look for When Searching for a Postdoc Position: A Perspective from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

The presentation by Dr. Linda Harris, Director of Postdoctoral Talent Acquisition, will give general information regarding what to look for when searching for a postdoc position, in addition to providing information specific to St. Jude. Whether you are close to graduating with your PhD, or early in your degree, it is never too soon to think about your next career step.

Wednesday, October 7, 2020

11:00 am to 11:30 am

Alum Zoom: 5 Career Questions with a Duke Ph.D.

Please join us for a series of short, focused career conversations with former Duke PhD students and postdocs. On October 7, our guest is Nora McGhee, Ph.D. '06 (Pharmacology), Senior Program Officer for Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). PCORI is authorized by Congress to conduct research to provide information about the best-available evidence to help patients and their health care providers make better-informed health and healthcare decisions.

Thursday, October 8, 2020

4:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Exploring Nonclinical Careers in Healthcare and Life Sciences

This virtual career panel features Duke alumni working in nonclinical healthcare and life science roles. Join us to learn more about career paths, organizations, job roles, industry trends and essential skills needed.

Thursday, October 15, 2020

10:00 am to 11:00 am

Networking: A Tool for Exploring Careers and Building Professional Relationships

Networking is one of the most effective approaches to getting your career on the fast track. Yet, for a variety of reasons (eg, shyness, fear of “schmoozing”), we often fail to make networking an active part of our job search – even though it’s the way most people get their jobs! In this workshop, you will learn the keys to tactful networking along with easy-to-use strategies for face-to-face conversations, making email connections, and the appropriate use of social media.

Monday, October 19, 2020

12:00 pm to 12:30 pm

Alum Zoom: 5 Career Questions with a Duke Ph.D.

Please join us for a series of short, focused career conversations with former Duke PhD students and postdocs. On October 19, our guest is Micah Gilmer, PhD '09 (Cultural Anthropology), Senior Partner at Frontline Solutions.Frontline Solutions is a Black-owned consulting firm that serves the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors. They also build tools, models, and ventures that create far-reaching impact. Micah works with clients to design research processes, build strong organizational cultures, and evaluate impact.

Thursday, October 22, 2020

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

The 2-Hour Job Search Workshop with Steve Dalton

In this workshop, Fuqua career coach and The 2-Hour Job Search author Steve Dalton offers an exact process–rather than a series of tips–for effectively turning strangers into advocates, leading to more internal referrals and more job interviews. This session proposes an efficient alternative to hopelessly applying to online job postings by turning the difficult topic of networking into something finite and replicable.

Thursday, October 22, 2020

3:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Developing Business and Professional Skills for Graduate Students and Postdocs

Business skills are necessary in most work settings and in a variety of roles. In this panel discussion with alumni, learn what skills are commonly sought by employers and why these skills are relevant. You will also leave with strategies for further developing these skills. This is part one of a two-part series. This session will focus on business strategy, teamwork, and time management/delegation.

Friday, October 23, 2020

10:00 am to 10:45 am

Shift Happens: How to Build Flexible Career Plans in Uncertain Times

Now, more than ever, career planning should involve preparing for multiple possibilities. So how do you prepare for your dream job but also devise plans B and C to keep multiple options open? This session will help you begin the process of exploring career options, identifying transferable skills, and determining a plan for organizing and taking next steps.

Wednesday, November 4, 2020

6:00 pm to 7:30 pm

Career Panel: Women in Science Beyond Academia

Duke University Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) presents this virtual career panel and discussion, followed by breakout rooms with the panelists. Four incredible panelists discuss the opportunities for women in their fields, how to undergo the transition from academia to their positions, and any other questions you might have. Our panelists’ interests span multiple fields including data science, ecology, science communication, science writing, government relations, strategy consulting, and biotech research.

Wednesday, November 4, 2020

11:00 am to 11:30 am

Alum Zoom with Lauren Anderson, Ph.D., and Brandon Hall, Ph.D., Duke Surgery Office of Research Development

After graduation, do you want to stay in a university environment and stay involved in research--just not as a PI? Do you like analyzing and evaluating grant ideas/resources/experimental design? Are you often counted on to be an objective, critical thinker when reviewing documents to make sure there are no gaps in logic or presentation? Research Development may be a career for you to consider!

Thursday, November 5, 2020

12:00 pm to 12:45 pm

Negotiating Job Offers with Confidence

In this workshop you will learn how to evaluate and negotiate components of a job offer. You will also practice how to identify your value, conduct market research to benchmark salary/benefits and role-play scenarios using effective responses and strategies. This workshop is useful for those targeting any type of industry, including academia.

Thursday, November 12, 2020

3:45 pm to 5:00 pm

Broadening Academic Horizons: Working at the Intersection of Higher Education and Nonprofit

Join a conversation with Duke alumnae Carolyn Stefanco, PhD '87 (History), Senior Vice President of Lindauer Global, and Aude Dieudé, PhD '13 (Romance Studies), Swiss National Program Portfolio Manager, about their journeys into nonprofit and higher education management.

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

11:00 am to 12:00 pm

Careers in Medical/Scientific Writing with Whitsell Innovations

Still love science, but wondering what to do if the bench isn’t for you? Medical/scientific writing is one of the fastest-growing careers for PhDs in the sciences. Rebekah Fleming, PhD, Medical Writer and Consultant (and former Duke postdoc), will speak on “The Scope of Medical Communications.” The presentation will provide an overview of careers for PhDs who are interested in combining their scientific acumen and writing skills.

Spring 2021

Core Competencies

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

11:00 am to 12:00 pm

Collaborative Research and Mentorship in the Era of COVID: A Roundtable Discussion

Graduate students and postdocs are integral parts of multidisciplinary research teams at Duke. Like faculty, they work closely with and mentor undergraduate researchers. Undeterred by the pandemic, graduate students and postdocs found new ways to connect with students last summer. At this virtual roundtable, we will hear from graduate students and a postdoctoral researcher who took collaborative research online. Panelists will reflect on their experiences organizing remote symposia and serving on remote research teams such as Bass Connections, Data+, and Story+. Panelists will reflect on their experiences serving on remote research and symposium teams in summer 2020 and participate in an informal discussion on mentorship and teamwork during these uncertain times.

Thursday, January 21, 2021

1:30 pm to 2:15 pm

Finding Funding Workshop

Seeking a fellowship or grant to support your research? Need dissertation support? Take this opportunity to learn how to search for funding by using Duke's subscription to Pivot. In the workshop you'll create an account, update your profile, and plan a search strategy, leading to a short-list of likely funders. This workshop is offered by the Office of Research Support.

Monday, January 25, 2021

2:00 pm to 2:45 pm

What Can I Do with a Graduate Degree? Identifying My Transferable Skills

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

1:00 pm to 1:45 pm

Key Connections: A Professional Development Workshop for Master’s Students

Monday, February 1, 2021

2:00 pm to 2:45 pm

Research Tools for Exploring Your Career Options

Turn your research acumen to the task of exploring your career options. This workshop will introduce key tools that help you identify potential career alignment opportunities and learn about them in depth.

Tuesday, February 2, 2021

1:30 pm to 3:00 pm

How Do You Lead People Who are Not Like You? A Myers-Briggs Type Workshop

Have you ever wondered how your personality preferences shape the way you interact with other people? If you prefer quiet time alone to interacting with a group, might that preference shape your style as a leader—and the way it’s received by those with the opposite preference? What if you like to be highly organized with checklists but your colleagues prefer to fly by the seat of their pants? This interactive workshop will help you learn about your behaviors and preferences by considering the way that people with the opposite personality preferences might perceive you, impacting your effectiveness as a leader.

Friday, February 5, 2021

1:30 pm to 3:00 pm

RCR Forum: The Mentoring Relationship: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly (GS716.02)

Do you ever question your role in your lab? Do you hesitate to address issues with your mentor? Do you wonder how to be successful during this step in your career? In this interactive session, learn how to navigate the mentoring relationship, including how to promote open communication, work more productively with your mentor, and get the most out of your training experience.

Monday, February 8, 2021

2:00 pm to 2:45 pm

Making the Most of LinkedIn, the Duke Alumni Network, and Informational Interviews

Friday, February 19, 2021

1:30 pm to 3:00 pm

RCR Forum: Moving from Mentee to Mentor (GS 716.07)

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.

Friday, February 26, 2021

1:45 pm to 3:00 pm

Virtual Speed Networking with Duke Alumni

Thursday, March 18, 2021

2:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Teaching and Mentoring Diverse Learners

In our teaching and mentoring experiences, we may work with students from many different backgrounds and who embrace many different identities. How can we create and hold space for these many differences effectively? In this interactive workshop, Assistant Dean Francisco Ramos, Ph.D. will help us consider strategies to make us more effective teachers and mentors in supporting our students.

Thursday, April 8, 2021

11:00 am to 12:00 pm

Do You Know Your Rules? Improving Intercultural Interactions - Canceled

Knowing your own internal rules and expectations can have a positive impact on interactions with your fellow postdocs, students,family, and most importantly, your mentor. The rules that direct our behaviors are often cultural – learned in childhood. Like fish unaware of the water they live in, we can be just as oblivious to the cultural norms that drive our behavior. In this workshop, we’ll explore some of our own rules and what values we are maintaining by following the rules. We will also discuss how to communicate our rules and expectations to others in a positive way, and how to understand how others’ rules may affect their behavior. This event has been cancelled.

Careers Beyond Academia

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

9:00 am to 9:45 am

Preparing for Virtual Career Fairs and Employer Events

Career Fairs and employer events are great ways to explore opportunities, practice communication skills and network with recruiters and hiring managers. This spring all of our employer events will be online and preparation for this format will be helpful in order to have a successful experience. This workshop will focus on the strategies and tools you can incorporate in order to prepare for these events and stand out as a candidate.

Thursday, February 4, 2021

4:30 pm to 6:00 pm

Discovering New Paths: A Talk and Workshop with Author Christopher Caterine, Ph.D.

Talking about academic work with people outside your field is hard--and it often gets harder as you become more expert. For the vast majority of scholars, this problem is bigger than surviving an awkward holiday dinner. Most of us eventually hawk our academic wares to employers who have little understanding of what work in the lab or library is like. In this talk, Christopher Caterine, author of Leaving Academia: A Practical Guide, will discuss how you can use informational interviews to explore new careers, practice translating your skills, and prepare to convey your value to employers beyond the professoriate.

Thursday, February 4, 2021

10:00 am to 11:30 am

RCR Forum: Managing Your Research Career Using an Individual Development Plan (GS717.06)

Friday, February 5, 2021

11:00 am to 11:30 am

Alum Zoom: Five Career Questions with Anh Do, Ph.D.’19, Data Scientist, Nielsen

As part of a series of short, focused career conversations with former Duke PhD students and postdocs, we'll feature Anh Do, PhD '19 (Political Science), Data Scientist with Nielsen. Nielsen is a global measurement and data analytics company that provides the most complete and trusted view available of consumers and markets worldwide. Dr. Do participated in an Insight Data Science fellowship following completion of her Ph.D. and began working for Nielsen in 2019.

Tuesday, February 9, 2021

4:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Know Thyself: Using ImaginePhD

Spend an hour getting to know yourself better with ImaginePhD, a free online tool that helps you assess your skills and interests as well as examine your values. ImaginePhD can help you surface gaps between your skills—the things you’re good at doing—and your interests—the activities that bring you satisfaction. Armed with that self-knowledge, you can make a plan to grow in the skills that matter to you.

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

11:00 am to 11:30 am

Alum Zoom: Five Career Questions with Devin Bridgen, Ph.D.’15, Associate Director, Exploratory Research, SQZ Biotech

As part of a series of short, focused career conversations with former Duke PhD students and postdocs, we'll feature Devin Bridgen, PhD'15 (Biomedical Engineering), Associate Director, Exploratory Research at SQZ Biotechnologies. SQZ Biotech is working to create a new generation of cell therapies, with a current focus on modulating specific immune responses for oncology, infectious diseases, and autoimmune diseases. Dr. Bridgen began his career at SQZ as a Scientist after completing his Ph.D. and has been steadily promoted through roles in Exploratory Research and Strategy & Corporate Development.

Thursday, February 11, 2021

4:30 pm to 6:00 pm

Take Your Teaching Skills Anywhere: How to Talk about your Teaching Experiences to Employers Beyond Academia

In this interactive workshop you will uncover how your teaching experiences can help potential employers understand the crucial skills you’ve learned in graduate school—skills that are transferable to a variety of careers beyond faculty positions.

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

4:00 pm to 5:30 pm

Navigating Career Uncertainty

For students going on the job market this year, it can be a confusing time filled with uncertainty and many changes. Join the Duke University Career Center and a panel of Duke alumni to hear how others have navigated challenging times in their career journeys and tips for how to approach a job search this year.

Thursday, February 25, 2021

1:00 pm to 1:45 pm

Your Confident LinkedIn Profile: A Workshop for Duke Graduate Students and Postdocs

Tuesday, March 2, 2021

11:00 am to 11:30 am

Alum/HR Zoom with Maria Kousi, Ph.D., Senior Associate, Third Rock Ventures, and Ali Baker, Director, Talent and Portfolio Recruiting, Third Rock Ventures

As part of a series of short, focused career conversations, we'll feature Maria Kousi, Ph.D., Senior Associate, Third Rock Ventures, and Ali Baker, Director, Talent & Portfolio Recruiting, Third Rock Ventures. Third Rock Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Boston that invests in biotechnology startups. Third Rock works with scientific founders and expert advisors to develop a vision and strategy for a company.

Tuesday, March 2, 2021

11:00 am to 11:30 am

Alum/HR Zoom with Maria Kousi, Ph.D., Senior Associate, Third Rock Ventures, and Ali Baker, Director, Talent and Portfolio Recruiting, Third Rock Ventures

Thursday, March 4, 2021

10:00 am to 11:00 am

Leaving the Ivory Tower: Managing the Emotional Side of Career Change

The overall loss of identity that we feel when we decide to leave academia is comparable to healing after the loss of a loved one or after the breakup of a long-term, and possibly dysfunctional, relationship. Letting go can be difficult, but we have to let go and give ourselves permission to grieve before reaching a point where we are ready to commit to making a career change. In this informative session, participants will learn about the emotional obstacles that can keep us stuck in an academic career path that is no longer fulfilling. Participants will also learn how former graduate students and postdocs found the courage to follow a more rewarding career path.

Thursday, March 11, 2021

12:00 pm to 1:00 pm

Effectively Communicating Your Leadership Skills to Employers

Employers from all industries say that leadership skills are among the top essential skills they look for in candidates. Whether you hold a formal leadership position, are a TA, help manage your lab or have organized a seminar, you already have leadership skills. In this session you will learn how to communicate these experiences effectively on your job application documents and during interviews in order to help you stand out.

Thursday, March 25, 2021

1:00 pm to 2:30 pm

Developing the Language of Transferable Skills for Humanities

How do you effectively convey the valuable skills and knowledge learned through a humanities graduate degree to employers outside academia? This workshop will help you identify language to describe your strengths, learn how to unpack job descriptions to discern what managers are really looking for, and practice articulating the power of a humanities graduate degree. Come hear from alumni who have made the transition to the workforce as well as representatives from organizations that hire humanities graduate alumni.

Tuesday, April 6, 2021

11:00 am to 11:30 am

Alum Zoom: Five Career Questions with Zehra Parlak, Ph.D., Founder and Acting CEO at QATCH Technologies

As part of a series of short, focused career conversations with former Duke PhD students and postdocs, we'll feature Zehra Parlak, PhD, Founder and Acting CEO of QATCH Technologies.

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

1:00 pm to 1:30 pm

Alum Zoom: Five Career Questions with Jillian Powers, Ph.D.’11, Responsible AI Lead, Idea Couture

As part of a series of short, focused career conversations with former Duke PhD students and postdocs, we'll feature Jillian Powers, PhD'11 (Sociology), Responsible AI Lead at Idea Couture.

Monday, April 19, 2021

12:00 pm to 12:30 pm

Alum Zoom: Five Career Questions with Rachel (Xiaoyu) Tian, Ph.D.’16, Machine Learning Engineer, Twitter

As part of a series of short, focused career conversations with former Duke PhD students and postdocs, we'll feature Rachel (Xiaoyu) Tian, PhD'16 (Biomedical Engineering), Machine Learning Engineer at Twitter. Rachel's prior experience also includes Starbucks and GE Healthcare. She will discuss her background, career path, current job and experience searching for jobs in the U.S. as an international candidate.

Ph.D. Career Paths

Wednesday, February 3, 2021

11:00 am to 11:30 am

Alum Zoom with Shweta Krishnan, Ph.D.’14, Assistant Director of Life Sciences, Duke Office of Licensing and Ventures

On February 3, our guest is Shweta Krishnan, PhD'14 (Pharmacology and Cancer Biology). Shweta joined Duke’s Office of Licensing and Ventures in 2016. As Assistant Director of Life Sciences, Shweta works with Duke innovators to evaluate the market opportunity, competitive and patent landscape of Duke technologies in the therapeutics, diagnostics and devices space, negotiates licensing deals with industry partners, and catalyzes the formation of Duke start-ups.

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

11:00 am to 11:30 pm

Alum Zoom: Five Career Questions with Dan Ruccia, Ph.D.’13, Marketing Designer for Duke University Press

As part of a series of short, focused career conversations with former Duke PhD students and postdocs, we'll feature Dan Ruccia, Ph.D.'13 (Music), Marketing Designer at Duke University Press.

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

11:00 am to 11:30 am

Alum Zoom with Kelly Lindblom, Ph.D.’15, RAC, Senior Regulatory Affairs Scientist

On February 23, our guest is Kelly Lindblom, PhD'15 (Pharmacology), RAC. Kelly is a Senior Regulatory Affairs Scientist in the Office of Regulatory Affairs and Quality (ORAQ) within the Duke University School of Medicine. In this role, Dr. Lindblom is responsible for providing support and guidance to investigators and regulatory study coordinators regarding the regulatory requirements relevant to their research study activities. She performs a variety of services including regulatory education, regulatory consultation, and support for regulatory submissions. Dr. Lindblom is also involved in the implementation of educational initiatives within ORAQ.

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

11:30 am to 12:00 pm

Alum Zoom: Five Career Questions with Sarah Crittenden Fuller, Ph.D.’13, Research Associate Professor, UNC Education Policy Initiative

As part of a series of short, focused career conversations with former Duke PhD students and postdocs, we'll feature Sarah Crittenden Fuller, Ph.D.'13 (Public Policy), Research Associate Professor at UNC's Education Policy Initiative.