Academic Job Search Series
Graduate students and postdocs interested in exploring career options in academia can participate in the Academic Job Search Series throughout the 2015-16 academic year. The series addresses tenure-track faculty positions during the fall semester and broad career options in academia during the spring semester. You can find topics relevant to all students as well as specialized panels for two broad disciplinary areas: the humanities and social sciences, and sciences and engineering. This series is offered every two years and is co-sponsored with the Duke Career Center and the Office of Postdoctoral Services.
Science and Engineering Events
Non-Tenure-Track Faculty Careers in Academia for Science and Engineering PhDs
Tuesday February 9, 9:30-10:30 am
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.
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Watch on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
The Postdoc Search for STEM Graduate Students
Thursday February 11, 1-2:30 pm
In this workshop, we will discuss how to conduct a postdoc search, how to find positions, what to look for in a postdoc experience, and how to apply.
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Non-Faculty Careers in Academia for Science and Engineering PhDs
Thurs Mar 10, 9:30-10:30 am
This panel will share perspectives for PhDs in the sciences and engineering for academic career options in departmental administration, proposal development, science education, student affairs, and career services, among others.
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Watch on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
“Speaking about Science” with Scott Morgan
Weds Apr 6, 9:30-11 am
This interactive seminar addresses the main issues of good scientific presentations. The core of the workshop is a 7-step preparation process that will help you deliver a clear and engaging talk for a variety of audiences.
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Choosing a Postdoc Position: What to Know Before You Go
Thurs Apr 28, 9-10:30 am
Do you have a postdoctoral position lined up for after you graduate? Or are you wondering if doing a postdoc would be worthwhile for your career? In this panel, current postdocs will share their experiences on applying for postdocs, what to look for in a mentor, and preparing for going on the job market afterwards.
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Humanities and Social Sciences Events
The Dialectics of Life History Research: Reflections from Pauli Murray’s Biographer
Weds Feb 24, 11-1 pm
Join us for a workshop, book-signing, and reception featuring scholar and author Patricia Bell-Scott. She will reflect about the challenges and rewards of doing life history research, drawing on the lessons learned in her 30-year career as a scholar and from Pauli Murray’s life.
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Faculty Careers Beyond the Tenure-Track in the Social Sciences and Humanities
Mon Feb 29, 2:30-4 pm
Are you looking for a way to maintain your involvement in research, teaching, or service in an academic institution, but not sure you want the same kind of career as tenured or tenure-track faculty in your discipline? Our panel will discuss the opportunities and challenges of faculty positions beyond the tenure-track in the social sciences and humanities.
More information
Watch on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
Managing Your Faculty Career Once You Have a Job with Karen Kelsky (for Humanities and Social Sciences Graduate Students and Postdocs)
Weds Mar 2, 3-4:30 pm
One of the most elusive achievements of the tenure-track period is work-life balance. With a clear sense of the obligations and challenges of the tenure-track period, you can improve your chances of achieving this balance for a career that is satisfying and life-sustaining.
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How to Network Your Way to an Academic Position
Weds Mar 30, 2:30-3:30 pm
In today’s increasingly competitive academic job market you must leverage your networking skills in the job search. Being bright and interested is no longer enough to help you achieve in your academic career – relationships and networks are key to securing the position that is right for you. What rules apply for academic networking and what strategies have proven effective?
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Non-Faculty Academic Jobs in the Humanities and Social Sciences
Thurs Apr 7, 1-2:30 pm
Are you a humanities or social sciences PhD interested in learning more about non-faculty career opportunities in academia? Join our panel discussion to find out what these careers are like, how to locate job opportunities, and how to apply for these types of jobs.
More information
Watch on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
Events for All Graduate Students and Postdocs
Who’s Getting Tenure-Track Jobs? Research from Chronicle Vitae‘s JobTracker
Thurs Feb 4, 12-1:30 pm
JobTracker, a new tool created by the Chronicle of Higher Education, is a study of the academic job market for 11 disciplines across the humanities, social sciences, and physical sciences. In this talk, Dr. Maren Wood, lead researcher for this project, will present findings from the first year of data collection, the 2013-14 job cycle.
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Going Public: A Workshop and Discussion with Professor Lee Badgett
Fri Feb 5, 12-2 pm
Join us for a workshop and discussion with Professor M. V. Lee Badgett based on her new book, The Public Professor: How to Use Your Research to Change the World (NYU Press).
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The Teaching Statement and Online Teaching Portfolio: Developing a Professional Online Presence
Mon Apr 4, 12-1:30 pm
In this hands-on session, led by Dr. Hugh Crumley, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, you will explore the elements of a teaching statement and build the framework for an online portfolio that can include embedded video, links to your teaching materials and consistent navigation that will help search committees review your position applications.
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Core Competencies
Surviving Your Dissertation: Writing Groups and Other Survival Tools
Monday, January 25
Learn about useful strategies for structuring your writing life, including thinking about the role that writing groups can play in completing a major project in a timely, and even enjoyable, manner.
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Advanced Time Management For Graduate Students
Thursday, January 28
Learn about strategies to understand your strengths in managing short and long term goals. You will also be introduced to ways of building new habits and breaking with old ones to ensure your success.
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An Introduction to Your Professional Development at Duke: A Workshop for Master’s Students
Tuesday, February 23
Join us for this event with Melissa Bostrom, assistant dean for graduate student professional development, and learn about career and professional development resources, programs, and opportunities available at Duke and beyond.
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Detours and Straight Lines: Navigating Evolving Career Goals
Thursday, March 3
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.
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Cultivating a Culture of Mentoring
Tuesday, April 5
The goal of the session is to empower members of the graduate student community to become partners in the mentoring process, making it a deeply rooted part of the Duke experience.
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"Speaking about Science" with Scott morgan
Wednesday, April 6
This interactive seminar addresses the main issues of good scientific presentations, which will help you deliver a clear and engaging talk for a variety of audiences.
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"Interviewing Skills" WITH SCOTT MORGAN
Thursday, April 7
Learn how to give specific, compelling answers to common job interview questions.
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“Leaving the Ivory Tower: Managing the Emotional Side of Career Change” with Dara Wilson-Grant
Tuesday, April 12
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 postdocs and graduate students found the courage to follow a more rewarding career path.
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Ph.D. Career Paths
An Engineering Ph.d.'s Career Path in Venture Capital
Tuesday, January 19
Join Duke Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. Mudit K. Jain for an informal conversation and networking lunch to learn about his career in venture capital.
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CAREERS IN business FOR HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES PH.D.S (ONLINE)
Monday, January 25 to Friday, January 29
Join a free online discussion to learn how social sciences and humanities Ph.D.s transitioned to business careers.
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Careers in Software engineering for STEM ph.d.s (online)
Monday, February 22 to Friday, February 26
Join a free online discussion to learn how social sciences and humanities Ph.D.s transitioned to careers in software engineering.
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DETOURS AND STRAIGHT LINES: NAVIGATING EVOLVING CAREER GOALS
Thursday, March 3
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.
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CAREERS IN Technical Writing for humanities and Social sciences PH.D.S (ONLINE)
Monday, March 14 to Friday, March 18
Join a free online discussion to learn how social sciences and humanities PhDs transitioned to careers in technical writing.
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ALUMNI Brunch: HUmanities and Social Sciences
Tuesday, April 5
Meet distinguished and local alumni over lunch in an informal setting as part of Graduate Student Appreciation Week.
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ALUMNI LUNCH: PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING
Wednesday, April 6
Meet distinguished and local alumni over lunch in an informal setting as part of Graduate Student Appreciation Week.
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ALUMNI LUNCH: Biological Sciences
Thursday, April 7
Meet distinguished and local alumni over lunch in an informal setting as part of Graduate Student Appreciation Week.
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“WHAT DO I WANT TO BE WITH MY PH.D.?” INSIGHTS FROM CAREER DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH
Friday, April 22
Dr. Kenny Gibbs will present key findings from focus groups with recent Ph.D. graduates in the biomedical sciences, in order to demystify the complex process of choosing a career after graduating with a Ph.D.
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