Workshop
Path to Professorship Workshop
Dean Mary C. Boyce invites graduate students and postdocs interested in pursuing careers in academia to participate in our annual Path to Professorship seminar -- a two-day series of faculty-led panels and discussions focused on preparing students for their upcoming search for faculty positions. This year’s panels can be found below:
Friday October 23rd, 2020
Why Pursue a Career as a Professor
Moderator: Prof. Gordana Vunjak-Novacovic
Panelists: Prof. Hod Lipson and Prof. Harish Krishnaswamy
This panel will discuss the benefits of becoming a professor as well as preconceived notions versus the realities of working in academia.
Preparing for the Academic Job Search Process in an Uncertain Market
Moderator: Prof. Matei Ciocarlie
Panelists: Prof. Kyle Mandli and Prof. Shipra Agrawal
This panel will focus on what doctoral students should be doing now to prepare for the academic job search, including considering alternative short term opportunities before applications in the next few years as the market settles and expands. Strategies for identifying and selecting postdoctoral positions, including industry, service, policy, advocacy and more will be discussed. The panel will also discuss different types of institutions and how to determine which institution is the right fit.
Perspectives on Applying and Interviewing
Moderator: Prof. Christopher Chen
Panelists: Prof. Daniel Esposito, Prof. Elham Azizi, and Prof. Daniel Bauer
This panel will share their experiences with the faculty search application and interview process. Basic ingredients of the application including CV, research statement, teaching statement, your seminar talk, your “chalk talk” and reference letters.
Additional topics covered include: Working with one’s mentor in the application process; who reads your application before submission; how to respond if asked who you might want to meet when you are on campus for your interview; knowing who your interview audience is; what you need to do to project your telescopic and short-term vision when you enter your interview, and more!
The Tenure Process
Moderator: Prof. Helen Lu
Panelists: Prof. Irving Herman and Prof. Alan West
This panel of senior faculty will discuss the tenure process and how to prepare for it. Included will also be the different types of universities and the different types of faculty positions.
Work Life Balance in Academia
Moderator: Prof. Barclay Morrison
Panelists: Prof. Faye McNeill and Prof. Ioannis Kymissis
Panelists will discuss the challenges of being a professor and strategies to maintain work life balance.
Friday October 30th, 2020
Perspectives on the Academic Job Search for Faculty from Diverse Backgrounds
Moderators: Prof. Christine Hendon and Prof. Brian Smith
Panelists: Prof. Aaron Kyle, Prof. Elizabeth Hillman, Prof. Augustin Chaintreau, and Assistant Provost for Faculty Advancement Adina Berrios Brooks
We are inviting students and postdocs from underrepresented backgrounds to join in this special program that will focus on diversity in the academic workplace and provide insight and recommendations for candidates from diverse backgrounds who are preparing for the academic job search process.
This workshop will include an hour of discussion followed by breakout rooms where students will have the opportunity to answer mock interview questions with faculty.
Topics to be covered include:
- How to address questions related to diversity, equity and inclusion during the interview process?
- What can you expect as a member of an underrepresented population once you become faculty?
- How can an applicant gauge a department’s culture when interviewing?
- How to find mentorship and build a network during the academic job search process?