For Future Faculty Series
Preparing for success on the job market and beyond
- Understanding institutional fit
- Preparing your job application materials
- Conducting your job search
- Developing your research program
- Advancing your teaching skills
Recorded Training Events
Beyond the Professoriate - Faculty Careers
Recorded webinar series and workbook.
- Humanities & Social Sciences (select UW–Madison)
- STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) (select UW–Madison)
How to Determine Next Steps in Your Academic Career - Video Recording
Workshop that will help you determine how ready you are for the academic job market and what your next steps are. What is the timeline for the academic job market in my discipline? Am I ready to go on the academic job market? What do I need to prepare to go on the academic job market? How many opportunities can I expect to find on the academic job market this year? View the recording of the event here (select UW–Madison).
On-Campus Academic Job Interviews - Video Recording
Learn how best to approach an on-campus interview and how to effectively pitch yourself as the candidate for the role. Learn: what you need to prepare; how to request information from an institution to prepare properly; what kinds of questions the hiring committee will ask; how to adapt to unexpected situations that might arise in an interview. View the video recording of the webinar here (select UW–Madison).
Fall 2023 Training Events
Academic Job Market Boot Camp
Monday 8/21 to Friday 8/25. 11:00am each day. Online event.
Get ready for the academic job market by attending the Academic Job Market Boot Camp 2023. Designed to help you stand out as a candidate, these workshops will demystify the various documents that make up an application package. You will learn strategies you need to clearly and confidently communicate who you are as an educator and scholar to hiring committees. These virtual workshops are designed for postdocs and graduate students from all disciplines who want to strengthen their application package. Can’t make it live, not to worry. All workshops will be available as a replay.
- Monday 8/21: Cover Letter
- Tuesday 8/22: Research Statement
- Wednesday 8/23: Teaching Statement
- Thursday 8/24: Teaching Portfolio
- Friday 8/25: Diversity Statement
Register here (select UW–Madison).
Offered by Beyond the Professoriate.
What I Wished I Would Have Known After Becoming a Full Professor
Tuesday 8/22 1:00pm-2:00pm. Online event.
Becoming a full professor represents a remarkable achievement. It also can represent the beginning of a new chapter of a faculty member’s life as they (re)consider their professional and personal goals, explore diverse career paths, and consider new opportunities. In this session, a panel of full professors from different disciplines and institutions will share their experiences, insight, and advice to support the success of soon-to-be and new full professors. Webinar from the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity. Join for free here, then register for the webinar here.
Offered by the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity.
Writing an Effective Teaching Philosophy Statement
Section 1: Mondays 9/11 and 9/25 1:00pm-2:30pm. Online event.
Section 2: Wednesdays 9/13 and 9/27 1:00pm-2:30pm. Online event.
Draft a peer-reviewed statement that reflects your teaching beliefs and experiences in this interactive, two-part online workshop. Participants will work to draft and edit a teaching statement, which is often required for US academic job applications. We will discuss elements of teaching statements, evidence of effective teaching tailored for different academic jobs, and strategies to get started or polish existing teaching statements. Participants from all disciplines will become better equipped and prepared to communicate their teaching practice through this workshop’s collaborative, peer-review process. Register here for section 1, and here for section 2.
Offered by the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning.
Faculty and Research Careers in the National Institutes of Health Intramural Research Program
Thursday 9/14 12:00pm-1:00pm. Online event.
Overview of tenure-track principal investigators and the various recruitment mechanisms such as Stadtman Fellows, Independent Research Scholar, Lasker Clinical Scholars, and Distinguished Scholars Program. Register here.
Offered by the National Institutes of Health Office of Intramural Training and Education.
On the Academic Job Market: Composing the All-Important Academic Cover Letter
Wednesday 9/20 4:00pm-5:30pm. Online event.
In this workshop, you will learn how you can make the clearest, most direct case for how you are the best qualified candidate for an academic position. We will introduce you to effective structures and strategies in cover letter writing. Participants will have a chance to look at and discuss sample letters, and do some drafting/revising of their own. Register here.
Offered by the Writing Center
On the Academic Job Market: Writing Statements of Current and Future Research
Tuesday 9/26 4:00pm-5:30pm. Online event.
In this workshop, you will learn what’s expected in statements of current and future research for academic job applications. We’ll critically analyze some sample statements and consider what makes a statement effective. Register here.
Offered by the Writing Center
Academic Job Search, Applying for Faculty Positions (Overview, Job Packages)
Wednesday 9/27 2:30pm-3:30pm. Online event.
As you begin your search for a faculty job, it is important to be aware of all the aspects of this complex process. This workshop provides an overview of what you need to do to ensure a productive academic job search. Topics covered in this session include: finding job opportunities, assessing your goals, and preparing your application packet. Register here.
Offered by the National Institutes of Health Office of Intramural Training and Education.
On the Academic Job Market: Writing Statements of Teaching Philosophy
Thursday 9/28 4:00pm-5:30pm. Online event.
In this workshop, you will learn about what’s expected in statements of teaching philosophies for academic job applications. We will read and discuss sample statements of teaching philosophy. We’ll talk about the purpose of the statement (“What should I communicate through this document?”), its formal conventions (“How should I organize it? What examples should I use?”), and how to craft a statement that genuinely captures your approach to teaching and learning. Register here.
Offered by the Writing Center
Writing an Effective Academic CV
Wednesday 10/11 4:00pm-5:30pm. Online event.
In this workshop, you will learn about the expectations for CVs for academic job market applications. We’ll discuss how audience, purpose, and discipline-specific conventions impact a CV’s effectiveness. In the process, we’ll look at a few samples and share strategies for drafting and strengthening your own CV. Register here.
Offered by the Writing Center
Writing Diversity Statements
Tuesday 10/17 3:00pm-4:30pm. Online event.
In this workshop, you will learn about what’s expected in diversity statements for academic job applications. We will talk about how to write a diversity statement that demonstrates to search committees how your teaching, research, and service will enhance diversity and equity efforts on their campus. We’ll discuss what a diversity statement is, study samples from across disciplines to identify effective strategies, and begin crafting rough drafts. Register here.
Offered by the Writing Center
Obtaining a Faculty Position
Tuesday 10/24 2:00pm. Online event.
Progressing from postdoctoral training to a faculty appointment is a daunting transition, and may be especially challenging to those who have followed a less-than-conventional path or whose peers have lost interest in academic careers. How should you prepare for and progress through the application process, which takes approximately 1 year, and what should you expect at each step? Good preparation and careful planning are important, as is managing expectations to avoid becoming discouraged early in the process. We will cover how to go about choosing, applying, interviewing, negotiating, transitioning, and getting started in your faculty position. Join the NPA as an affiliate for free here, then register for the webinar here.
Offered by the National Postdoctoral Association.
Introduction to Teaching at a Community College
Thursday 10/26 12:00pm-1:30pm. Online event.
Have you ever considered a teaching career at a community college? This career can have a high impact on students beginning their higher education journey and often includes a strong community focused work environment. The panel of faculty will discuss their experiences working in community colleges. The discussion will include equity and diversity at community colleges, panelists career trajectories, what they appreciate most about working at community colleges, and common misconceptions about the career. Bring your questions and prepare to explore this wonderful career path. Register here.
Offered by the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning
Getting Hired at a Community College: Tips and Strategies from Faculty on Hiring Panel
Thursday 11/9 12:00pm-1:30pm. Online event.
Learn hiring tips from faculty that serve on or work closely with hiring committees at community colleges. How might the interview differ from that of a 4-year teaching or research university? What factors should you consider in preparing your application materials and teaching demonstration? What are some common do’s and don’ts of seeking a job at a community college? Join us to learn the answer to these questions and more. Register here.
Offered by the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning
Knowing Your Worth: How to Approach Negotiations in Academia
Thursday 11/9 1:00pm-2:30pm. Online event.
Are you stressed? Do you feel devastated when your articles and/or grant proposals get rejected? Is the pressure of publishing/funding your work making you sick? If any of this sounds familiar and you have difficulty managing the negative energy and rejection in your environment, please join us to learn:
The impact that stress and negativity can have if they are not managed, identify the most common areas of stress in academic life, create concrete strategies for managing the physical, emotional, and attitudinal effects of stress. Webinar from the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity. Join for free here, then register for the webinar here.
Offered by the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity.
Academic (Faculty) Job Interviews
Monday 11/13 1:30pm-2:30pm. Online event.
After you submit your faculty job package, the job interview is the next major hurdle to securing a position. In this workshop, learn the "do's and don'ts" of academic job interviewing and hear what interview committees like to see. In addition, the workshop will address job talks, chalk talks and teaching talks - important elements of many academic job interviews. Register here.
Offered by the National Institutes of Health Office of Intramural Training and Education.
First-Round Academic Job Market Interviews
Wednesday 11/15 11:00am. Online event.
Congratulations! You’ve landed a first-round interview with a hiring committee. But in a brief interview, how do you convince them that you’re the candidate they need? This interactive workshop will show you the ins and outs of academic job interviews, whether they are conducted virtually or in-person. This virtual workshop is designed for postdocs and graduate students from all academic disciplines who are wondering: What questions am I likely to be asked in a first-round academic interview? What are the differences between an in-person interview and one conducted over Zoom? How can I best prep my interview answers without coming off over-rehearsed? What should I wear to my interview? Register here (select UW–Madison).
Offered by Beyond the Professoriate.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusive Teaching in the Community College Setting
Thursday 12/7 12:00pm-1:30pm. Online event.
Community colleges are truly diverse settings, attracting individuals from all different walks of life with a common interest in advancing their education. If you are interested in exploring a career at a community college, then understanding the diversity of their student populations is crucial. This panel consisting of faculty and administrators from various community colleges will share insights on student diversity. We will also explore the types of inclusive teaching strategies that best support community college students and help to create more equitable classrooms. Register here.
Offered by the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning
Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 Recruitment Events
Virginia Tech Future Faculty Diversity Program
Sunday 10/1 to Wednesday 10/4. Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA.
Program designed to assist Virginia Tech departments in identifying and recruiting talent within strategic populations that are historically underrepresented. Includes professional development workshops as well as opportunities to meet college deans, faculty, and students. Participants also take part in tours of research facilities and meet with current faculty to gain a greater awareness of research and teaching opportunities, discuss their career prospects and academic work, and job talk. Apply here by 8/15.
Offered by the Office for Inclusion and Diversity, Virginia Tech
Building Future Faculty Program
Wednesday 3/20 to Friday 3/22. North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.
All-expenses paid workshop for postdocs and doctoral students who are interested in pursuing academic careers and who are committed to promoting diversity in higher education. Participants attend sessions covering life as a faculty member at a research-extensive university, expectations of new faculty and resources available to faculty for help with research and teaching. Participants attend presentations on research, teaching and faculty development and have discussion sessions with current faculty. Each participant is matched with an academic department whose interests closely match their own. Apply here by 9/15.
Offered by the Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity, North Carolina State University.
Other Helpful Resources
Faculty Corner – Recorded Interviews/Talks about Becoming a Professor
Do you ever wonder what the joys and challenges are of being a professor? How best to prepare for a tenure track job? How to achieve work-life balance? What the best practices are in running a lab? Learn the answers to these types of questions in these recorded events with University of Michigan faculty. Access the recordings here.
Future PI Slack Group
The Future PI Slack group is an informal peer mentoring group for biomedical postdocs who are interested in staying in academia. They also have channels for those exploring non-academic options. They use the Slack messaging service to communicate about grant applications, conferences, the faculty job search, and other topics of common interest. The community has approximately 500 active members from around the world as of October 2020. Join here.
The Academic Job Search Handbook
The Academic Job Search Handbook is the comprehensive guide to finding a faculty position in any discipline. Beginning with an overview of academic careers and institutional structures, it moves step by step through the application process, from establishing relationships with advisors, positioning oneself in the market, learning about job openings, preparing CVs, cover letters, and other application materials, to negotiating offers. Of great value are the sixty new sample documents from a diverse spectrum of successful applicants. The handbook includes a search timetable, appendices of career resources, and a full sample application package. This fifth edition features new or updated sections on issues of current interest, such as job search concerns for pregnant or international candidates, the use of social media strategies to address CV gaps, and difficulties faced by dual-career couples. The chapter on alternatives to faculty jobs has been expanded and presents sample résumés of PhDs who found non faculty positions. E-book available through the UW–Madison library here.
Questions?
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