Career Prep Workshop 2008

July 31-August 3, 2008
National Weather Center, University of Oklahoma

The deadline for applications was March 14, 2008.

Note: the 2008 workshop is over. Find out more about the "Preparing for an Academic Career in the Geosciences" workshops, or read on for more information about the 2008 workshop.

This workshop is designed specifically for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows who are interested in pursuing academic careers. Faculty members and administrators will provide guidance and information that will help participants to be stronger candidates for academic positions and to succeed in academic jobs. Session topics focus on becoming both a successful teacher and researcher. Each participant will take home ideas to improve teaching right now and will develop a personal action plan.

Note: We have also developed a set of online resources for folks who are preparing for an academic career in the geosciences. These webpages focus on the job search process, preparing to teach, and moving your research forward. You do not have to attend the workshop to view these pages.

Follow the links below for information about each of the workshop conveners and leaders. In most cases, the linked pages have the leaders' answers to questions about their career path, job responsibilities (including challenges), balancing personal and professional responsibilities, and more.

Workshop Conveners:

Heather Macdonald, ( This site may be offline. ) College of William and Mary
Robyn Wright Dunbar, Stanford University

Workshop Leaders:

Eliot Atekwana, Department of Geology, Oklahoma State University (read about Eliot and Estella Atekwana's dual career job search)
Kurt Friehauf, Department of Physical Sciences, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Jennifer Furlong, Career Services, University of Pennsylvania
Ellen Martin, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Florida
Kirsten Menking, Department of Earth Science and Geography, Vassar College
Wayne Powell, Department of Geology, Brooklyn College
John Snow, Dean of the College of Atmospheric and Geographical Sciences, University of Oklahoma
David Steer, Department of Geology and Environmental Science, University of Akron
Al Trujillo, Department of Earth, Space & Aviation Sciences, Palomar College

Cutting Edge Staff:

Karin Kirk, Science Education Resource Center, Carleton College
Carol Ormand Science Education Resource Center, Carleton College

This workshop is part of the On the Cutting Edge professional development program for current and future geoscience faculty, supported by the National Association of Geoscience Teachers with funding provided by a grant from the National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education .