Workshop Overview
This workshop will bring graduate students and post-doctoral fellows interested in an academic career together with experienced geoscience faculty members from a range of institutional settings. The workshop will provide a stimulating and resource-rich environment in which to explore important facets of an academic career. Three main goals of the workshop are for participants to become more effective teachers, stronger candidates for academic jobs, and better prepared future faculty members who will be able to make a quick and effective start in teaching and research.
During the workshop, each participant will:
- Learn about academic careers in different educational settings (e.g., two-year colleges, primarily undergraduate institutions, universities).
- Explore aspects of effective and innovative teaching.
- Consider how to move their research forward in different educational settings.
- Learn about documenting strengths and accomplishments in teaching and research, and develop or revise supporting materials.
- Learn more about the job search process.
- Develop or revise a plan for the next career stage.
- Meet informally with other participants and with workshop leaders from a range of educational settings.
Activities
The workshop program will include faculty panels on academic careers and the academic job search, short presentations on various topics, structured discussions, small-group collaboration, and informal interaction and conversation. Participants will leave with a broad understanding of academic options, specific strategies for developing as teachers and scholars and for meeting competing demands, and an expanded network of colleagues. Participants will do some preparation prior to the workshop to become familiar with key issues and concepts and will follow through with post-workshop plans.
Dates
The workshop will begin on Monday, June 30, 2014, and will conclude on Thursday, July 3, 2014. Participants must attend all sessions.
Application
Applications are due March 3, 2014. An important part of each application is a statement of endorsement from a faculty member. Please arrange to have this endorsement submitted using the online form no later than March 3, 2014. When you make those arrangements, please give the email address you use on the workshop application form to the faculty member writing your endorsement letter. We use that email address to track all of your application materials, so if they submit a letter for you with a different email address, we won't know to connect it to your application.
Selection Criteria and Cost
The workshop size is limited. Preference will be given to those entering or soon to enter the academic job market.
Funding from the National Science Foundation through a grant from the Division of Undergraduate Education will cover some of the workshop costs. To be supported by these funds, a participant must be either a US citizen, a permanent resident, or in the employ of a US institution. If you don't meet these requirements and are interested in participating in this workshop at your own expense, please contact the workshop conveners.
The remainder of the costs are covered by a workshop registration fee, which is:
- $245 (or $200 for NAGT members; learn more about becoming a member of NAGT) or
- $145 (or $100 for NAGT members) for participants who do not need housing.
Participants or their home institutions must provide transportation to and from the workshop, which will be held at the University of Pittsburgh.
Stipends
In cases where the cost of attending this workshop would cause financial hardship, you can apply for a stipend to help defray these costs. The deadline for workshop stipend applications is March 28, 2014.
Facilities
The workshop will be held at the University of Pittsburgh.
Further Information
Contact Barbara Tewksbury for more information.