Future Faculty in the Liberal Arts Workshop

  • Event Date: Thu Oct 31st 2013
  • Registration Deadline: Wed Oct 16th 2013 Registration Closed

Are you a postdoctoral fellow or a senior graduate student in the sciences or math at Washington University who is planning to seek a career at a liberal arts college or another type of primarily undergraduate institution?

This workshop will help you learn more about how to prepare for a successful job search and success after obtaining a position, and will also get you started in building a personal strategic plan to reach your goals.

The one-day workshop will be held on the Washington University School of Medicine campus and is sponsored by the Midstates Consortium for Math and Science. The workshop leaders are both faculty from Gustavus Adolphus College, a small, residential, liberal arts college in Minnesota. Dr. Karla Marz is an Assistant Professor of Biology, and Dr. Brandy Russell is an Associate Professor of Chemistry and the Director of the Consortium. We modeled this event after a very popular Early Career Workshop that the Consortium has hosted for many summers.

One goal of the workshop is to provide a forum for discussion about careers as science and math faculty at liberal arts colleges, and to help create a network for Washington University researchers with similar career interests. We will discuss:

  • Opportunities that give you relevant experience (and vocational exploration) but conflict with your research goals
  • The job application and interview process
  • Weighing your options when applying for different jobs
  • Making the most of adjunct/visiting positions
  • Teaching strategies that work for undergraduate students
  • Launching your research career (strategies, publication, grant proposals)
  • “Service” to the institution
  • Tenure criteria and pre-tenure reviews
  • Maintaining good health and sanity through it all

Another goal is to help each participant generate a strategic plan for the next 2-3 years of their career. This will allow each participant to focus on the goals, strategies and actions that will help them succeed in their professional lives and thrive in their personal lives too.

This event is for postdoctoral fellows and for senior graduate students – those who will defend their thesis within a year or so.

Thursday, October 31, tentatively 8 am – 5 pm.

There is no cost to participate. Lunch and refreshements will be provided. You need only to provide your own transportation and parking.

Online registration will continue until the workshop fills or through Wednesday, October 16.

Please contact Dr. Russell with any questions about the workshop (brussell@gustavus.edu).