If you are or will be on a faculty job market, join Penn Career Services for our Faculty Job Search Prep Camp, done in partnership with the Center for Teaching & Learning (CTL) and the Grad Center. Through workshops and faculty/alumni panels, we’ll help you understand how you can best prepare for each step of the process, from exploration to crafting application materials and beyond!

This year, we are excited to pilot a cohort model to better connect you with your peers going through the same process. Details are below:

Faculty Job Search Cohort

The Faculty Job Search cohort seeks to provide an opportunity for individuals who are currently on the job market across different disciplines at Penn to come together and build a strong community of support and learn from each other. This model centers collaborative learning and throughout the duration of the program, Penn Career Services will offer advice, resources, and targeted information tailored to the specific needs of the participants. 

This cohort will meet biweekly from September through November to help participants navigate the job market and provide ongoing support with the application process. 

For more information, please join us for a virtual intro session on Tuesday, August 22.

The cohort will be selected through an application process, ensuring that it comprises individuals who are committed to making the most of this opportunity. Applications open on August 14 and the deadline is August 31. Please apply through this link.

Schedule of Events

• 10:00-10:30 AM | 10 Ways to Prepare for the Academic Job Market | Virtual
  Are you a doctoral student or postdoc aspiring to pursue a career in academia? Don’t miss our upcoming session designed to help you navigate the competitive academic job market with confidence!

• 10:45-11:45 AM | Roadmap to Success: Tips & Strategies from New Humanities & Social Science Faculty | Virtual Panel
  Are you a doctoral student or postdocs in humanities and social sciences interested in faculty roles? Join us for this panel discussion to learn from successful faculty who have recently navigated the academic job market and secured positions in the humanities and social sciences. They will share their personal experiences, challenges, and offer perspectives on the job market and how to thrive within it.

  Panelists:
  Jane Esberg, PhD, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Penn, (PhD, Stanford University, 2019); https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-esberg-30768634/

  Colleen Berryessa, PhD, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, Rutgers University, (PhD, Criminology, 2018); https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleenberryessa/

  Sonal Khullar, PhD, Associate Professor of History of Art, Penn, (PhD, University of California Berkeley, 2009)

  Colleen Berryessa, PhD, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, Rutgers University, (PhD, Penn Criminology, 2018); https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleenberryessa/

  Trishula Patel, PhD, Assistant Professor of African History, University of Denver (BA and MA, Penn, 2012 and 2014; PhD Georgetown, 2021); https://www.linkedin.com/in/trishulapatel1989/

• 2:00-3:15 PM | Roadmap to Success: Tips & Strategies from New STEM Faculty | Virtual Panel
  
  Are you a doctoral student or postdocs in STEM interested in faculty roles? Join us for this panel discussion to learn from successful faculty who have recently navigated the academic job market and secured positions in the humanities and social sciences. They will share their personal experiences, challenges, and offer perspectives on the job market and how to thrive within it.

  Panelists:
  Daniel Khashabi, PhD, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Johns Hopkins University (Computer Science, 2019) https://engineering.jhu.edu/faculty/daniel-khashabi/

  Amin Rahimian, PhD, Assistant Professor of Industrial Engineering, University of Pittsburgh (Electrical Engineering, 2017) https://www.engineering.pitt.edu/people/faculty/amin-rahimian/

  Daniel Straus, PhD, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Tulane University (Chemistry 2018); https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstraus/

  Iris Yoon, PhD, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Wesleyan University (Applied Math and Computational Science, 2018); https://irisyoon.com/

  Shirley Zhang, PhD; Assistant Professor of Cell Biology, Emory University (Immunology 2014); https://med.emory.edu/departments/cell-biology/labs/zhang/index.html

• 3:30-4:00 PM | Networking at Conferences | Virtual
  Join us for this opportunity to gain practical networking skills and leverage conferences to your advantage! This session will provide you with practical insights and actionable strategies to make the most of conference experiences. Gain the confidence to navigate conference settings, strike up meaningful conversations, and build a strong professional network that can shape your academic career.

• 1:00-2:00 PM | Out in the Academy: Perspectives from LGBTQ Faculty Job Seekers | Virtual Panel
  In this session, panelists will share their personal experiences, triumphs, and challenges as LGBTQ individuals in academia. Discover practical strategies for navigating the academic job market while embracing your authentic self and leveraging your unique perspective as a strength on the job market.

  Panelists:
  Eric Schelter (he/him/his), PhD, Professor of Chemistry, Penn, (PhD, Chemistry, Texas A&M University, 2004); https://web.sas.upenn.edu/scheltergroup/

  Dani Basset (they/them/theirs), PhD, J Peter Skirkanich Professor, Bioengineering, Penn, (PhD, Physics, University of Cambridge, 2009); https://complexsystemsupenn.com/personal

  Jeanne Stanley (she/her/hers), PhD, Adjunct Professor, Penn GSE, (PhD, Professional Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, 1993); https://www.gse.upenn.edu/academics/faculty-directory/stanley

  Dennis Dalmacio Flores (he/him/his), PhD, Assistant Professor, Penn Nursing, (PhD, Nursing, Duke University, 2016); https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/details/profiles.php?id=15515

  Nadia Figueroa (she/her/hers), PhD, Shalini and Rajeev Misra Presidential Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Penn, (PhD, Robotics, Control, and Intelligent Systems at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, 2019); https://www.grasp.upenn.edu/people/nadia-figueroa/

  Andy Tan (he/him/his), Ph.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., M.B.B.S., Associate Professor of Communication, Director, Health Communication & Equity Lab, Penn, (PhD, Communication, Penn, 2013); https://www.asc.upenn.edu/people/faculty/andy-tan-phd-mph-mba-mbbs

• 3:00-4:00 PM | Beyond Research: Exploring Careers in Teaching-Focused Roles & Institutions | Virtual Panel
  Gain a deeper understanding of teaching-focused careers in academia in this panel discussion. Our panelists are faculty members with a teaching-focus at various institutions and they will share their insights, experiences, and the unique opportunities available in these institutions. Whether you’re passionate about pedagogy or seeking a balanced research and teaching role join us for this panel to learn more about teaching in academia.

  Panelists:
  Nina Johnson, Ph.D, Associate Professor of Sociology, Swarthmore College, Ph.D. Sociology, Northwestern, 2012; https://www.swarthmore.edu/profile/nina-a-johnson

  Nina Gilbert, Ed.D., Executive Director of Morehouse Center for Excellence in Education/Department Chaire/Assistant Professor of Education, Morehouse College, (Ed.D. University of Pennsylvania GSE); https://morehouse.edu/nina-gilbert-ed-d/

  Shannon Kane, Ed.D., (she/her/hers) Assistant Clinical Professor, University of Maryland; (Ed.D. University of Pennsylvania GSE/RWL, 2013), https://education.umd.edu/directory/shannon-kane

  Kelsey Speers, Ph.D., (she/her/hers) Assistant Teaching Professor in the School of Biological Sciences, University of New England; (Post-Doc in Cell & Molecular Biology, Biomedical Graduate Studies at Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine, https://www.une.edu/people/kelsey-speer

• 10:00-10:30 AM | Tailoring Your CV to Institutional Fit | Virtual
  If you are thinking of going on the academic job market, you are probably familiar with a CV that lists your various experiences and accomplishments. But how can you make this document bespoke for the institutions that you apply to? In this information session we will share how to craft a CV that aligns with your target institutions. Join us to learn how to tailor your CV to showcase your qualifications, research, and teaching experience in a way that fits the unique requirements of different institutions.

• 10:45-11:15 AM | Writing a Compelling Cover Letter for Faculty Roles | Virtual
  Register for this session to learn about the key components of a compelling cover letter tailored to faculty positions. In this session we will discuss strategies to effectively showcase your qualifications, highlight your research and teaching experience, and convey your passion for the role.

• 11:30 AM – 12 PM | Tips to Get Started on Your Research Statement | Virtual
  Join this session to gain insights on how to get started with writing an impactful research statement. We will help you understand the key components of this important document in your application packet. You will learn how to structure your research statement, communicate your passion for your field, and demonstrate your expertise to hiring committees.

• 1:00-1:20 PM | How to Demonstrate Commitment to DEI in Teaching Documents with CTL | Virtual
  In this session, the group will discuss how to talk about equity and inclusion in ways that allow job seekers to highlight the values they bring to their teaching throughout their job materials. We will consider common misconceptions around diversity statements, look at some examples of what the diversity request looks like and consider ways to make these statements meaningful and concrete. While the session will focus on the diversity statement, it will also consider how to show a commitment to equity in cover letters and teaching statements.

• 1:30-1:50 PM | How to Ace Your Teaching Demonstration with CTL | Virtual
  Teaching demonstrations are an increasingly common part of campus interviews, alongside or sometimes in lieu of traditional job talks. Whether you are parachuting into someone’s actual class, or teaching only to a group of faculty, such performances are always challenging. In this session, we’ll discuss strategies to help you tackle your teaching demonstrations with confidence.

• 2:10-3:00 PM | How to Create a Comprehensive Teaching Packet with CTL | Virtual
  Some schools will give applicants the option of submitting a teaching portfolio up front and others may request one from candidates they are interested in. Other ads will ask for “evidence of teaching effectiveness”. In this session we will discuss the main things that could make up your portfolio (teaching philosophy; student evaluations; sample syllabi & other teaching materials) and how to best represent your teaching experiences and ideas.

  Dr. Catherine Turner has been working at Penn’s Center for Teaching and Learning in many different roles since 2007. After getting her PhD from the University of Texas, she taught English and American Studies at Misericordia University. At Penn she is currently Director of Faculty Pedagogy and Programming and teaches in the English Department.

• 10:00-10:30 AM | Overview & Applying to the Faculty Prep Cohort | Virtual
  This year we are piloting a cohort model as an addition to the Faculty Job Search Camp. The cohort is a perfect opportunity for you if:

  – you are currently on the faculty job market
  – looking for a community of peers
  – seeking a space to discuss your questions about navigating the academic job market

• 1:30-2:15 PM | CV Lab (STEM) | In-Person
  Are you a doctoral student or postdoc interested in the academic job market and seeking some feedback on your CV? Register for this in-person session to workshop your document with both your peers and Career Services advisors. Bring your laptop with your CV and be ready to share it and receive feedback to actively improve your document. Career advisors experienced in working with doctoral students and postdocs will also be available to answer specific questions. This session is a great compliment to our information session on CVs on August 21. This program will be held in person at Penn Career Services office in Suite 20 of the McNeil Building (3718 Locust Walk). While you are at Career Services, enjoy some snacks and drinks and please have some professional headshots taken in our new Career Services Photo Booth! *Sign up for this slot if you identify as a doctoral student or postdoc in a STEM field.

• 2:30-3:15 PM | CV Lab (Humanities/Social Sciences) | In-Person
  Are you a doctoral student or postdoc interested in the academic job market and seeking some feedback on your CV? Register for this in-person session to workshop your document with both your peers and Career Services advisors. Bring your laptop with your CV and be ready to share it and receive feedback to actively improve your document. Career advisors experienced in working with doctoral students and postdocs will also be available to answer specific questions. This session is a great compliment to our information session on CVs on August 21. This program will be held in person at Penn Career Services office in Suite 20 of the McNeil Building (3718 Locust Walk). While you are at Career Services, enjoy some snacks and drinks and please have some professional headshots taken in our new Career Services Photo Booth! *Sign up for this slot if you identify as a doctoral student or postdoc in a humanities or social science field.