PFF Academic Job Search Resources
Advice For Success in Academic Careers
- And
Gladly Teach
note: This is free handbook designed for students and postdocs, published by American Chemical Society. - Career Advice
for Life Scientists
note: This is a link to two FREE handbooks from American Society for Cell Biology - Lecturer: An
Alternative to the Tenure Track
note: This is a pdf collection of brief autobiographies of engineering Ph.D.s describing their decision to become lecturers.
Books, Handouts, & Talks on The Academic Job Search
- Various books you can borrow from the OCPD Library
- Many useful handouts are available from the University of Washington Center for Career Services
- Life Sciences Research and Teaching: Strategies for a Successful Job Hunt published by the ASCB
- How to Get a Research Job in Academia and Industry, published by the ASCB
- How To Get a Teaching Job At a Primarily Undergraduate Institution, by A. Malcolm Campbell
- Attend the PFF Summer Series or check out DVDs of past events from the OCPD Library.
Key Websites for Job Postings And Articles
The following websites contain a searchable database of job postings and/or articles about preparing for, finding and succeeding in academic careers.
- Science Careers
- Nature Jobs
- Chronicles of Higher Education
- NewScientist Jobs
- Northern California's HERC (Higher Education Recruitment Consortium)
- Directory of California Community Colleges
- Academic Careers Online
- Dual-Career Couples in Academia: advice, resources, social networks, research studies
Samples — Preparing Your Application Package
- Life Sciences - we currently have the most academic samples available in this population category. Even if you are not a basic scientist, these samples are likely to also be helpful for you, as they point out general characteristics for academic packages.
- Nursing
- Social Sciences
- Download tips for using Microsoft Word to format your CV
Formatting Your CV — Preparing Your Application Package
- PFF handout: Formatting Your CV
- PFF handout: Microsoft Word Tips for formatting a CV, thesis, etc.
- Article: "Tips on Writing a CV", published by the American Chemical Society
- Attend the annual PFF Summer Series event, "Launching Your Academic Job Search & Preparing Your Application Materials"
- Schedule an appointment to get feedback on your Statement
Writing a Research Statement — Preparing Your Application Package
- Read "Writing a Research Plan", a 2002 article by Jim Austin in Science Careers
- Download the Handout and Checklist from the 2007 PFF workshop: "Developing a Winning Research Statement"
- Download "Crafting the Research Statement", a PowerPoint presentation by Jim Pawelczyk, from Penn State
- Attend the annual PFF event, "Writing a Winning Research Statement"
- Schedule an appointment to get feedback on your Statement
Writing a Statement of Teaching Philosophy — Preparing Your Application Package
- Download "How to Write a Statement of Teaching Philosophy" article, published by the American Chemical Society
- View samples from your discipline (go to "Samples" section, above)
- More articles and samples are available via the teaching philosophy webpage at University of Michigan's Center for Research on Learning and Teaching
- Attend the annual PFF event, "Documenting Your Teaching: Creating Your Teaching Philosophy and Teaching Portfolio"
- Schedule an appointment to get feedback on your Statement
Interviewing (General Tips)
- Past PFF events have focused on the academic interview in the life sciences. Some are available via streaming video or DVD (searchable in the OCPD library).
- PFF Handout: The Academic Interview Tip Sheet
- The Hiring Process From The Other Side, by the UC Berkeley Career Center
- Ph.D.
Interview Preparation Guide for Positions in Academia, by
Trina Sego and Jef Richards.
note: This document was written for PhD students in advertising at the University of Texas. However, it gives some great tips for the interview process, including a useful list of potential questions that you should expect (and many you can ask) during one-on-one interviews. - Making the Most of Your Campus Interview, by Mary Heiberger and Julia Miller Vick
- Preparing for Campus Interviews, by Kimberly Delgizzo and Laura Malisheski
- My Dream Campus Interview, by Michael Dalton
- You've Worked Hard to Get This Far, by Jim Austin
- Sample interview visit itineraries (Life Sciences)
Job Talk & Chalk Talk
- Giving a Job Talk in The Sciences, by Richard Reis
- Academic Scientists at Work: The Job Talk, by Jeremy Boss and Susan Eckert
- Attend a workshop on how to give a dynamic research talk
- PFF Handout: Demystifying the Chalk Talk
Negotiating
- Gettting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement without Giving In,
by Fisher R, Ury W, Patton B.
note: borrow this book from the OCPD Library - Academic Scientists at Work: Negotiating a Faculty Position, by Emory professors Jeremy Boss and Susan Eckert.
- Be Honorable and Strategic, by Carnegie Foundation Scholar Chris Golde
- Four Negotiating Tips for Women Executives, by Miller L. and Miller J.
- Negotiation in Academic Medicine: A Necessary Career Skill, a qualitative study showing trends and giving tips
- Past PFF events have focused on negotiating for academic start-up packages in the life sciences. Some are available via streaming video or DVD (searchable in the OCPD library).