You are now in the main content area

Spring 2023 Workshop series

The Academic Job Search: Navigating the Road to Becoming a Professor

A series of three interactive workshops, intended to provide essential skills and competences for our postdoctoral fellows and graduate students who are interested in pursuing a career in academia.

Inclusive pride flag

March 22, 2023

Equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility (EDI&A) are deeply important principles in all aspects of academia. Many academic job applications require a statement outlining job candidates’ views, skills and competences related to EDI&A and there are often EDI&A questions integrated into interviews. New professors are expected to have knowledge of EDI&A, and to be able to critically self-reflect as well as incorporate EDI&A considerations in teaching, SRC and supervision. This session allowed graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to engage in self-reflection, and help address some of the following questions: What type of content is usually found in EDI&A statements? What types of questions related to (EDIA) might be asked during an interview? What EDI&A considerations are important for new faculty supervisors and mentors?

This event was facilitated by:

  • Dr. Seth Dworkin, Academic Lead, Postdoctoral Fellows Professor and Canada Research Chair Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
  • Dr. Nancy Walton, BScN, PhD, Associate Dean, Student Affairs, YSGPS and professor, Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing
  • Dr. Ketan Marballi, Postdoctoral and graduate student professional development specialist
  • May Haithem, MsC, Graduate Career Education Specialist
Three people sitting and reviewing documents on desk.

April 4, 2023

Applications for academic positions typically require a Cover Letter, CV, Teaching Statement, SRC Statement, Sample SRC works, and in many cases, and EDI&A Statement. What application materials must typically be generated as part of a tenure-track appointment application? Who is the targeted reader/audience for these materials? What makes a good application? In this session, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows reviewed examples of weak and strong application materials, and discuss tips and strategies for getting applications to stand out.

This event was facilitated by:

  • Dr. Seth Dworkin, Academic Lead, Postdoctoral Fellows Professor and Canada Research Chair Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
  • Dr. Nancy Walton, BScN, PhD, Associate Dean, Student Affairs, YSGPS and professor, Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing
  • Dr. Ketan Marballi, Postdoctoral and graduate student professional development specialist
  • May Haithem, MsC, Graduate Career Education Specialist

April 25, 2023

What does an academic interview entail, and how can you prepare? Academic interviews are often full day or multi-day endeavors, and can be quite onerous. They may involve the candidate giving a research presentation, a mock teaching lecture, and will usually have a formal Q&A interview session. In this session, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows were introduced to a typical interview schedule, learned tips on giving a research presentation and mock lecture, and reviewed typical questions that get asked during the Q&A session.

This event was facilitated by:

  • Dr. Seth Dworkin, Academic Lead, Postdoctoral Fellows Professor and Canada Research Chair Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
  • Dr. Nancy Walton, BScN, PhD, Associate Dean, Student Affairs, YSGPS and professor, Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing
  • Dr. Ketan Marballi, Postdoctoral and graduate student professional development specialist
  • May Haithem, MsC, Graduate Career Education Specialist