Career Ladder

Careers in academia are both exciting and rewarding. The resources below provide information to guide you through a faculty career, including finding and preparing for your first faculty position, developing your teaching and research goals, and expanding your mentorship and leadership skills along the way.

Beginning a Faculty Career

Interviewing for a Faculty Position
When you apply for an academic position, you may expect a different sort of interview than when you apply for a job in a private clinic, hospital, or school setting. Prepare for this unique interview process.

Preparing to Commence Your Faculty Career
Once you accept an offer of employment and sign a contract, your work can begin. Maximize success by developing teaching and research plans in advance.

Tomorrow's Professor Listserv
Postings twice weekly to foster a diverse, world-wide teaching and learning ecology. Topics include the Academy, graduate students, academic careers, teaching and learning, and research. Sponsored by The Stanford University Center for Teaching & Learning. Available by free e-mail subscription.

Making the Right Moves: A Practical Guide to Scientific Management for Postdocs and New Faculty, Second Edition, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Burroughs Wellcome Fund
Advice from experienced biomedical researchers on navigating the academic environment, managing a lab, obtaining funding, publishing, and teaching.

The First Five Years of a Faculty Career

Developing a Research Plan, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Science Careers
How and why you should develop a research plan.

5-Year Planning Worksheets, Carleton College, Science Education Resource Center
Different formats for your research plan.

My Individual Development Plan, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Science Careers
Tool to assist you in setting career goals.

The Professor Is In, Karen L. Kelsky, PhD

GPS to Success: Achieving Milestones in your 5 Year Academic Research Plan
Key information about the importance of establishing a 5-year plan, meeting the milestones, and avoiding common pitfalls and challenges that might derail you from achieving your career goals. Presented by Dr. Janet Koehnke, PhD, CCC-A.

Advancing a Faculty Career

Volunteer
Service is one of the three critical elements, along with teaching and scholarship, towards earning tenure. Expand your service and leadership experience through volunteer opportunities.

Mentoring for Academic-Research Careers (MARC)
Take aim of your career in higher ed! Join ASHA's online mentoring program, Mentoring for Academic-Research Careers (MARC), and experience the power of passionate mentoring. The MARC program is designed specifically for PhD students and new faculty members.