Career Development Workshop

Workshop Leader

Tim Anderson, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Workshop Objective

New engineering faculty are required to make many choices that affect their academic career and personal life. This workshop is intended to encourage faculty to identify suitable career goals and to specify objectives and begin to develop a plan for achieving them. The components of the NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) program will be used as a model for developing a plan. In addition, special attention will be devoted to establishing a funded research program. Critical issues will be discussed and advice from peers and senior faculty will be shared. Elements of the career plan will include:

• Establishing a Research Program (obtaining funding, Career Award preparation, research problem identification and selection, contacting funding sources, collaborations, network development)
• Managing Research (student project definition, group & individual meetings, student evaluation and feedback, placement and professional development, group continuity, teamwork, managing undergraduates and post docs, and safety)
• Understanding the University Environment (tenure & promotion, service activities, sabbaticals, entrepreneurship, reward structure, mentoring expectations)
• Balancing Your Life (dual careers, personal & family time)
• Developing as a Professional (role of consulting, professional service, peer groups)
• Managing Your Time (goal setting & priorities, stress reduction, good habits)

Workshop Plan

The workshop will take place during one full day. Through group activities, sharing of experiences, and advice from experienced faculty different perspectives will be presented. Reading material will be sent to each attendee in advance of the workshop.

Mock NSF Panel Review

The workshop will use part of the day to conduct a mock panel review using the NSF guidelines. Proposals will be drawn from CAREER proposals previously submitted to the NSF and reviewed or ones ‘under development’ and provided by the workshop attendees.

Comments of Past Attendees

• ‘I wish I had learned some of these issues a long time ago.’
• ‘I think faculty everywhere, including people from all disciplines, should attend a workshop like this.’
• ‘It was a great learning and networking opportunity.’
• ‘I feel much less overwhelmed after the discussions. It was great to know other people are feeling the same stresses I am.’
• ‘I saw many errors I was making and habits I needed to change.’
• ‘I wish I would have had this right when I started.’
• ‘Most productive day of my professorship so far — all faculty should do this program.’

Registration Form