What's It Like...

Sponsored by CRLT and Rackham, this new series spotlights faculty worklife at different kinds of colleges and universities to help you explore career possibilities.

Click here to link to past "What's it Like" sessions: [1]

• What's It Like to Work at a Community College?
• What's It Like to Work Where There's a Teaching-Research Balance?
• What’s It Like to Work at a Liberal Arts College?
• What's It Like To Work at a Postsecondary Minority Institution?
• What's It Like to Be a Non-Tenure-Track Faculty Member?
• What's It Like to Be a Postdoctoral Researcher?
• What's It Like To Have a STEM Career in Different Types of Universities?
• What's It Like to Be an Academic Administrator?

Questions? Please contact Laura Schram(lnschram@umich.edu [2]).

What’s It Like To Be a Postdoctoral Scholar?

Wednesday, October 10, 2012, 3:50 - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Preparing Future Faculty Conference Session, Michigan League

Thinking about a postdoc after graduation? This interdisciplinary panel will offer strategies for getting a postdoctoral position, as well as working productively at one.

Jennifer Emery-Peck
Visiting Professor/Postdoctoral Fellow in English, Oberlin College

Donald Lopez
Chair of the Michigan Society of Fellows; Department Chair and A.E. Link Distinguished University Professor of Buddhist Studies, Asian Languages and Cultures, U-M

Luanna Prevost
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Center for Engineering Education Research (CEER), Michigan State University

Michele Swanson
Director, Office of Postdoctoral Studies, Medical School, U-M; Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, U-M

Co-moderated by Mary Wright, Director of Assessment and Associate Research Scientist, CRLT
and Kris Gorman, Postdoctoral Research Associate, CRLT

Navigate to additional resources on finding and being successful at postdoctoral positions [3].

What’s It Like to Work at a Liberal Arts College?

Friday, January 25, 2013, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Rackham Assembly Hall
View a video of this session. [4]

Interested in teaching at a liberal arts college? A faculty panel from liberal arts colleges will discuss job search strategies and faculty worklife. In addition, participants will learn about the Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowships at Oberlin and Kalamazoo Colleges [5] for University of Michigan Ph.D.s.

Navigate to resources on careers at liberal arts colleges [7]

What’s It Like to Pursue an Alternative Academic Career?

Friday, March 15, 2013
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM): 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Humanities, Arts and Social Science: 2:30-4:00 pm
Location: Rackham Assembly Hall

Interested in exploring career paths beyond the professoriate? This panel will feature scholars from a variety of backgrounds who have put their doctoral-level training to use in the academy in administrative, research or staff careers, many of which involve a faculty appointment or teaching. The panel will highlight opportunities in a range of careers and provide strategies to prepare for alternative academic career paths.

View a video of the STEM session [8]

Navigate to resources on STEM careers [9]

Humanities, Arts and Social Science Panel Includes: 

Dr. Henry Dyson, Senior Advisor and Scholarship Coordinator, LS&A Honors Program, U-M
Dr. Liliana Milkova, Curator of Academic Programs, Oberlin College
Dr. Jennifer Young Yim, Director, Global Scholars Program, U-M

View a video of the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences session [10]

Navigate to resources on careers in academic administration [11]

back to top