Academic Career Workshops

As an important part of its outreach to graduate students and postdocs, the Science Directorate sponsors “Academic Career Workshops.” Held throughout the country, these workshops are designed to introduce graduate students and postdocs to the nuts and bolts of pursuing an academic career. Topics range from how the academic culture varies across institutions to the pragmatics of the hiring process. Accomplished panelists share their insights, with plenty of opportunity for discussion.

The workshops are held at specialty society meetings (e.g., Society for Personality and Social Psychology), regional psychological association meetings and the APA Annual Convention. Workshops utilize faculty members from a variety of institution types who are already scheduled to attend the hosting conference or who are from local universities. There is no charge to attend the workshops.

In the interest of the current economic climate, Science Directorate staff have incorporated some questions into the program regarding increasing one’s chances of obtaining a position in today’s academic market as well as what sorts of jobs might serve as acceptable stop-gaps until academic career openings arise.