Career Advice
“Each map features in its centerfold a visual timeline that suggests strategies for staying on track.”
For the last five semesters I have co-taught an introductory biology course. Until now, this has not been the norm in our department. This semester has been different for many instructors: half of our courses are now co-instructed. This dramatic restructuring has caused me to reflect on my experience as a member of a teaching […]
Celebrating research that finds academic writers have varied writing practices.
8:45 a.m. Fifteen minutes until go time. More than 1,100 exams and score sheets are neatly stacked and patiently waiting in 10 different classrooms to be distributed by an army of proctors. Large swarms of second-year genetics students anxiously migrate to their assigned rooms across campus. I can feel the sweat trickling down my back […]
When it comes to making a foray into social media, the first question novices should ask themselves is, “What do I want to achieve?” That’s the advice of British sociologist Mark Carrigan, who wrote the book Social Media for Academics. He writes that social media tools can enhance any academic career, provided you choose the […]
Goodbye, podium.
Participating in activities outside of your graduate work, but still tied to your interests, will help enhance your skill set.
A lot of attention has been paid recently to the notion of a “failure CV” after Princeton University professor Johannes Haushofer posted online a list he called his “CV of Failures,” (PDF) with headings like “paper rejections” and “research funding I did not get.” Many academics will have chuckled at the familiarity of the story, […]
A longer version of this blog post originally appeared on Rachael Cayley’s blog, Explorations of Style. During graduate school, many students seek out courses or workshops to improve their academic or professional skills; these offerings are often characterized as “professional development.” Most of us first became familiar with the term as something designed for already-working […]
Every university has a research office, by one name or another. Often it’s the Office of Research Services. Maybe it’s the Office of Sponsored Research, or Research Grant and Contract Services as at Memorial University. Maybe it’s Research @ (insert name here) or Recherche et création, as at Université Laval. Whatever the name, if you […]
I am so tired of reading poorly written science. Often, I can barely finish reading an article that runs longer than one page. None of my friends read my articles. The feeling of failure spreads in me like cancer. First, I’m worried that we have failed everyday people who need our answers the most. Second, […]
Ian MacLachlan retired to start his third career in December 2015 after thirty years as a geography professor. This is the second of a monthly series relevant to the retirement plans of an aging professoriate for University Affairs. So how did I decide that I could actually afford to retire at 63? A voluntary retirement […]
How to connect with key people and build your professional network.
Shared decision-making and diverse perspectives create opportunities for learning together.
Before choosing a supervisor, get to know them—and get to know yourself.
Retirement may be the opportunity for a “third career” to try something different.
In order to avoid running a deficit it’s important to plan ahead.
Professors need to adapt their teaching to address each group’s strengths.
A few do’s and don’ts learned the hard way.
Special course at U of T helps students to become “market ready”