The Next Step: Landing your Own Faculty Position

Are you a postdoc who wants to pursue an academic career? This is an exciting but challenging process, and the REALISE program is here to support you along the way. The Next Step Program is a structured, highly interactive program designed to provide HBI postdocs with hands-on preparation and practice, so they can be amongst the most competitive applicants in the academic job market. From September through April, participants will be guided through key components of the academic application and interview process and develop a keen sense of how they can stand out amongst other candidates. The program will include opportunities for workshops, personalized guidance, practical preparation, and feedback in a supportive peer environment

The Next Step Program includes:

1. Monthly focused workshops
   Practical sessions cover key components of the academic application and interview process, including CVs, research programs, teaching philosophy, cover letters, job talk, chalk talk, and interview preparation.
2. Practical preparation and peer feedback
   Participants work on monthly assignments and exchange materials and preparation with a small peer group to give and receive feedback; this process will help you develop and refine your application materials, your skills, and your intuition for what job search committees are looking for so you can stand out from the crowd.
3. Practice and individualized support
   Opportunities to practice job talks, chalk talks, mock teaching lectures, and 1-on-1 or panel interviews. You’ll get feedback from peers, program facilitators, and, where appropriate, HBI faculty. Weekly office hours provide additional opportunities to discuss individual questions, challenges, and preparation.
    

This initiative is part of the HBI’s REALISE Program, which provides enhanced training and skills development to students and scholars. Postdocs at any stage of their academic career are welcome to join The Next Step Program. As the program involves ongoing preparation and practice, participants should be prepared to make a commitment to regularly attend sessions and complete practical activities. Postdocs applying for academic positions this year or next year are expected to participate fully, including in the practical assignments and peer-review activities. Postdocs earlier in their careers are welcome to participate in monthly sessions and job-talk activities, with opportunities to complete individual preparation activities as appropriate.

Please complete the following questionnaire to learn more and indicate your interest. Your responses will help us understand your career goals, stage of preparation, and support needs, so we can tailor programming to all postdocs, even if at different stages of their academic careers.