Strategies for Obtaining your First Academic Position

1. 10/6/2016
1
Engineers Make a World of Difference
Strategies for Obtaining Your First
Academic Position
Raenita Fenner, Ph.D.
WE16 Academic Track
STRATEGIES FOR OBTAINING
YOUR FIRST ACADEMIC POSITION
PART I: THE ACADEMIC APPLICATION
Raenita Fenner, Ph.D.
Loyola University
Maryland
AGENDA
What are you looking for?
Components of the Academic Application
Cover Letter
CV
Letters of Reference
Research Statement
Teaching Statement
What to emphasize in the application?
What search committees are looking for?
The Big Picture
Recap
Questions

2. 10/6/2016
2
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
Think carefully about whether you would really go to a
place before you apply. Think through your personal
priorities and let them guide you.
What type of
institution?
Research-1?
Teaching? Combined
research/teaching?
What geographic
locations appeal to
you?
What are your
strengths?
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
Institution
Type
Doctorate Granting
institution (R1)
Masters Colleges and
Universities
Predominately
Undergraduate
Institutions (PUI)
Teaching Load 1-2 courses/term 2-3 courses/term 3-4 courses/term
TA Support Grad students and
post-docs- graders,
lab support
Grad students, maybe
undergrads
Undergrads- graders, lab
support, or none
Research
Expectations
(approx.)
Publications: Multiple
each year
Grants: $500K – 1M
Publications: One a
year
Grants: $100K-500K
Publications: 1 every 2-3
years
Grants: Apply
Service Load 5% of time 10-15% of time 20% of time
Class size 20-40 students 15-30 students 5-30 students
Pedagogy Teacher-centered In between Student-centered, SoTL
Pay Higher In between Lower
Summer
Expectations
Research! Varies Whatever I want

3. 10/6/2016
3
COMPONENTS OF THE
ACADEMIC APPLICATION
COMPONENTS OF ACADEMIC APPLICATION
Application
components
CV
Cover Letter
Teaching
Statement
Research
Statement
References
THE COVER LETTER
• Offers an opportunity to create interest in you
• Summarizes your qualifications and interestsPurpose
• Relate back to faculty call language - Explain how you fulfil
the criteria
• Why you are applying for the job?
• Highlight significant achievements which demonstrate future
success as a faculty member
What to
include?
• R1: Significant research achievements; show plans to be a
successful researcher
• PUI: Teaching experience, Ability to mentor undergraduate
students in many facets
How to tailor
your letter

4. 10/6/2016
4
THE CV
• Well organized!
• Error free!Essentials
• Education
• Honors/Awards
• Grants
• Publications/ Invited Talks/Oral Presentations
• Teaching Experience
• Service Activities
What to
include?
• R1: Lead with research
• PUI: Lead with teaching
How to tailor
your CV
TEACHING STATEMENT
Describe your Philosophy towards teaching.
Experiences that led to this perspective.
Try to answer the
following:
Why do you teach?
What do you teach?
How do you teach?
How do measure effectiveness?
How do you manage diversity in classroom?
Discuss courses
within the core
curriculum that
you could teach.
Use the language
of the
department
Propose new
courses that might
be developed in
the future that
you could teach.
RESEARCH STATEMENT
Statement of
the problem
Key unanswered questions in field
How will your work contribute?
Explain it such that the search committee members can relate
Describe future
research plans
Usually one that is related to your prior work that is clearly feasible
One or two projects that demonstrate your ability to think beyond your current work
Provide
potential
funding sources
R1: You can be more detailed in your future research plans.
PUI: Be more general if you are applying to a department where no one is in your specialty
area.

5. 10/6/2016
5
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
KEY ELEMENT of application – choose wisely
Be ready to provide them with a draft or bullet list of points you would like them to mention in
their letter
Some departments will ask to call your references; Choose people who will be available during
the relevant time frame.
Number ranges from approximately 3-5
Some departments will ask you to provide the names, others will ask that you solicit the references
to send the letters.
Timing of the letters varies — some ask for the letters from the beginning, others later in
the process
Who should you select?
R1: Government or industry sponsor of successful research project
PUI: Faculty who have supervised your teaching assistantships
WHAT TO EMPHASIZE IN THE APPLICATION?
How you fit the
position?
• What value you bring to
the institution
Publication record
Exciting research plan
• Creative and innovative
while also feasible
Interesting and
innovative teaching
plans
• Highlight your experiences
and capabilities
Other experiences
• Grants, workshops,
awards, etc.
Brag about your
successes
(within reason)!
Perception of
excellence by wide
spectrum of reviewing
faculty
Effective
organization that
clearly conveys:
• Strong accomplishments
• Well-written and exciting
research plan
Great reference
letters
• Evidence of innovation,
creativity, hard work,
etc.
Exciting
vision/philosophy of
teaching
• Teaching potential
that matches need in
the department
Research that
integrates into the
department
• May match already
existing, may open
new areas
What Are Search Committees Looking For?

6. 10/6/2016
6
WHERE TO LOOK FOR ACADEMIC JOB
POSTINGS
1. Chronicle of Higher Education
2. Academic Keys
3. HERC – Higher Education Recruitment Consortium
4. Professional Society Career Boards (IEEE, ASME, ASEE, etc.)
5. SWE Women in Academia (WIA) LinkedIn Site
1. Read the call for applications carefully! It may contain keys to
what they are looking for that you use in your cover letter.
2. Do your homework on the faculty and University
Use that information to craft your application
The more you can use their language, the easier it will be for the
committee to understand your potential
3. Submitting a few well-targeted and well-prepared applications
to places you actually want to work, is far better than mass-
mailing hundreds (or even dozens).
Bigger Picture
RECAP
What Are You Looking For?
• What type of institution?
• What parts of the country appeal to you?
Application components:
• CV
• Cover Letter
• Teaching Statement
• Research Statement
• References
What to Emphasize in the Application?
• How you fit the position?
• Publication record
• Exciting research plan
• Interesting and innovative teaching plans
• Other experiences: Grants, workshops, awards, etc.
• Brag about your successes (within reason)!
What are search committees looking for?
• Perception of excellence by wide spectrum of reviewing faculty
• Effective organization that clearly conveys:
• Great reference letters
• Exciting vision/philosophy of teaching
• Research that integrates into the department
Bigger Picture
• Read the call for applications carefully
• Do your homework on the faculty and University

7. 10/6/2016
7
QUESTIONS?
STRATEGIES FOR OBTAINING
YOUR FIRST ACADEMIC POSITION
PART II: THE ACADEMIC INTERVIEW
Raenita Fenner, PhD. –
Loyola University
Maryland
AGENDA
Components of the Academic Interview
The Phone Interview
On-Site Interview
What Happens During the On-Site Visit?
Asking Questions During the Interview
Tips from a seasoned search committee member
Recap/Questions

8. 10/6/2016
8
ACADEMIC INTERVIEW COMPONENTS
Two stages:
Phone –
• Chance to make
a first impression
beyond what is
on paper
On-site –
• The in-person
follow up to the
phone interview
at the University
PHONE INTERVIEW
Take it seriously!
Pay attention to tone of voice
Chance to make a first impression
Demonstrate that you have done your research
Your level of interest and information is important
THE ONSITE INTERVIEW
• Lunches
• Dinner
• Faculty
• Students
• Administration
• HR
Teaching
Presentation
Research
Presentation
Meetings/
Interviews
with
Social
Interactions

9. 10/6/2016
9
TEACHING AND RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS
Research Presentation
R1: Detailed content,
research funding plan
PUI: Generalize your
work, how can
undergrads get involved
Teaching presentation
(varies by institution)
R1: May or may not
happen
PUI: Detailed,
organized, and scripted
lecture
SOCIAL INTERACTIONS AND MEETINGS
One-on-one meetings with faculty, chair, dean and provost (varies by
institution)
For these shorter meetings, an “elevator” speech that summarizes your work is
important
Have questions prepared based on your research of that person
Will interact with a number of people
Short, intense period
Prepare 0.5 - 1 min elevator speech about ‘what you do’
ALWAYS BE “ON”!!!
Even in casual meal sessions, you are being evaluated and judged
Do not “let down” at any time during the process
ON-SITE INTERVIEW PREPARATION
• Typically 2 daysInterview visits are a
marathon event!
• Research faculty, department,
university, geographic areaDo your homework!
Most important step in
determining whether
interview becomes an
offer
• Varies between institutions (full
professors, entire department, role of
dean/provost)
Allows you to interact with
those who will make the
offer decision

10. 10/6/2016
10
ASKING QUESTIONS DURING THE INTERVIEW
Carefully plan the questions to ask
You don’t want to offend your hosts
Be polite, calm, and friendly
You DO want to get the information
Be curious, not demanding
Repeat questions, but only a few questions with everyone, to get an
integrated view
Be sure to ask the Chair and/or Dean, as appropriate all the
questions that are most critical for you
TIPS FROM A SEASONED SEARCH
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Figure out the on-line
application system and if
you have questions call
HR, not the Search Chair
or the Department
secretary
The phone interview is not
just a formality. Be as
prepared for it as you
would be for the on-site
interview.
Answer the questions
asked, not the ones you
want them to ask.
Have questions ready for
the committee.
If you are applying to an
institution where you will
be required to teach –
your English skills will be
assessed!!! Practice.
Research the search
committee. Know what
they understand and what
they may not to know how
to discuss your area of
research.
Do your homework on the
faculty and University
before hand!!!
CLOSING WORD OF WISDOM…
EVERYTHING can (should) be negotiated.
Salary (base pay and summer salary).
Lab space.
Teaching load.
Start-up package (amount and duration).
Number of students.
Service.

11. 10/6/2016
11
RECAP
Components of the Academic Interview
The Phone Interview
On-Site Interview
Tips from a seasoned search committee member
QUESTIONS? About the academic
interview
REFERENCES
Rice University Advance - http://advance.rice.edu
Making the Right Moves: A Practical Guide to Scientific Management for Postdocs
and New Faculty - Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Sternberg, R.J. (2013) “12 Bloopers to Avoid in Job Interviews” in The Chronicle
of Higher Education. http://chronicle.com/article/Bloopers-to-Avoid-in-
Job/137449
Cummings, L. (2013) “Applying for Faculty Positions: Preparation” Department of
Mathematical Sciences, New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Washington University of St. Louis – The Teaching Center
http://teachingcenter.wustl.edu/About/ProgramsforGraduateStudentsandPostdocs/resources/Pages
/Writing-a-Teaching-Philosophy-Statement.aspx