Professional and career development workshop series

• Date and time: Thursday, August 28, 2025; 4-5 p.m.
• Location: JCSU, 301
• Speaker: Nicholas Murray, Associate Professor, Public Health

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This workshop will provide a comprehensive overview of the academic job search process. Participants will learn where to identify relevant academic job postings, how to prepare competitive application materials and what to expect throughout the hiring process. Part 2 of this series will dive into the interview process. Check out that workshop on Thursday, September 4 from 4-5 p.m.

• Date and time: Wednesday, September 3, 2025; 9-10 a.m.
• Location: Virtual
• Platform: Beyond the Professoriate - Sign in using the link below, choose UNR, log in using your NetID

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Now more than ever, PhDs work in a variety of career fields, leveraging their education and training to build meaningful careers after their degree or postdoc. But making the transition takes time - most job searches take 6+ months to explore career options, build a network, and apply strategically to postings. So what can you do today to set yourself up for a successful job search?

In this webinar, you'll learn how to make the most out of the PhD Career Training Platform (Beyond the Professoriate). Access to this platform means you don't have to navigate the job search alone - you have access to a research-informed toolkit designed specifically to support graduate students and postdocs in both academic and nonacademic job searches.

By the end of this webinar, you'll be able to:

• Confidently navigate the PhD Career Training Platform to support your job search
• Apply proven strategies to explore your career options
• Understand the timelines of a job search and take practical steps to get started today

• Date and time: Wednesday, September 3, 2024; 12-1 p.m.
• Location: Virtual via Zoom
• Speaker: Bridget Walsh, Professor Human Development & Family Science; Dennis Mathew, Associate Professor Biology, Co-Director of Graduate Neuroscience Program

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The research statement is your opportunity to sell yourself to an institution and show that you are self-motivated and passionate about your project. Whether you are considering an academic job search or have already begun drafting a research statement, this workshop will help guide you through the process of narrowing your research statement to become relevant and a significant boost to your application materials. Speakers will consider their own experiences writing and evaluating other research statements as part of hiring committees. Further, attendees will be encouraged to ask speakers questions specific to their own fields of study. 

• Date and time: Thursday, September 4, 2025; 4-5 p.m. 
• Location: JCSU, 301
• Speaker: Nicholas Murray, Associate Professor, Public Health

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This workshop will provide an overview of the interview process for academic jobs. This includes strategies for effective preparation and insights into what to expect during the interview. 

• Date/Time: Friday, September 5, 2025, 12-1:15 p.m.
• Location: MIKC 107
• Speaker: Markus Kemmelmeier, Dean, Graduate School and panelists

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The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees in STEM and STEM education. The GRFP provides three years of graduate support ($37,000 stipend per year + $16,000 for institutional support) for individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant research achievements. This workshop will provide an overview of the GRFP application process, as well as a panel discussion by faculty who have served as GRFP panel reviewers and University students who have recently received NSF GRFP awards.

• Date and time: Monday, September 8 through Thursday, September 11, 2025; 11-11:30 a.m. each day
• Location: Virtual
• Platform: Beyond Graduate School - Sign in using the link below, choose UNR, log in using your NetID

Career fair season is here, which means it's time to prepare your pitch, write your resume, and start researching future employers.

If you're looking to stand out in your internship or job search, join Beyond Graduate School for "How to Navigate Career Fairs With Confidence", an intensive boot camp designed exclusively for master's students. This virtual series will help you prepare for upcoming career fairs and meeting with employers. You'll learn how to introduce yourself, communicate your value, craft standout applications, and build your network. During the week we'll talk about:

• Welcome video: How a career fair fits into your job search
• Sept. 8: Setting goals and expectations for a career fair
• Sept. 9: How to be your best professional self
• Sept. 10: The risk of using AI in your job documents
• Sept. 11: Beyond career fairs: Why a job search takes 6-9 months

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• Date and time: Tuesday, September 9, 2025; 4-5 p.m.
• Location: Virtual via Zoom
• Speaker: Maureen McBride, Director, University Writing and Speaking Center

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Personal statements are not just for graduate school applications! As a graduate student, you might need to write personal statements as part of a fellowship, scholarship, or other type of application. The University Writing and Speaking Center's Director will provide tips on writing, organizing, and editing a personal statement.

• Date and time: Thursday, September 11, 2025; 12-1 p.m. 
• Location: JCSU, 356 (Senate Chambers)
• Speaker: Teddy Stocking, Assistant Professor, Business Librarian

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Increase the impact of your conference poster through thoughtful design. This workshop will teach you how to use good design to avoid common poster pitfalls in communicating your research clearly and effectively.

• Date and time: Wednesday, September 13, 2025; 9-10 a.m.
• Location: Virtual
• Platform: Beyond the Professoriate - Sign in using the link below, choose UNR, log in using your NetID

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Most doctoral students and postdocs pursue a Ph.D. with the goal of becoming a university professor. But today's academic job market is highly competitive and a tenure-track role may not be the right fit for everyone. As your values, life circumstances and career goals evolve, it's important to reassess what career paths align with your personal and professional needs. In today's creative economy, Ph.D.s are thriving in a wide range of roles - both within and beyond academia. So how do you decide if a faculty job is right for you? How do you make a confident, informed decision about what career path to pursue?

This webinar is designed for doctoral students, Ph.D.s and postdocs from all academic disciplines who are wondering:

• How do I know if pursuing a faculty position is the right choice for me?
• How long should I stay on the academic job market?
• How do I evaluate whether my goals and values align with a faculty career?
• What are my options if I decide not to pursue a tenure-track path?

• Date and time: Tuesday, September 16, 2025; from 12–1 p.m.
• Location: Virtual via Zoom
• Speakers: Adilia Ross, Associate Director, OISS

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Are you an international scholar looking to gain hands-on experience in your field of study? Join us for an informative workshop that breaks down the essentials of Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Curricular Practical Training (CPT). We'll cover eligibility, application timelines, key regulations and best practices for maintaining your visa status while working. Whether you're planning ahead or ready to apply, this session will provide the tools and insights you need to navigate the process confidently. Q&A included!

• Date and time: Thursday, September 18, 2025; 12-1 p.m.
• Location: JCSU, 301
• Speakers:  Jim McClenahan, Executive Director of Outreach and Engagement, College of Business

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In today's digital-first world, your LinkedIn presence can open doors to new opportunities - if you know how to use it well. This interactive workshop will help you take full advantage of LinkedIn's potential by teaching you how to:

• Build and strengthen your professional network
• Effectively showcase your skills, experience, and unique value
• Uncover job and career advancement opportunities

Whether you're just getting started or want to take your profile to the next level, you'll leave this session with actionable strategies to grow your presence, make authentic connections, and position yourself for success. The focus of this workshop will be application to industry but all are welcome!

• Date and time: Tuesday, September 23, 2025; 12-1 p.m. 
• Location: MIKC, 114
• Speaker: Elena Azadbakht, Associate Professor, Scholarly Communications and Social Sciences Librarian

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Zotero is a free citation manager that makes collecting, organizing, sharing, and citing your sources a breeze. Join this workshop to learn more about citation management and how it helps you write your papers.

• Date and time: Thursday, September 25, 2025; 4-5 p.m.
• Location: Virtual via Zoom
• Speaker: Elena Azadbakht, Associate Professor, Health Sciences Librarian 

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Learn about different review types and styles. Plus how to best conduct a comprehensive search across various databases and other online resources. We will also discuss strategies for effectively organizing and synthesizing your sources.

• Date and time: Wednesday, October 1, 2025; 9-10 a.m.
• Location: Virtual
• Platform: Beyond the Professoriate; sign in using the link below, choose UNR, log in using your NetID

Ph.D.s are driven to build careers that offer impact, purpose, and intellectual challenge - they want careers where they can apply their skills and continue growing. And in today's creative economy, there are countless opportunities for smart researchers outside academia. But how do you find a career path in industry that's the right fit for you? Join the Beyond Prof team for this webinar where you'll learn how to begin identifying career pathways that align with your interests, values, and strengths. We'll discuss how you can turn career exploration into a manageable and empowering process. This virtual session is designed for doctoral students, Ph.D.s, and postdocs from all academic disciplines who are wondering:

• How do I find a career that aligns with my unique background, skills and goals?
• How do I evaluate if a job or field is a good fit for me?
• Once I've identified career options, where do I begin my job search?

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• Date and time: Wednesday, October 1, 2025; 11-11:30 a.m.
• Location: > Virtual
• Platform: Beyond Graduate School; sign in using the link below, choose UNR, log in using your NetID

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Generative -AI tools have made it easy for job seekers to churn out nearly identical resumes and application materials. As a result, recruiters are now also inundated with hundreds of generic resumes that look and sound the same. They skim over AI-written submissions, and the odds of your resume being picked out of the pile are slim. So, how do you stand out in an AI-drive job market? By taking a different approach.

Join Beyond Graduate School for this short webinar on how to stand out! You'll learn:

• The pitfalls of using AI in your job search
• What makes you stand out in a hyper-competitive job market
• Proven job search strategies that master's students use to land interviews
• Productive ways for using AI in your job search without losing your authentic voice or competitive edge

• Date and time: Thursday, October 2, 2025; 12-1 p.m.
• Location: Virtual via Zoom
• Speakers: Theresa Schultz, Associate Professor, Scholarly Communications and Social Sciences Librarian 

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Topics focus on issues related to copyright in education, such as copying materials and displaying video. They can also focus on issues related to research, including negotiate copyright with a journal, determining your rights as an author and using the works of others in your research. Includes tools to help users make a fair decision. 

• Date and time: Wednesday, October 15, 2025; 9-10 a.m. 
• Location: Virtual
• Platform: Beyond the Professoriate - Sign in using the link below, choose UNR, log in using your NetID

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LinkedIn is the world's largest professional networking platform - and an essential tool for Ph.D.s exploring careers beyond academia. If you're new to LinkedIn or unsure how to use it effectively in an industry job search, this webinar is for you.

You’ll learn how to create a compelling profile that clearly communicates who you are, where you’re headed, and the value you bring to nonacademic employers. We’ll also walk through how to tailor your profile as you move through different stages of your career exploration and job search. Register for this webinar with the Beyond Prof team to gain the tools and confidence to present yourself professionally on LinkedIn. 

This virtual session is designed for doctoral students, PhDs, and postdocs from all academic disciplines who are wondering: 

• Why is LinkedIn important for my nonacademic job search?
• How do I write an effective "About" section that highlights my skills and goals?
• How should my LinkedIn profile evolve throughout the job search process? 

• Date and time: Wednesday, October 15, 2025; 11-11:30 a.m.
• Location: Virtual
• Speakers:Beyond Graduate School; sign in using the link below, choose UNR, log in using your NetID

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If you’re an early-career professional reaching out to recruiters on LinkedIn, you might find that your messages often go unanswered. Why are recruiters ignoring you?  The truth is, in the age of AI, recruiters often receive hundreds of messages on LinkedIn. And they will respond to very few of them. 

Join Beyond Graduate School for this webinar on why recruiters ignore outreach from job seekers and what you can do about it. This webinar is designed specifically for master’s students who are early career professionals (less than 5 years of work experience). During the webinar, you’ll learn: 

• Why recruiters ignore the majority of messages they receive
• What you should do as job seeker looking to connect with recruiters and hiring managers
• The most effective use of your time as a job seeker on LinkedIn and growing your network strategically