Future Faculty and Academic Careers

Becoming a Resilient Scientist Discussion Series
2022-10-07 14:00 - 15:00, 2022-10-21 14:00 - 15:00, 2022-11-04 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Have you ever wanted to practice developing the confidence and resilience needed to navigate challenging situations as a graduate student and in life? This fall, the Cornell Graduate School (Office of Graduate Student Life and Future Faculty and Academic Careers) will facilitate small online discussion meetings on Friday afternoons about the contents of a series of NIH webinars called “Becoming a Resilient Scientist.”
The commitment involves watching a 2-hour webinar every other Thursday afternoon along with participating in a 1-hour Zoom discussion group with your Cornell colleagues. By participating in the Cornell Discussion Groups, students will be able to talk openly and candidly about the material presented in a space where confidentiality is the expectation. Below are the unit topics and the date/time with the link that to the webinar.

Unit 1. An Introduction to Resilience and Wellness (Thursday, Sept 8th from 3:00 – 5:00 pm)

Cornell Discussion Group (Friday, September 9th from 2:00 – 3:00 pm)

Unit 2. Exploring our Self-Talk: Cognitive Distortions and Imposter Fears (Thursday, Sept 22nd from 3:00 – 5:00 pm)

Cornell Discussion Group (Friday, September 23 from 2:00 – 3:00 pm)

Unit 3. Self-Advocacy and Assertiveness for Scientists (Thursday, Oct 6th from 3:00 – 5:00 pm)

Cornell Discussion Group (Friday, October 7th from 2:00 – 3:00 pm)

Unit 4. Developing Feedback Resilience (Thursday, Oct 20th from 3:00 – 5:00 pm)

Cornell Discussion Group (Friday, October 21st from 2:00 – 3:00 pm)

Unit 5. Managing Up to Maximize Mentoring Relationships (Thursday, Nov 3rd from 3:00 – 5:00 pm)

Cornell Discussion Group (Friday, November 4th from 2:00 – 3:00 pm)

You can attend one, more, or all sessions. For weeks you choose to attend, you do need to watch the webinar prior to participating in the discussion session. Those who attend at least 4 out of 5 discussion sessions will receive a certificate of completion. We will be having an optional Wrap-Up Celebration Luncheon in-person at the end of the series on November 9th (more information to come).
There are a limited number of spaces to participate. Please register by September 6 here.

Interviewing and Negotiation for Academic Positions
2022-10-31 12:00 - 13:30 | Zoom
An important part of the academic job search is interviewing and then negotiating the offer. Come learn about the art of interviewing for faculty positions from your laptop or mobile device. The format will be interactive presentation followed by question and answer period.
Presenters: Yael Levitte, Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Development and Diversity, and Christine Holmes, Director of Postdoctoral Studies
RSVP to receive the link to the Zoom meeting. Register for October 31
Co-sponsored by the Office of Postdoctoral Studies and the Future Faculty and Academic Careers program, as part of the Graduate School’s Academic Job Search Series.
Accommodations: We strive to make our events accessible to all Cornell community members. Individuals who have accessibility accommodations to request should contact futurefaculty@cornell.edu. We ask that requests be made at least one week in advance to help ensure they can be met.

Navigating the Job Market with Former FGSS Grads
2022-11-30 16:30 - 18:00 | Zoom
An event hosted by the Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (FGSS) Program, open to all grads and with a humanities, arts, and social science focus.
Navigating the Job Market with Former FGSS Grads!
Wednesday, November 30th from 4:30-6pm (VIRTUAL)
Join former Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Graduates in a virtual discussion on how they navigated (and survived!) the job market! During this casual online talk, panelists will discuss everything from crafting the perfect cover letter to preparing for your first, second (and maybe third!) interview! From how to search for alt-ac positions to what types of interview questions to prepare for to negotiating your salary…these panelists have done it all! We will get in depth with all your burning questions! This event is open to all grads and has a humanities, arts, and social science focus. Email Jayme Kilburn with any questions (jlk355@cornell.edu).
Panelists:

Lynne Stahl (Humanities Librarian, West Virginia University)
Natasha Bissonauth (Assistant Professor, York University)
Rosalie Purvis (Assistant Professor, University of Maine)
Honey Crawford (Assistant Professor, New York University)
Cailtin Kane (Assistant Professor, Kent State University)
Nicolette Bragg (Visiting Assistant Professor, Swarthmore College)

RSVP here

Job Search Discussion
2022-12-12 11:00 - 12:00, 2023-01-18 15:00 - 16:00 | Zoom
The Job Search Discussion is designed to get graduate students and postdoctoral scholars together to talk about concerns that job seekers share, and strategize about how to move forward.
Each session will begin with a brief introduction that includes tips, perspectives, and thoughts from staff who support career exploration within and beyond academia. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions they have and share best practices that work for them.
We want to create a safe space for everyone to talk and listen. Please come join us and hear from each other!
Register to attend a Job Search Discussion session
Dates & Times:
Monday, December 12 from 11:00am – 12:00pm ET
Wednesday, January 18 from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET
Location:
Zoom link to be provided upon registration
Facilitators: Christine Holmes, Director of Postdoctoral Studies; Colleen McLinn, Associate Dean for Professional Development; Susi Varvayanis, Executive Director of Careers Beyond Academia
Accommodations: We strive to make our events accessible to all community members. Individuals who would like to request accessibility accommodations should contact futurefaculty@cornell.edu. We ask that requests be made at least one week in advance to help ensure they can be met.

Interviewing and Negotiation for Academic Positions
2023-02-08 12:00 - 13:30 | Zoom
An important part of the academic job search is interviewing and then negotiating the offer. Come learn about the art of interviewing for faculty positions from your laptop or mobile device. The format will be interactive presentation followed by question and answer period.
Presenters: Yael Levitte, Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Development and Diversity, and Christine Holmes, Director of Postdoctoral Studies
Register online
Co-sponsored by the Office of Postdoctoral Studies and the Future Faculty and Academic Careers program, as part of the Graduate School’s Academic Job Search Series.
Accommodations: We strive to make our events accessible to all Cornell community members. Individuals who have accessibility accommodations to request should contact futurefaculty@cornell.edu. We ask that requests be made at least one week in advance to help ensure they can be met.

NextGen Professors
2023-02-16 16:00 - 17:30 | ILR Conference Center, King-Shaw Hall, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
NextGen Professors Power Mentoring Session with Dr. Corey Welch
Registration form: https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4PnUkcs9Kx1JoOO

MAC Public Keynote with Dr. Corey Welch
2023-02-17 11:30 - 13:30 | G10 Biotechnology Building, 526 Campus Road, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
About Our Speaker
Dr. Corey Welch is the Director of the STEM Scholars Program at Iowa State University. His love of nature took a first generation, low income, Northern Cheyenne/White kid from a trailer park in Montana toward a career as a biologist. He has a biology degree from Lewis & Clark College, a M.S. in the department of Systematics & Ecology from the University of Kansas, and a Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Washington. He has done extensive field work in the Kansas, the Pacific Northwest, and Eastern Australia. Prior to his Ph.D., he taught introductory biology & ecology at Haskell Indian Nations University, one of the largest tribal colleges.
After his postdoc, he transitioned to full time student development as a program coordinator of the Biology Scholars Program at UC Berkeley, an innovative nationally recognized program for minorities and low income students. In 2016, he established the STEM Scholars, modeled after this program. The mission of the STEM Scholars is to diversify who succeeds in the sciences with a current 208 membership that is comprised of 62% Minoritized, 60% low income, 71% first generation, and 71% female. Corey uses the latest STEM Education research and his own experience as a first generation, low income, Northern Cheyenne Tribal member to train the next generation of scientists.
Corey frequently gives talks around the country on diversifying the Sciences from the undergraduate to the professoriate, serves on NIH/NSF/HHMI Grant Review Panels, and occasionally publishes papers on ways to improve the biology education and faculty hiring, retention, promotion, and tenure practices. He spoke in Washington D.C. at the March For Science, and from 2016-2021, he served on the National Board of Directors of SACNAS (Society for the Advancement of Chicano/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science) and remains active on several committees. He is a facilitator for two SACNAS annual leadership institutes for STEM PhDs., and co-advises the ISU SACNAS Chapter. As possibly the first and only Northern Cheyenne to earn a Biology Ph.D., he gives back to his tribal community through an annual Northern Cheyenne scholarship honoring his late mother.
Lastly, Dr. Welch claims to have been good at basketball once and is a big comedy and podcast nerd. He lives in Ames, Iowa with his spouse, Dr. Tracy Heath (EEOB ISU) and a golden retriever who is a very good dog.
Sponsorship
Graduate School Offices of Inclusion and Student Engagement, and Future Faculty and Academic Careers, and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Information Session on the Cornell Three Minute Thesis (3MT)
2023-03-06 11:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
Learn about the Three-Minute Thesis competition: history, format, judging, prizes, and how Cornell offers the chance to participate. Organizers will field your questions about competing in an all-virtual competition in Spring 2023.
Register online to attend an information session.

Bullying in the Academy: Public Talk on Workplace Bullying in Higher Education with Dr. Leah Hollis
2023-03-10 11:00 - 12:30 | Statler Ballroom, 130 Statler Drive, 14853
The Inclusive Wellness Series
Nearly 60 percent of higher education professionals have been impacted by bullying during their careers. The erosion in academic culture caused by workplace bullying and intimidation is only intensified when bullying occurs within structures of power and intersects with incidents of racism, sexism, and other forms of bias. In this talk, Dr. Leah Hollis, author of Bully in the Ivory Tower: How Aggression and Incivility Erode American Higher Education, will highlight her research on the areas of workplace bullying and workplace violence in higher education and offer clear solutions to improve our workplace and academic climate.
Register here
Sponsors
Department of Inclusion and Belonging, the Graduate School Office of Inclusion and Student Engagement, and the Provost Office of Faculty Development and Diversity.
About the Speaker
Dr. Leah P. Hollis is the Founder and President of Patricia Berkly, LLC, a healthy workplace advocate, and diversity trainer. Her recent book, Human Resource Perspectives on Workplace Bullying in Higher Education Understanding Vulnerable Employees’ Experiences, was released by Routledge (2021), examining the structural problems and inadequate policies that allow workplace bullying to hurt vulnerable employees. She has continued her research with Intersecting Distress (forthcoming), which examines intersectionality, Black women, and workplace bullying.
Serving as Lead Consultant of Workplace Bullying, Equity, Access, and Diversity, Hollis speaks nationally and internationally, including appearances in Milan, Italy; Athens, Greece; Oxford, England; New York, New York; Los Angeles, California, Texas, and Pennsylvania. Her work has been covered by University Business, Nature, The Chronicle of Higher Education, higheredjobs.com, and Forbes Magazine.
Hollis has an exemplary career in higher education administration where she has held senior leadership and faculty posts. Currently an Associate Professor at Morgan State University, Dr. Hollis has taught at Northeastern University, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and Rutgers University. Dr. Hollis received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University and her Master of Arts degree from the University of Pittsburgh. She received her Doctor of Education in Administration, Training, and Policy Studies from Boston University, as a Martin Luther King, Jr. Fellow. Also, Dr. Hollis continued her professional training at Harvard University through the Graduate School of Education, Higher Education Management Development Program. She earned certifications in Project Management and Executive Leadership at Stanford University and Cornell University, respectively.

Building Mentorship Skills for Academic Careers
2023-03-23 15:00 - 16:30 | Online
In this series of remotely delivered workshops designed for current graduate students and postdocs and open to those in all fields, you will develop essential research mentoring skills, particularly for disciplines where research is conducted collaboratively. Effective mentoring of student research is a key skill influencing everything from research productivity to personal satisfaction. Learn best practices for mentorship of summer undergraduate researchers, rotation students, or research technicians, and develop planning and communication skills needed to lead a research project or group.
All sessions will be practical in nature and feature short pre-readings or videos, case study discussions, and self-assessments to help identify your strengths and desired areas for improvement.Receive a certificate for completing at least 4 of 5 sessions (dates: 3/23, 4/13, 4/20, 4/25 (in person/hybrid event), and 5/11). Interested participants should apply prior to the start of the series with the expectation of attending all workshops and actively participating in small and large group discussions.
Most sessions are on Thursdays from 3:00-4:30 pm ET. Registered participants will receive Zoom connection details for each session. See full schedule and topics
Register for Spring 2023 Series
Questions?

Contact Dr. Colleen McLinn, futurefaculty@cornell.edu or 607-255-2030

2023 Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition
2023-03-30 15:00 - 16:30 | Zoom
Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is a competition for doctoral students to develop and showcase their research communication skills.
The 2023 final round competition will be held on Thursday, March 30, 2023. Register to attend and vote for the people’s choice award.
3MT challenges research degree students to present a compelling story on their dissertation or thesis and its significance in just three minutes, in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience. In addition to the first place and second place winners from among the finalists, audience members on March 30 will be asked to select a People’s Choice Award Winner.

Career Launchpad: Navigating the Job Market in Academia
2023-04-14 13:00 - 15:00
We are pleased to highlight this free, online workshop presented by recent Ph.D. graduates of partner universities and Chinese Historians in the United States (CHUS), an affiliated society of the American Historical Association (AHA). This workshop is designed to assist recent doctoral graduates and PhD candidates in the Humanities and Social Sciences to better prepare for their job search.
The event will be a 2-hour online workshop with three junior scholars who have successfully obtained academic positions in the last two years. During the workshop, they will share their experiences and insights on how they prepared for job applications, their job application process, and any other advice they may have for aspiring academics. The workshop is open to all young scholars who are interested in landing a job in academia.
Speakers include:

Dr. Sarah Yu, incoming Assistant Professor, DeSales University
Dr. Dingru Huang, incoming Assistant Professor, Tufts University
Dr. Sarah Chang, incoming Assistant Professor, Miami University
Dr. Yi Ren (moderator), Director of the Engagement Program at CHUS

NPA SmartSkills: Unconscious Bias and Beyond
2023-04-25 15:00 - 16:00 | Webinar
SmartSkills is a free, virtual course for postdocs who are members* of the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA). Monthly classes are taught by experts and focus on building skills critical to career and personal success.
Unconscious Bias and Beyond
Tuesday, April 25 at 3 p.m. ET
Register to attend
Biases and barriers at an interpersonal and systemic level impacts an individual’s growth, successful interactions between teams, and mismatch in expectations. In this talk we will discuss the impact of compounding barriers, including unconscious bias, that affect the culture of science, society and innovation.
Speaker: Srikant Iyer, Ph.D., director, Workforce Development and Education Partnerships, Life Science Washington
Free membership to the NPA is available to all Cornell graduate students, postdocs, faculty, and staff. Join the NPA by using your Cornell email address and selecting the corresponding “Affiliate Individual” option.

Alumni Panel: Sustainability Careers in Academia
2023-04-27 18:30 - 20:00 | Online
We are pleased to highlight this virtual career panel hosted by the Cornell China Center featuring three Cornell alumni pursuing academic paths in sustainability research. Panelists will share how they have built their academic paths in sustainability, with insights from their international and multicultural backgrounds. They will discuss their interdisciplinary approaches and methodologies as well as their personal stories and takeaways from their academic journeys, offering valuable guidance and inspiration to students, postdocs, and alumni who are interested in sustainability. We welcome you to join this conversation to gain a deeper understanding of how to build a sustainability-related career in academia.
Panelists:

Professor Chuan Liao, MS’12, PhD’15 : Assistant Professor, Department Global Development, Cornell University
Professor Yue Li, PhD’17: Assistant Professor at School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Points
Zhenli Richard Chen, ESS’20, MPS’21 : Current PhD student, Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford University

Learn more and register

NAGS 2023 3MT Competition
2023-04-28 15:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
The Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools (NAGS) s pleased to announce the 2023 Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition. This year, the virtual event will be hosted by the University of New Hampshire. The 3MT competition will feature winners of each NAGS member’s local competitions, with the NAGS winner and runner-up being sent to the next Council of Graduate Schools national competition.
The competition will be held live via Zoom. Visit the NAGS 2023 3MT website for more information.

Careers for PhDs: Consulting
2023-05-16 16:15 - 17:30 | Zoom
For a growing number of humanities (and other) PhDs, the field of consulting represents an opportunity to translate their love of and expertise in research into a rewarding career path. Established consultancies are eager to employ candidates with doctoral training in a wide range of capacities, while motivated and creative PhDs are often able to develop a client base and set their own professional agenda. A panel of humanities PhD-holders will share their insights on the nature of consultant work, the kinds of jobs available in the sector, and how to mobilize your PhD skillset to join a consultancy or start your own.
The panelists

Chiara Girardi (Modern Languages and Literatures PhD, Johns Hopkins), senior principal for cybersecurity research at Gartner
Laura Payne-Bourcy (English Education PhD, Syracuse University), owner of LPB Consulting Services.
Dylan Ruediger (History PhD, Georgia State University), program manager with the Research Enterprise at Ithaka S+R

Register to attend!
About the Central NY Humanities Corridor
The Central NY Humanities Corridor is a dynamic research consortium linking 11 universities and colleges across the region, supported by an award from the Mellon Foundation. Our network cultivates innovative collaborative research, teaching, and programming. CORRIDOR INSTITUTIONS are Syracuse University (our administrative home), Cornell University, the University of Rochester, Colgate University, Hamilton College, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Skidmore College, St. Lawrence University, Union College, Le Moyne College, and the Rochester Institute of Technology.

The Application Process for an Academic Job
2023-05-31 12:00 - 13:15 | Zoom
To kick off the 2022-2023 Academic Job Search Series for Cornell graduate students and postdocs, come learn about the process of searching for a U.S. faculty job from start to finish: when to apply for faculty and other academic positions, what documents are required, and how long the process takes. Bring your questions for an interactive online discussion.
Presented by Christine Holmes, Director of Postdoctoral Studies and Colleen McLinn, Associate Dean for Professional Development. Register to attend and you will receive the Zoom meeting link via email.
Sponsored by the Graduate School’s Career and Professional Development team as part of the Academic Job Search Series. We encourage you to learn more about the other support resources available to you through the Office of Postdoctoral Studies and Future Faculty and Academic Careers program.
Accommodations: We strive to make our events accessible to all Cornell community members. Individuals who have accessibility accommodations to request should contact futurefaculty@cornell.edu. We ask that requests be made at least one week in advance to help ensure they can be met.

Weill Institute Career Workshop: Alumni in Academia Panel
2023-06-02 15:00 - 16:00 | Zoom
This event hosted by the Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology‘s Career Development committee is open to all interested graduate students and postdocs, with a focus on the experiences of alumni from fields associated with the Weill Institute at Cornell University.

Join the for a virtual event with a panel of Weill Institute alumni discussing their paths to academic positions at a range of institutions, from teaching- to research-oriented. Ask your questions and hear the tips and tricks of applying for academic positions from our very own alumni!
Panelists:

Tommy Vo (Michigan State University)
Francisco Oliveira (UERJ, Brazil)
Andrew Lombardo (University at Buffalo)
Ashley Earle (York College of Pennsylvania)
Richa Sardana (College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University)

This event will take place on Wednesday, June 2 from 3:00-4:00 pm ET and meeting virtually.
Register for the Zoom link and submit questions for the panel.

Future Professors Institute Keynote Talk
2023-06-06 12:00 - 14:00 | Hybrid
Institute Dates: Tuesday, June 6 (In-Person & Live Stream) and Wednesday, June 7 (Virtual Only)
Times: June 6, 12:00 – 2:00 pm ET ǀ June 7, 11:00 am – 4:15 pm ET
Location: June 6, G10 Biotech & Live Stream ǀ June 7, Zoom
Registration: https://blogs.cornell.edu/futureprofs/registration-2023/
Registration Priority Dates: May 26, 2023 (for In-Person Participation); June 2, 2023 (for Virtual Participation)
The Future Professors Institute engages graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in workshops, panel discussions, and talks focused on preparing them for faculty careers across institutional types. Though open to all, the priority audience for the institute is Cornell University graduate students and postdocs from backgrounds historically excluded from and underrepresented in the professoriate, and/or those with a demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity, inclusion, access, and equity in academia.
Additionally, we invite interested Cornell faculty and staff to register for the networking lunch and keynote talk on June 6. (Graduate students and postdocs registering for the full institute will automatically receive registration to the keynote as well.)
2023 Keynote
Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 12:30 pm ET (Lunch from 12:00-12:30 pm)

Successfully Navigating Academia: Structural and Agentic Lessons for Workloads, Writing, and the Workforce
There is no single solution for thriving in academia. In reality, there is a constant interaction between forces under our control (i.e., agency) and forces outside of our control (i.e., structures) that impact and impede our ability to successfully navigate academic careers. In this workshop, Dr. Damani White-Lewis will consider this duality within three essential elements of academic training: workloads, writing, and the workforce. Suitable for graduate students, early career faculty, and professional staff, attendees will learn personal strategies and the necessary structural conditions that can be advocated for to improve their workload balance, scholarly writing, and hiring prospects.
Speaker

Dr. Damani White-Lewis, Assistant Professor of Higher Education, University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education
Damani White-Lewis, PhD, is an assistant professor of higher education at the University of Pennsylvania. As an interdisciplinary scholar, Dr. White-Lewis studies racial inequality in academic careers and contexts using multiple methods and theories from organizational behavior and social psychology.
Dr. White-Lewis’ work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) and has appeared in The Journal of Higher Education, Research in Higher Education, The Review of Higher Education, American Educational Research Journal, Teachers College Record, and others. His dissertation received the 2020 Outstanding Dissertation Award from the National Association of Chief Diversity Officers. He has also received honors and awards from the Association for the Study of Higher Education, the American Association of Blacks in Higher Education, and the American Educational Research Association. As a public scholar, he has been featured in outlets such as Inside Higher Ed and Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, and regularly advises college campuses and external organizations on addressing issues related to the academic profession, racial equity, and institutional transformation and systemic change in higher education.
This keynote will be held on Cornell University central campus, and livestream access will also be available to remotely participating graduate students and postdocs.
Sponsorship
This is a collaborative initiative of the Cornell Graduate School Offices of Future Faculty and Academic Careers, Inclusion and Student Engagement, and Postdoctoral Studies, and is based on work that was funded in part by the National Science Foundation (grant number 1647094; CIRTL AGEP).
Questions?
Please direct any questions to: futurefaculty@cornell.edu

Future Professors Institute
2023-06-07 11:00 - 16:15 | Hybrid
Institute Dates: Tuesday, June 6 (In-Person & Live Stream) and Wednesday, June 7 (Virtual Only)
Times: June 6, 12:00 – 2:00 pm ET ǀ June 7, 11:00 am – 4:15 pm ET
Location: June 6, G10 Biotech & Live Stream ǀ June 7, Zoom
Registration: https://blogs.cornell.edu/futureprofs/registration-2023/
Registration Priority Dates: May 26, 2023 (for In-Person Participation); June 2, 2023 (for Virtual Participation)
The Future Professors Institute engages graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in workshops, panel discussions, and talks focused on preparing them for faculty careers across institutional types. Though open to all, the priority audience for the institute is Cornell University graduate students and postdocs from backgrounds historically excluded from and underrepresented in the professoriate, and/or those with a demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity, inclusion, access, and equity in academia.
Sponsorship
This is a collaborative initiative of the Cornell Graduate School Offices of Future Faculty and Academic Careers, Inclusion and Student Engagement, and Postdoctoral Studies, and is based on work that was funded in part by the National Science Foundation (grant number 1647094; CIRTL AGEP).
Questions?
Please direct any questions to: futurefaculty@cornell.edu

Writing a Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
2023-06-14 12:00 - 13:30 | Zoom
Come discuss how to approach writing the diversity statement sometimes requested as part of academic faculty or postdoctoral job applications. We will share examples and guidance from Cornell and other colleges and universities and prompt you to think about ways in which you do, or could, contribute to a university’s mission.
Facilitators: Christine Holmes, Director of Postdoctoral Studies; Colleen McLinn, Associate Dean for Professional Development, Cornell Graduate School; Derina Samuel, Associate Director for Graduate Student Development, Center for Teaching Innovation
Register to attend.
Co-sponsored by the Office of Postdoctoral Studies and Future Faculty and Academic Careers, as part of the Graduate School’s Academic Job Search Series.

Writing a Research Statement for a Primarily Undergraduate Institution
2023-06-21 12:00 - 13:30 | Zoom
Through an interactive online discussion, guest presenter Dr. Jeffrey Werner (Professor of Chemistry at SUNY Cortland) will help job-seekers interested in faculty positions at four-year colleges and universities (e.g., primarily undergraduate institutions, or PUIs) outline a research statement that highlights plans to mentor undergraduate students in research.
Register to attend.
Co-sponsored by the Office of Postdoctoral Studies and Future Faculty and Academic Careers, as part of the Graduate School’s Academic Job Search Series.

2023 Summer Success Symposium
2023-08-15 10:00 - 15:30 | G10 Biotechnology Building, 526 Campus Road, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
The Summer Success Symposium is a professional and community development event for new and continuing doctoral students from across all graduate fields. The symposium has a particular focus on bringing together recipients of graduate fellowships in support of diversity as well as all other doctoral students from backgrounds historically excluded from and underrepresented in the academy. This includes, but is not limited to students who identify as Black, Indigenous, Hispanic/Latina/o/x, and/or Southeast Asian, and/or those that identify as first-generation college (FGC) students, LGBTQQ+ identified students, veterans, students with disabilities, women in STEM, students with DACA status, and others. Master’s degree students interested in pursuing doctoral studies are also welcome to this event.
Through this symposium, participants have the opportunity to form connections and establish community. This symposium also provides participants with the opportunity to engage with successful alumni, faculty, and professionals with shared experiences and identities. Summer Success Symposium keynote and workshop content focus on providing participants with access to knowledge and insights that will help them navigate their successful transition into and progression through their graduate studies.
Registration Required
Symposium Agenda
10:00-10:15am Registration – Biotech Atrium *Coffee, tea, and juice service

10:15-10:30am Welcome Remarks

Speaker: Sara Xayarath Hernández, Associate Dean for Inclusion & Student Engagement, Graduate School

10:30-12:00pm Plenary Workshop:

Session Summary:
Speaker: Steve Desir, Ph.D., Director of Professional Learning & Organizational Development, Consortium for Equity in Graduate Education, and Assistant Professor of Research, Rossier School of Education, University of Southern California
Speaker Bio: Dr. Steve Desir is an Assistant Research Professor in the Pullias Center for Higher Education at the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education. His research interests include racial equity in college admissions, organizational change, and the use of theory-based psychological interventions to facilitate behavioral change. More specifically, Dr. Desir is interested in whether insights from social psychology, sociology, and behavioral economics can be used to improve educational experiences for minoritized groups. Dr. Desir earned his doctoral degree in Higher Education from USC, and a master’s degree in Education Policy and Management from Harvard. Prior to his studies at USC and HGSE, Dr. Desir completed his master’s degree in secondary education from NYU, and earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science at Penn State. Dr. Desir is a native New Yorker, and in his spare time enjoys running, Muay-Thai kickboxing, and attending concerts.

12:00-12:30pm Lunch Break: Boxed Lunches Available

12:30pm-2:00pm Alumni Keynote Address:
Session Summary:
Speaker: Coalton Bennett, Ph.D., Patent Agent, McCarter & Fish
Speaker Bio: Dr. Coalton Bennett is a patent agent, assisting in the preparation and prosecution of patent applications filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Dr. Bennett has a significant technical background in a wide range of areas including computer networks, Internet applications and software, audio signal processing, speech processing, image processing, wireless communications standards including IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.15.4, cellular data service (knowledge of various standards including GSM, CDMA, GPRS, 3G, UMTS, etc.), mobile advertising, software, mobile payments, mapping software, retail advertising, machine learning, genetic algorithms, artificial intelligence, optical communications, blockchain, and cryptocurrency. In addition, he has experience with data security and privacy.
Prior to becoming a patent agent, Dr. Bennett was a member of the technical staff at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Lincoln Laboratory, where he developed networking protocols for wireless handsets. Dr. Bennet earned his Ph.D. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering in 2010 from Cornell University and his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Howard University.

2:00-2:15pm Break

2:15-3:30pm Panel Discussion: Mastering Your Transition Into & Progression Through Graduate School
Session Summary: During this panel discussion with current doctoral students from across the disciplines, panelists candidly discussed their experiences and strategies for making a successful transition into graduate school. They also shared insights on their experiences navigating their ongoing progression through their graduate studies, and their exploration and preparation for various postgraduate career pathways.
Moderator:

Drea Darby, Ph.D. Candidate, Entomology

Panelists:

Kaitlin Diggins, Ph.D. Student, Plant Pathology & Plant-Microbe Biology
Helen Stec, PhD Student, NBB
Dante King, PhD Student, Classics
Alex Pasqualini, PhD Candidate, Music
Alan Mata, PhD Student, Entomology

EVENT SPONSORS: Graduate School Office of Inclusion & Student Engagement, Diversity Programs in Engineering, and the Cornell Chapter of the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society.
*This program was modeled in part after PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP Summer Success Institute.

Dean’s Welcome for New Graduate and Professional Students
2023-08-17 09:00 - 10:00 | Bailey Hall, 230 Garden Ave, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
Welcome new Cornell graduate and professional students! You’re invited to the Dean’s Welcome at 9 a.m. on August 17, 2023 in Bailey Hall. Cornell’s president, the Graduate School dean, and a panel of faculty and students will welcome new students and share advice.
Dean’s Welcome Agenda
Introduction and Land Acknowledgement
Kathryn J. Boor
Dean of the Graduate School and Vice Provost for Graduate Education
Cornell University Welcome
Martha E. Pollack
Cornell University President
Cornell and Graduate School Welcome
Kathryn J. Boor
Dean of the Graduate School and Vice Provost for Graduate Education
Faculty and Student Panel
A panel of esteemed faculty and students will answer questions from the audience about how to make the most of your graduate school experience

Grad Connect: A Resource Fair for Graduate and Professional Degree Students
2023-08-28 12:00 - 15:00 | Barton Hall, 117 Statler Drive, Ithaca, New York, 14853
This collaborative, in-person resource fair will provide an opportunity for graduate and professional degree students from across programs to engage with each other while also learning more about the resources, offices, and organizations that help to support your development and progression at Cornell. With 60+ campus resources and 20 different graduate and professional student organizations, you are bound to find lots of resources helpful to you. If you need accommodations to participate, please email gradstudentlife@cornell.edu.
Download the Grad Connect event flyer.
2023 Grad Connect directory
This event is brought to you by the Graduate School, the Law School, the SC Johnson College of Business, the College of Veterinary Medicine, and the College of Engineering.
2023 Grad Connect Partner List

Alumni Affairs and Development Student Programs
American Indian Indigenous Studies Program
Asian & Asian American Center
Athletic Ticketing
Black Graduate Professional Student Association (BGPSA)
Big Red Barn Graduate and Professional Student Center
Campus Activities
Campus Sustainability Office
Center for Regional Economic Advancement
Center for Teaching Innovation
Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability
Cornell Career Services
Cornell Center for Social Sciences(CCSS)
Cornell Cinema
Cornell Concert Series
Cornell Empathy, Assistance, and Referral Services (EARS)
Cornell Fitness Centers
Cornell Health
Cornell Print Services
Cornell University Library
Einhorn Center for Community Engagement
English Language Support Office
Feminist, Gender & Sexuality Studies
Financial Aid and Student Employment
First Generation and Low Income Graduate Student Organization (FiGLI)
GPS Diversity Council
Graduate and Professional Student Assembly (GPSA)
Graduate Office of Fellowships and Funding
Graduate School Career and Professional Development
Graduate School Office of Inclusion and Student Engagement
Graduate School Registrar’s Office
IT@Cornell
Knight Institute Graduate Writing Service
LGBT Resource Center
MAC (Multicultural Academic Council) Mentoring Program
New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG)
Off-Campus Living
Office of Global Learning International Services
Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX (OIETIX)
Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards
Office of Student Health Benefits – Student Insurance
Office of the Bursar
Ombuds Office
Pelvic Pain Association at Cornell
Protestant Cooperative Ministry
Recreational Services
Research Data Management Service Group
Roper Center for Public Opinion Research
Student and Academic Services – College of Veterinary Medicine
Student Disability Services
The Cornell Store
The Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies
Tompkins Chamber/Visit Ithaca
Tompkins County Public Library
Transportation and Delivery Services
Women in Public Policy

NSF GRFP Overview Session
2023-09-08 10:00 - 11:00 | Zoom
The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) application deadlines are coming up! As a resource for students applying this year, the Graduate School is offering a virtual NSF GRFP Overview session on Sept 8th, from 10-11am that will cover how to create a competitive proposal and share tips from a panel of successful GFRP winners. Register to attend.
This year’s GRFP deadlines:
Life Sciences, October 16, 2023
Computer and Information Science and Engineering, Materials Research, Psychology, Social Sciences, STEM Education and Learning, October 17, 2023
Engineering, October 19, 2023
Chemistry, Geosciences, Mathematical Sciences, Physics and Astronomy, October 20, 2023
Details about the NSF GRFP program are available at NSF.

Postdoc Appreciation and Awards Reception
2023-09-19 17:00 - 19:00 | Big Red Barn, 135 Presidents Way, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
Join the Graduate School and the Office of Postdoctoral Studies in celebrating our postdocs during National Postdoc Appreciation Week. During this event we will recognize recipients of the Postdoc Achievement Awards.
