Academic Job Search Series
Upcoming Events
The Application Process for an Academic Job
- Tuesday, June 23, 2026 from 1:00-2:15 pm ET
- Meets by Zoom – Register to attend
- Presenter: Dr. Colleen McLinn, Associate Dean for Professional Development, Cornell Graduate School
- To kick off the 2026-2027 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 (CV, cover letter, etc.), and how long the process takes. Bring your questions for an interactive online discussion.
Writing a Research Statement for a Primarily Undergraduate Institution
- Tuesday, June 30, 2026 from 1:00-2:15 pm ET
- Meets by Zoom – Register to attend
- Presenter: Dr. Jeffrey Werner, Professor of Chemistry, SUNY Cortland
- Through an interactive online discussion, 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.
Developing a Narrative For Your Teaching Statement
- Tuesday, July 14, 2026 from 1:00-2:15 pm ET
- Meets by Zoom – Register to attend
- Presenters: Dr. Derina Samuel, Associate Director for Graduate Student Development, Center for Teaching Innovation and Dr. Colleen McLinn, Associate Dean for Professional Development, Cornell Graduate School
- Explore essential elements of a teaching statement for an academic job application. Come prepared to brainstorm key ideas of your statement. Leave with peer feedback on a first draft of your teaching statement, or ideas on how you might revise an existing draft to ensure it accurately reflects your approach to creating inclusive classrooms.
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.
Archived Presentations
We are pleased to make video-on-demand recordings, slides and handouts for recent workshops available to the broader Cornell community. For accessibility questions or requests, please contact futurefaculty@cornell.edu
- Recordings on Cornell Video on Demand (requires Cornell Net ID)
- Slides and handouts in Box (requires Cornell Net ID)
- Past Academic Job Search Series – from 2018-2021
- Resources and support for the academic job search
About the Series
In 2025-2026, we are offering two types of events, both co-sponsored by Future Faculty and Academic Careers and the the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs. All events are currently offered as Zoom meetings or webinars.
Academic Job Search Workshops
Interested in learning more about the Academic Job Search process, and the materials you will need to gather for an application? Come to interactive workshops to learn more through presentations and activities. Remote connection is available via Zoom with advance registration. You can always check out our video on demand recordings and archived presentation slides and handouts, linked above.
Job Search Discussion Groups
We are gathering a supportive community of peers where you can discuss your experiences while preparing for job searching and as a candidate. Bring questions, problems, and things you’ve always wondered about to these periodic discussions aimed at graduate students and postdocs. RSVPs are required.
For questions or accessibility needs to participate in the Academic Job Search Series, please contact the Cornell Graduate School Career and Professional Development office at: futurefaculty@cornell.edu
Or, contact us about your suggestions for future programming or to book an individual consultation!
Past Events
Getting a Faculty Position: Lessons Learned During the Academic Job Search
- Thursday, May 28, 2026 from 3:00-4:15 pm ET
- A panel discussion and Q&A featuring postdoctoral scholars and graduate students who were offered faculty positions this year reflecting on their strategies and experiences.
Interviewing and Negotiating for Academic Positions
- April 14, 2026 from 3:00-4:15 pm ET and November 17, 2025 from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm ET
- Presenters: Yael Levitte, Senior Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Development and Diversity, Colleen McLinn, Associate Dean for Professional Development, and Christine Holmes, Director of Postdoctoral Studies
- Archived recordings available in Cornell Video on Demand and slides and handouts in Cornell Box
Should I Do a Postdoc?
- November 12, 2025 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm ET, also held: April 8, 2025; November 12, 2024; March 28, 2024
- Presenters: Christine Holmes, Director of Postdoctoral Studies, and Colleen McLinn, Associate Dean for Professional Development
- Topics discussed will include: reasons to do a postdoctoral position, types of postdocs, how to apply and get funded
Approaches to Designing Your Academic Job Talk
- Wednesday, October 15, 2025 and Thursday, July 24, 2025 from 12:00-1:15 pm ET
- Presenters: Colleen McLinn, Associate Dean for Professional Development, Cornell Graduate School and Christine Holmes, Director of Postdoctoral Studies
- Start planning what types of job talks to be ready for after the written application material and Zoom/preliminary interview stage. These might include chalk talks, one hour research seminars with an emphasis on future plans, or other formats such as a disciplinary research presentation that also speaks to your teaching, mentoring, and/or advising philosophy.
- Slides and zoom recording available
Related: Future Professors Institute (2025)
- Tuesday, June 17 (in person/hybrid) and Wednesday, June 18 (online)
- Interact with alumni and current faculty at multiple institutions to explore faculty roles and how to prepare for them.
- Sessions: Exploring Your Institutional Fit, Navigating a Rapidly Changing Academy as an Early Career Faculty Member, and disciplinary breakout sessions on Establishing Your Scholarship and Research Agenda as a New Faculty Member, plus a keynote talk by Dr. Wayne Scales, Virginia Tech.
Related: Pathways to Success Symposium
- Tuesday, June 4, 2024 from 9:30am – 4:30pm
- Sessions: Leadership Visioning, Faculty Who Failed – Lessons Learned for Moving Forward, From Books to Space: My Journey from an English Ph.D. to a Career at NASA (Abram Coetsee, PhD ’22), and Diverse Career Pathways in a University Ecosystem. Includes coffee breaks, lunch, and an ice cream social to end the day!
- In person in 146 and 148 Stocking Hall
Graduate Student and Postdoc Job Search Virtual Discussions
- Held 2021-2023
- Come ask any questions you want, and “meet” the Graduate School career and professional development staff who support research degree students and postdoctoral scholars! This discussion will cover academic and non-academic careers.
- 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.