Anthropology

“Broadening the Job Search: Why Humanities Postdocs Matter”
Thursday, 27 October 2016, 12-2 pm

Library West 212 (Scott Nygren Scholars Studio)

Despite the challenges posed by the current academic job market, many graduate students on the cusp of filing their dissertations are either unfamiliar with postdoctoral opportunities or simply decline to apply as they search for teaching positions. While postdoctoral applications, like job letters, require a significant investment of time and effort, postdoctoral opportunities in the humanities offer an important and underutilized bridge to a successful academic career. They afford humanities doctoral students additional time (anywhere from one to five years) to build up their résumés, expand their professional contacts in the field, do publicly engaged work, build up a repertoire of courses they have taught as the instructor of record, and submit additional articles for publication.

That being said, there are a wealth of different kinds of postdoctoral fellowships, some more research-focused, others very teaching-intensive, and some more specifically aimed at public engagement. Following an introduction to the landscape, recent UF faculty and PhDs will discuss their experience as humanities postdoctoral fellows in a variety of settings. The workshop will conclude by offering perspectives from the other side of the table, namely that of the postdoctoral fellowship reviewer. Students will get insight into how to present themselves most effectively at this transitional phase – and the balance they should make in their applications between their dissertations and new areas of research at this early stage. Participants will gain some perspective as to what makes the top applications in very competitive pools stand out.

Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

For more information about this event and RSVP requirements, please visit: http://www.humanities.ufl.edu/calendar/20151027-Humanities_PostDocs.html