Year 1: Getting Started Year 4+: Getting Done Year 2: Getting Immersed Year 3: Getting Focused...

Year 1: Getting Started

Year 4+: Getting Done

Year 2: Getting

Immersed

Year 3: Getting Focused

Milestones on the Way to the PhD

Bethany R. Lee, Ph.D.Associate Professor & Associate Dean for Research

University of Maryland School of Social Work [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Preface

• Limitations: N=1 Your career goals and specific research trajectory should guide your journey.

Acknowledgments: Special thanks to my University of Maryland School of Social Work colleagues who provided helpful suggestions for this presentation and my Washington University in St. Louis doctoral student colleagues and mentors who made my doctoral program a joy.

Formal Milestone NetworkingProductivity Grantsmanship


• Successfully transition to a new identity as a Social Work Scholar



• Find 2-3 faculty in your program that intrigue you;

• Join a research team;• Identify key journals in your area;




• Read grants your mentor or research team has received;




• Attend a conference;• Find a mentor or “academic sibling” in

your program who you can learn from;



Year 2: Getting Immersed

• Complete (or nearly) required coursework.

• Finalize your area of interest;• Start to explore research

focus/topic that will engage you through dissertation and beyond;



• Identify a potential dissertation advisor;• Co-author a paper;• Develop an idea for a publication that

you can lead;



• Explore dissertation funding sources;• Pay attention to deadlines &

requirements;



• Submit an abstract to a conference;• Consider summer training workshops;• Attend job talks at your program;



• Complete comprehensive exam (if applicable);

• Teach a course independently (if applicable);



• Develop & defend dissertation proposal;• Submit a journal article for publication;



• Submit a dissertation grant or two (or 3 if you are Byron Powell);

“Life is a journey, not a destination.”-Ralph Waldo Emerson



• Lead poster or paper presentation at national conference;

• Seek career advice from academic sibling(s)/mentors;

• Seek out new PhD student to mentor;



• Defend Dissertation;• Land a job!



• Focus on dissertation:• Completion;• Publications;

• Consider how to continue partnering on existing projects;

• Prepare job market materials: • CV • Research Statement

• References • Teaching Statement



• Become familiar with funding sources for post-docs or early career opportunities;

• Weigh the value of remaining longer in program (to resubmit grant, build research or teaching skills) vs. getting a job



• Develop a support group for job market or dissertation writing;

• Learn about academic job opportunities from your mentors/colleagues at other schools;

• Consider non-academic job options;

A Bucket List for Doctoral Students

Participate in a research project from conceptualization to dissemination;

Learn more than one quantitative software program;

Learn at least one qualitative software program;

Find a reference management program you like and stick with it;

Attend a conference outside of your main discipline;

Find a teaching mentor in your home program;

Find a research mentor outside your home program;

Make friends with a student at another School;

Learn time management tools that work for you;

Look for ways to give back;

Thanks Interestfor your

... And enjoy the journey!

Date post:	14-Dec-2015
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