Career Advancement
Postdocs in the Humanities
and Social Sciences
What They Are and How to Get One
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Career Advancement
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Career Advancement
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UNDERSTAND the role of a postdoc
LOCATE postdoc opportunities
APPLY with knowledge and confidence
Goals for this Session
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What is a postdoc in the
humanities or social sciences?
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Postdocs 101
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Appointments of 1 to 3 years
Low teaching loads
Resources for travel and research
Networking opportunities
Professionalization opportunities
You should be more than a source of labor
Career Advancement
Source: Survey of Earned Doctorates
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18
20 2022 22
21
2426
24
26 2628
30 30 29
33 33 33
35
37
4 4 5 5 4 46 6 6
7 7 8 8 8 78 8 8
1011
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012
Percent Postdoc Rate by Field of Study: 1992–2012
Social Sciences
Non-S&E Fields (Humanities)
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Postdoc Typology
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Society of Fellows
Thematic Diversity
Skill Based
Teaching Oriented Project Based
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You + _______ = Job
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You + Postdoc = Job
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Where can I find postdoctoral
fellowship opportunities?
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Disciplinary Organizations (MLA, AAA)
Institutional Websites
Minority Postdoc (minoritypostdoc.org)
General Higher Education Job Boards
Other Places to Check
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Deadlines: October through March
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How can I craft a competitive
postdoc application?
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Cover Letter
Curriculum Vitae
Research Proposal
Course Description
Writing Sample
Recommendations
Application Elements
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Career Advancement
Cover Letter
Curriculum Vitae
Research Proposal
Course Description
Writing Sample
Recommendations
Application Elements
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Career Advancement
It’s not about YOU.
It’s about THEM.
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Research Proposals
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Problem
Solution
Evidence
Timeline
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Step 1: The Problem
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Begin with a widely recognized problem
Practical or conceptual
Related to the postdoc theme
Mention literature, briefly
Others have not solved the problem
Return to an unresolved question
Where you will make your mark
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Step 2: The Solution
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Your research to the rescue
Outline your project and argument
Show how you are solving the problem
The postdoc is part of the solution
It allows you to do important work
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Step 3: The Evidence
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Substantiating details
Methodology
Sources
Literature review
Scholarly contribution
You’ve got what it takes!
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Step 4: The Timeline
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Feasible month-by-month plan
Additional research or data collection
Book proposals and revisions
Article submissions
Conference presentations
Institutions want proximate glory
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Cover Letter
Curriculum Vitae
Research Proposal
Course Description
Writing Sample
Recommendations
Application Elements
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Career Advancement
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Postdoc Cover Letter
DO
Follow the style rules for
an academic cover letter
Tailor your project’s
contribution to the
theme
State your timeline and
research outputs
Tailor your teaching to
the theme
Discuss contributions
to campus intellectual
life
DO NOT
Appear opportunistic
Pander
Go onto a third page
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Course Description
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Must align with the fellowship’s purpose
Digital humanities = textual media course
Ecocriticism = African nature writers course
Islamic art = gender in Islamic art course
Thoughtfulness and specificity matter
Topics, questions, goals, texts, assignments
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Other Application
Elements
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CV
Emphasize teaching, research, or
themes as appropriate
Writing Sample
Relevant to the postdoc’s focus
Letters of Recommendation
Ask recommenders for targeted letters
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It’s not about YOU.
It’s about THEM.
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Post-Application
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Multidisciplinary committee meets
Committee evaluates materials
Clarity, relevance, significance, and feasibility
Committee holds interviews
Interview process varies
On-campus, Skype, or phone
Depends on funding
Committee decides and seeks approval
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During Your Postdoc
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DO NOT
Get too comfortable
Loose sight of the big
picture
Sit alone in your office
DO
Create a writing plan
Advance your research
Network with colleagues
Seek mentorship
Seek feedback on teaching
Build marketable skills
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2-Year Postdoc Plan
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Fall Semester, Year 1
Apply for jobs
Revise dissertation
research
Forge campus contacts
Seek teaching feedback
Seek a letter writer
Spring Semester, Year 1
Interview for jobs
Finish dissertation
revisions
Submit articles
Submit book proposal
Fall Semester, Year 2
Apply for jobs
Finish book/article revisions
Conceptualize a new project
Seek funding for new project
Spring Semester, Year 2
Interview for jobs
Begin work on a new project
Make a plan that suits you
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Questions?
Courtney Wiersema
cwiersema@uchicago
Appointments
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