Spring Professional Development Workshop Series

Workshop 1: What do you want? • 1.5 hours
January 26, 2027 (Winter Flurry), 12:00 - 3:30 PM

Regardless of where you are in your academic or professional path, it’s helpful to step back and think about what you like, what you’re good at, and how those preferences and skills might align with different career options in academia, government, or non-profit/for-profit organizations. In this hands-on workshop, we’ll introspect, brainstorm, and use online resources for career exploration. 

Workshop 2: Making a long-term plan • 1 hour
January 26, 2027 (Winter Flurry), 12:00 - 3:30 PM

You know that there will be a transition when you graduate with your PhD. Regardless of how much time you have left–whether it’s a few months or a few years–there are things you could be doing right now to strengthen your position for that next step. But it’s easy to neglect long-term preparation when you have so much to do for all your short-term responsibilities. You have a lot of resources and support available from your advisors, peers, various UMD offices, and the internet. But to take advantage of them, you have to know what you need to do, and keep your long-term goals in mind even when you’re busy. In this hands-on workshop, you will figure out your goals for the next 1-2 years (including research, academic, and professional development goals), write (or update) an Individual Development Plan (IDP), and make a plan to discuss professional development with your advisor. 

Workshop 3: Planning for a postdoc • 1 hour
February 11, 2027, time TBA

While some people get postdoc positions by responding to a job ad, many others get their positions through networking and external fellowships. In this workshop with current language science postdocs, we’ll talk about how to connect with potential postdoc mentors, the process for applying for federal fellowships, and the hustle to maintain your funding or find the next position. 

Panel: Penelope Daniel (LING), Jennifer Magnuson (HDQM), Samer Nour Eddine (LSC), Yi Wei (HESP)

Workshop 4: Jobs in government and the private sector • 1 hour
March or April 2027 (Date TBA), 12:30 PM; lunch at 12:15 PM (This talk will be during the LSLT time slot)

Many language science graduates have gone on to positions in government and the private sector (non-profit or for-profit). But since those people aren’t still present in academic social circles, their career paths often seem mysterious or unattainable for current students. For this panel discussion, we will invite UMD alumni in non-academic positions to talk about the pros and cons, how they got there, and how their jobs have changed with the times (AI, politics, etc.). 

Workshop 5: Applying for faculty jobs • 1 hour
May 2027 (Date TBA), 12:30 PM; lunch at 12:15 PM (This talk will be during the LSLT time slot)

Unless you get the chance to serve on a faculty search committee during grad school, the academic job application process often remains mysterious until you’re fully embroiled in it. The market is highly competitive, and many graduates apply for several years before landing a position. In this workshop, we’ll go over the steps and best practices in faculty job applications. We’ll bring in faculty who recently served on search committees to talk about what committees are really looking for in candidates and how to stand out. We’ll also bring in recently-hired junior faculty to talk about how they navigated this high-effort, high-risk process.