Early Career Success Program Highlights

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Autumn Quarter: Introduction to Academic Life at the University of Chicago   

Workshop 1. The Academic Ecosystem: How the University Works  

As faculty, it can be helpful to gain a broader view of how the University operates. This session will provide exclusive insight from multiple University leaders, with tips on how to find and navigate your own place in the institution, with the goal of professional empowerment and success. Friday, November 1, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Session followed by group lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Understanding the Structure of the University of Chicago 

  • Katherine Baicker, Provost and Emmett Dedmon Professor at the Harris School of Public Policy

The College at the University of Chicago: Structures and Traditions of our Distinctive Liberal Education 

  • Melina Hale, Dean of the College and William Rainey Harper Professor in the Department of Organismal Biology & Anatomy 

Engaging with your Local Unit and the Broader Institution: Finding your Place in the Academic Ecosystem 

  • Ka Yee C. Lee, Interim Dean of Physical Sciences and David Lee Shillinglaw Distinguished Service Professor of Chemistry  
  • Deborah Nelson, Dean of Humanities and Helen B. and Frank L. Sulzberger Professor in English Language and Literature
  • Amanda Woodward, Dean of Social Sciences and William S. Gray Distinguished Service Professor of Psychology 

Participating in Faculty Governance 

  • Jason Merchant, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Lorna Puttkammer Straus Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Linguistics 

Workshop 2. The Life of the Academic: Time Management for Maximizing Productivity and Minimizing Stress  

In addition to launching a research program, new faculty will be expected to take on a number of other responsibilities including teaching, service, and generally adapting to their new life at the University of Chicago. This session will be led by faculty authors and behavioral science experts, who offer research-informed frameworks for optimizing your time for maximum research impact and personal fulfillment. Friday, December 6, 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Session followed by mentor group meetings from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Get It Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation 

  • Ayelet Fishbach, Eric J Gleacher Distinguished Service Professor of Behavioral Science and Marketing at the Booth School of Business

Aligning your Time with your Priorities 

  • Katherine D. Kinzler, Vice Provost for Academic Career Advancement and Professor in the Department of Psychology

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Winter Quarter: Jumpstarting Your Research   

Workshop 3. Generating Impactful Research and Scholarship Before (and Beyond) Tenure 

This engaging workshop, led by external faculty experts and authors, will equip early-career faculty members with effective, immediately applicable techniques for creating field-changing research. Through hands-on exercises, participants will enhance their repertoire of skills for designing research projects that change the trajectory of their field. This training will introduce concepts from the facilitators’ book Where Research Begins (UChicago Press 2022). Friday, January 24, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.  Session followed by group lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. 

Generating Impactful Research and Scholarship Before (and Beyond) Tenure

  • Thomas Mullaney, Professor of History and East Asian Languages and Cultures at Stanford University  
  • Christopher Rea, Professor of Modern Chinese Literature at the University of British Columbia

Workshop 4. Effective Academic Writing: From Grants and Book Proposals to Finished Manuscripts  

Making the transition to a first faculty job often raises the importance of effective and persuasive academic writing. This session, led by writing and publishing professionals, will include training on advanced strategies of persuasive academic writing, plus breakout groups for book and grant fields in which participants will hear from experts who train and advise faculty on a range of writing applications. Friday, February 21, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Session followed by group lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. 

Communicating Value to Academic Audiences  

  • Tracy Weiner, Senior Associate Director at UChicago Writing 

Telling the Story of your Research:  Communication Skills for Engaging with Academic and Non-academic Audiences 

  • Jeremy Manier, Associate Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs 

Pitching your Book to Academic Publishers*

Effective Strategies in Grant Writing*

  • Cate Goebel, Associate Dean for Research and Strategic Initiatives, Social Sciences Division 
  • Jennifer Woods, Director of Program Development & Special Projects, Physical Sciences Division  
  • Crystal Love, Research Development Specialist, Biological Sciences Division 

*Concurrent sessions 

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Spring Quarter: Building and Sustaining Academic Communities    

Workshop 5. Negotiation and Leadership in Academic Life 

Navigating the social and political environment of one’s discipline, unit, and institution are essential components of career success for faculty. This involves building relationships and engaging in productive conversations. Led by faculty experts, this session will share negotiation and leadership principles to help attendees navigate the various negotiations, conversations, and choices they may face in their academic lives. These concepts cultivate the courage and capacity to become intellectual leaders. Friday, April 4, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Session followed by group lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Choosing Leadership 

  • Linda Ginzel, Clinical Professor of Managerial Psychology at the Booth School of Business 

Principles of Negotiation: Academics Can (and Should Be) Good Negotiators 

  • George Wu, Paul P. and Lillian A. Gould Professor of Behavioral Science at the Booth School of Business 

Workshop 6. Building Academic Networks for Mentorship and Collaboration 

This interactive workshop, led by an external academic coaching professional, will prepare participants to cultivate relationships with senior scholars and peers, communicate effectively with editors and other academic gatekeepers, and develop a strategy to build diverse networks. It will also impart practical tips for reducing the awkwardness of networking and developing productive collaborations. Friday, May 16, 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Session followed by celebration reception. 

Building Academic Networks for Mentorship and Collaboration

  • Rena Seltzer, Founder and Principal Coach of Leader Academic. Seltzer is a leadership coach and trainer with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals and teams, drawing on her deep understanding of higher education to mentor academics across the span of their careers.