Early Career Success Program Details

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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, October 17, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Breakfast available at 8:30 a.m.

Participating in Faculty Governance

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

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

Melina Hale, Dean of the College and William Rainey Harper Professor in the Department of Organismal Biology & Anatomy
Deborah Nelson, Dean of the Division of the Arts and Humanities and Helen B. and Frank L. Sulzberger Professor in English Language and Literature

Understanding the Structure of the University of Chicago

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

Workshop 2. Time Management and Peer Mentoring 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 behavioral science experts, who offer research-informed frameworks for optimizing your time for maximum research impact and personal fulfillment. It will also include an introduction to senior faculty mentors who will share their perspectives and advice. Monday, December 8, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Breakfast available at 8:30 a.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

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, February 13, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (Zoom session)

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, April 24, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Breakfast available at 8:30 a.m.

Communicating Value to Academic Audiences

Tracy Weiner, Senior Associate Director at UChicago Writing Program

Pitching your Book to Academic Publishers*

Alan Thomas, Editorial Director of University of Chicago Press

Grant Writing in the Social Sciences and Related Fields*

Cate Goebel, Associate Dean for Research and Strategic Initiatives, Social Sciences Division

Grant Writing in the Physical Sciences and Related Fields*

Jennifer Woods, Director of Program Development & Special Projects, Physical Sciences Division

Grant Writing in the Biological Sciences and Related Fields*

Crystal Love, Research Development Specialist, Biological Sciences Division

*Concurrent sessions

Workshop 5. 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. Wednesday, May 27, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The final hour will be a celebratory 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.