Introduction to life as an academic in STEM and a brief overview of the academic job search process. Presented at the 2017 Society of Women Engineers - Region H Conference in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

1. Life as an academic
Dr. Rebecca Reck, Kettering University
Illinois Female Engineering students in
Academia Training Program (iFEAT)

2. The Gender Gap within STEM
Potential Causes of the “Leaky Pipeline”?
• lack of role models in the upper divisions of academia
• low self-confidence
• poor student impressions of work-life balance in academia
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Rebecca M. Reck, Ph.D. & iFEAT

3. How Can We “Plug” This Leak?
Provide support to female candidates in academia
Access to information
Morale
Build a sense of community
Peer-review groups
Provide active role models
Faculty involvement
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Rebecca M. Reck, Ph.D. & iFEAT

4. What is iFEAT?
iFEAT: Illinois Female Engineers in Academia Training
iFEAT is a multi-month program designed to strengthen the applications of female
faculty candidates by providing a structured schedule for preparing their application
packages while encouraging community growth
iFEAT Programming
8 month program spanning Spring and Fall semesters
Seminars, panels, peer review sessions
Key topics:
Cover letter, teaching statement, research statement, interviews, etc.
Practice job talk
Dean’s perspective
Chancellors perspective
End of year networking and poster session
Rebecca M. Reck, Ph.D. & iFEAT
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5. First, Why academia?
o Pursue research and set your own
research agenda
o Opportunity to teach
o Intellectual challenge
o Autonomy and flexibility
o Flexible schedule
o Mentor students / role model
o Further the profession
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Rebecca M. Reck, Ph.D. & iFEAT

6. Aspects of Academic Life
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Rebecca M. Reck, Ph.D. & iFEAT

7.  Grants and funding
 Publishing papers
 Advising graduate (and undergraduate)
students
 Managing a lab and budget
Make sure to make time for writing
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Research
Rebecca M. Reck, Ph.D. & iFEAT

8.  Teaching courses
 Student evaluations are important
 Innovation in the classroom
 Some schools offer “buy-out” of teaching
 May or may not have teaching
assistants/graders
Beware of the teaching trap
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Teaching
Rebecca M. Reck, Ph.D. & iFEAT

9.  To the department
 To the university
 To the profession
 To the community
Learn when and how to say “NO”
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Service
Rebecca M. Reck, Ph.D. & iFEAT

10. Academia is for me! Now what?
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Rebecca M. Reck, Ph.D. & iFEAT

11. Assistant
Professor
Associate
Professor
Professor
Traditional Tenure-Track Path
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Tenure provides:
 Job security
 Freedom to pursue one’s interests, creativity
But tenure is not automatic
Rebecca M. Reck, Ph.D. & iFEAT

12.  Post-doctoral Research Assistant
 Lecturer
 Instructor
 Visiting positions
 Non-tenure-track
 Administration
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Other Opportunities
Rebecca M. Reck, Ph.D. & iFEAT

13.  Know what type of institution you’re interested in
 Research specific institutions
 Know where to find job ads (e.g., Chronicle Vitae,
HigherEdJobs)
 Culture your relationships
 3-10 references
Attend future faculty poster session in the National level
conference in your field
GradSWE/WIA Networking Sessions at SWE conferences
Let people know you are on the job market!
Before you apply
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Rebecca M. Reck, Ph.D. & iFEAT

14. Application Timeline
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Submit your package (Fall)
Phone Interview (Spring or during
National conference)
Skype Interview (Spring)
On-site Interview (Spring)
Offer (may have invited visitation)
Rebecca M. Reck, Ph.D. & iFEAT

15. Cover letter
CV
Teaching Statement
Research Statement
3-10 references (some schools ask for up to 10
references)
Diversity Statement
Postdoc proposal (some position combines postdoc
training and faculty position together)
Read post carefully for exact requirements and length
Your application package
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Rebecca M. Reck, Ph.D. & iFEAT

16. Phone Interview
 Prepare short (~2 min) and long (~5-7
min) version of answers
 Prepare answers for questions regarding
Research experience (novelty)
Teaching experience
Proposal writing experience
3~5 year plan of your lab
Diversity/Inclusion promotion
Why did you apply to that institution
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Rebecca M. Reck, Ph.D. & iFEAT

17. On Site Interview
 Whole day process (and possibly the
night before)!
 Multiple faculty interviews
 Tours
 Meet students
 Deliver seminar and/or Sample lecture
 Chalk talk of future research ideas
 You’re interviewing them too!
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Rebecca M. Reck, Ph.D. & iFEAT

18. • Inside Higher Ed Career
Advice Blog
• The Professor Is In Blog
• Job search boot camps at
your university
• Career services at your
university (even if you
have graduated)
• Your advisor(s)
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Helpful Resources for the Job Search
Rebecca M. Reck, Ph.D. & iFEAT

19. Contact Us!
 rebecca@rebeccaee.com or @rebeccaee
 ifeat.engineering.illinois.edu
 illinois.feat@gmail.com
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Rebecca M. Reck, Ph.D. & iFEAT