• Length:
    6 Weeks
  • Effort:
    2–4 hours per week
  • Price:

    FREE
    Add a Verified Certificate for $49 USD

  • Institution
    BUx
  • Subject:
    Education & Teacher Training
  • Level:
    Advanced
  • Language:
    English
  • Video Transcripts:
    English, Español
  • Course Type:
    Instructor-led on a course schedule

Prerequisites

None.

About this course

Skip About this course

Are you a postdoc looking for flexible professional development? Are you looking for a place to connect with and regularly interact with other postdocs? This course is built for you!

Join us in the first professional development online course built specifically for postdocs and created with postdocs. The Postdoc Academy provides skill development for postdocs, from orientation to their next career step. Using inclusive, active-learning approaches, participants in this course will build skills to (1) find success as a postdoc, (2) draft an actionable career plan, (3) work in an effective intercultural environment, and (4) develop resilience. This course explores the research related to postdoc success and guides you in applying it to your environment. Connect to the experiences of the national postdoc community through the Postdoc Academy!

What you'll learn

Skip What you'll learn
  • Explore identities and roles you hold and how they impact your work environment, identify strategies to transition into a new community, and align your expectations with those of your mentor
  • Identify and apply strategies to use career planning tools effectively and build an actionable plan that can both guide and be integrated into day-to-day practice
  • Build an awareness of your own professional and personal identities and explore strategies to create and support an inclusive research environment
  • Develop, implement, and reflect on an action plan to support progress on personal or professional goals that effectively build and sustain resilience

Meet your instructors

Boston University
Henry (Rique) Campa
Associate Dean, Graduate School
Michigan State University
Olivia Chesniak
Postdoctoral Fellow
Northwestern University
Sarah Chobot Hokanson
Assistant Provost of Professional Development and Postdoctoral Affairs
Boston University
Denise Drane
Director of Research and Evaluation at the Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching
Northwestern University

Pursue a Verified Certificate to highlight the knowledge and skills you gain
$49 USD

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    Give yourself an additional incentive to complete the course

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Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to take this course?

All of the Postdoc Academy programming is available for free! There is an option to purchase a Verified Certificate from edX, but the content of the online course is the same either way.

What's the different between the Audit (free) and Verified tracks of this course?

First and foremost, the content in the course is identical – whether you are in the Audit track or the Verified track. If you complete the course in the Verified track, you will receive a Verified Certificate from edX. If you complete the course in either track, you’ll receive a Certificate of Completion from the Postdoc Academy directly. All learners can access their course materials indefinitely!

Why might I want a Verified Certificate?

We've asked this questions to the postdocs who have already received a Verified Certificate in this course. Some use the certificate as a way to stay motivated to complete the course. Many want to include it on their CV or LinkedIn. Some reported that their fellowships required it. Others wanted to support the program financially.

I'm interested in meeting other postdocs. How can I use the Postdoc Academy to do that?

The Postdoc Academy supports learning commuities, called Postdoc Academy Learnning Sessions (PALS). These are small groups of postdocs who meet weekly while taking the course. You can dive into the course deeper and connect with other postdocs. Once you register for the course, check the discussion forum for a PALS near you!

Are there any opportunities to meet the instructors?

Yes! On the first day of the course, join the Postdoc Academy for an Orientation & Launch Party on Zoom. Details can be found in the discussion forum.