Faculty Job Search Workshop

Most postdocs want to become faculty. Yet, the academic job market is increasingly competitive each year. When launching into a faculty job search, it is therefore critical to develop a search strategy and draft application materials to be ready to apply when the faculty jobs are posted in late summer/early fall.

To help postdocs prepare for the next academic job cycle, the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs offers training in preparing for the next academic job cycle each summer. Drawing from experience supporting postdocs apply for faculty jobs, this training is designed to prepare you for what to expect in a traditional academic job cycle, draft faculty job application materials (research statement, teaching statement, cover letter), plan a job search strategy, and build collective resilience for this difficult task.

2025 Faculty Job Search Workshop

Program Overview

The program relies heavily on an active and engaged group learning community. As such, participants are expected to prepare, attend, and actively engage during sessions. Activities will range from self-reflection, reading, group discussions, pair-share, and goal setting to effectively prepare for the your next faculty job search.

Program Details

4 sessions (1h each)
In person - Gillis Building, conference room 104
Tuesdays at 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM (you have the option to attend one or the other!)
Once a week
Starts July 15, 2025
Ends August 05, 2025

Schedule

07/15/2025 | Preparing for a Faculty Job Search
07/22/2025 | Research Statement
07/29/2025 | Teaching Statement
08/05/2025 | Cover Letter & Launching Your Search

Accommodating schedules

In an effort to accommodate as many participants as possible, sessions are offered twice in the same day, once at 12:00 PM and repeated once again at 5:00 PM. In the application, you will be asked which is more convenient to you. However, you have the option to attend one or the other each week.

Accommodating remote attendance

This program is held in person to foster an engaged group learning community. However, accommodations for remote attendance are provided for (1) postdocs who work outside of Lexington, and (2) if a participant is travelling to e.g. a conference.

Eligibility

All University of Kentucky doctoral students and postdoctoral scholars & fellows are eligible to participate. The program can accommodate 30 participants and seats will be given on a first-come-first-served basis. Priority will be given to postdocs but doctoral students are welcome and encouraged to apply.

Application

This program accepts participants on a first-come-first-served basis. The first 30 applicants will be accepted in the program and any additional applicants will be added to a waitlist. Application will close on Wednesday July 11, 2025 at midnight.

Login to Office 365 using your linkblue user id and password is required to access this form.

Please have a copy of your CV handy to upload to the application.

Apply