This summer we're looking into the state of the postdoc-the staple of the science scholar's life cycle that's now gaining steam in the humanities, too. This is the third article in our series. Here's Part One: A Brief History of the Humanities Postdoc. Part Two: Between Postdoc and Job, a Whole Lot of Questions.

When Lisa-Marie Shillito completed her Ph.D. at the University of Reading in 2008, a postdoctoral fellowship seemed like the obvious next step. Shillito, an interdisciplinary scholar in chemistry and archeology, knew she wanted to land a tenure-track university job one day, and the postdoc offered the promise of building her CV while giving her additional experience as a researcher and teacher.

For the the full article by Dunn, click here. 

Isaiah Hankel, PhD for Cheeky Scientist

I sent resumes to over 200 companies during my last year of graduate school and heard back from exactly zero of them. It was embarrassing. And confusing. I guess I just assumed that big corporations would fall all over themselves trying to hire me once I had a PhD. Not so much.

Getting my PhD turned out to the beginning of a whole new challenge: getting a job. This is something I didn't have any training for. I'd never taken any classes in economics, finance,  management, marketing, or organizational behavior. I'd never had a business lunch or made any real business connection whatsoever.

And, to make matters worse, none of my mentors or thesis committee members knew anyone in business. I was on my own.

Improve your written and spoken English with free classes for Notre Dame staff.

Mastering English can improve both your career and your relationships. In these classes you will learn new vocabulary, improve your pronunciation and grammar, and gain confidence on the job and in your daily living.

• Tuesdays and Thursdays
• September 23 - December 18
• 2:45 - 4:45 p.m. each day
• Mason Service Center Training Room

Courses are taught on Notre Dame's campus by South Bend Community School Corporation instructors.

Contact LaTonia Ferguson at (574) 631-5679 or [email protected].

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Wednesday, August 27, 9:00-11:00 a.m., Sacred Heart Parish Center
Spouses of international postdocs are invited to participate in International Student & Scholar Affairs' English as a Second Language (ESL) Classes. Class registration will take place on Wednesday, August 27 from 9:00-11:00 a.m. in the lower level of the Sacred Heart Parish Center (map). The classes cost $50 for the semester and take place everyMonday and Wednesday from 9:00-11:00 a.m. If a student cannot attend the formal registration, he or she may register during any class session. 

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The Office of Research at the University of Notre Dame is sponsoring a CAREER DEVELOPMENT GRANTS FOR PRE- AND POSTDOCS.  The workshop will be led by Dr. Robert Porter (click here for bio). This will be an all day event and lunch will be provided to attendees. 

• Date: Friday, September 26, 2014
• Time: To be announced, all-day workshop
• Location: McKenna Hall (campus map)

Are you interested in learning more about discipline-specific teaching and learning in the university setting? The university offers short credit-bearing summer graduate courses on university teaching and learning in various fields!  Consider enrolling in one of the fall workshops..  

For workshop descriptions, click here.