Welcome to the New Year! With a new year, it's a great time to review your goals and ensure you're on track for your next steps in your career path.
To that end, we have some great opportunities for you to do some planning together with other postdocs. We're starting up another PhD Career Ladder Program group in a few weeks, so this is your chance to meet other postdocs and keep yourself on track for that next job. We also have a quick two-hour workshop on Planning Your Path to a Satisfying Career coming in March.
Finally, the Graduate School is kicking off a brand new Project Management series in February! Learn how to manage your projects better and how to articulate your project management skills for jobs.
1. Sign up now for postdoc-led career planning group
Now recruiting the next postdoc career planning group!
Led by postdocs, for postdocs. In the PhD Career Ladder Program (PCLP), a postdoc peer leader guides you "up the ladder" of career development, allowing you to reflect on the type of career that interests you and then helping you set aside some time every other week to learn more about that career, how it might suit you, and how you can better prepare yourself.
7 steps in 7 meetings. This small group of postdocs will meet every other week for 1.5 hours starting in February.
2. New Workshop Series! Introduction to Project Management Becoming a Puzzlemaster: Introduction to Project Management Friday, Feb 9 | 12 - 2 pm | Wang Center Room 201 | Lunch will be served.
RSVP REQUIRED! Please register if you plan to attend.
Managing projects is foundational to academic success and a valuable skill you can translate to other contexts and work settings! This 2-hour in-person introduction to project management that will give you the basics and help you frame your own work as projects to manage.
Supplemental Micro-Sessions: Project Management Puzzle Pieces
Six virtual micro-sessions will dive deeper into project-management related topics and skills. You do not need to attend the in-person introduction in order to participate in the “puzzle pieces,” but will optimize your participation by attending all sessions.
Network Analysis: Tuesday, Feb 20 | 12:30 - 1 pm | Zoom
Time & Energy Management: Tuesday, Feb 20 | 1 - 1:30 pm | Zoom
Effective Check-ins: Tuesday, Feb 27 | 12:30 - 1 pm | Zoom
Team Management: Tuesday, Feb 27 | 1 - 1:30 pm | Zoom
Risk Management: Tuesday, Mar 5 | 12:30 - 1 pm | Zoom
Academic Budgeting: Tuesday, Mar 5 | 1 - 1:30 pm | Zoom
Grant Writing Skills Series
Applying for a fellowship is a great way to develop your grant writing skills!
Dr. Ashley Staples, Director for External Fellowships, will be hosting a 3-part series covering different aspects of the process. All sessions will be via Zoom; more info and registration links are below.
These interactive seminars on key topics in College Teaching are open to all grad students and postdocs. If you attend 6 or more over the academic year, they will contribute to the CELT College Teaching Basics Milestone.
Questions: Email Dr. Kimberly Bell at kimberly.bell@ stonybrook.edu
6. Planning Your Path to a Satisfying Career, 3/6 3pm
You are invited to this semester's Planning Your Path to a Satisfying Career workshop.
Planning Your Path to a Satisfying Career March 6 | 3:00 - 5:00pm | Online via Zoom RSVP Now>
This guided workshop, held every semester, will help postdocs and grad students develop strategies for professional growth by:
Learning strategies to explore a range of careers
Identifying interests and skills relevant to their career goals
Developing an action plan to strengthen skills and pursue their ideal career
Preparing or expanding their Individual Development Plan (IDP)
External Events & Opportunities
1. NPA SmartSkills starts a new year of new programs
SmartSkills monthly classes are taught by experts and focus on building skills critical to career and personal success. Postdocs that attend 10 out of 12 sessions live will receive a certificate of completion.
February SmartSkills:
The Industry Connection: Advancing Your Research & Career with Collaborative Partnerships
February 27 | 3pm ET | Online via Zoom RSVP Now>
1. It's postdoc census time! Have you filled out the postdoc info form??
It's that time of year that the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs reports on our aggregate postdoctoral population to NSF, and we need your help!
If you haven't recently completed our Postdoc Info Form, please consider filling it out! This helps us with our reporting on things we can't find easily, like your current source of funding or whether you got your doctorate in the U.S.
Now recruiting the next postdoc career planning group!
Grant Writing Skills Series
The 
It's that time of year that the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs reports on our aggregate postdoctoral population to NSF, and we need your help! 
