Strategic Preparation for Academic Resilience and Know-how (SPARK) is an initiative to prepare STEM graduate students who identify as women for faculty careers. We are creating resources and workshops to fill a gap in preparation that isn’t readily available as part of many graduate programs or targeted for an audience of women.
Our primary focus is to help women graduate students strategically plan for their first academic job search. We have created an 11-week workshop series that provides background about the faculty and post-doc job search process. Each participant will create a draft of major statements required to apply for most academic jobs. Then participants will work in small groups with a mentor to peer review and refine each statement.
Program Overview
The complete program is 11 weeks, from late-May to mid-August. Required weekly workshops are held via Zoom. The topics covered are as follows:
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- Orientation and Job Application Process Overview
- Job Posting Search, tailoring, planning
- Cover Letter*
- Recommendations
- Teaching Statement*
- Interviews
- Research Statement*
- Other statements (Diversity, etc.)
- Job talks and other interview presentations*
- Negotiations
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*Drafts will be peer-reviewed during the program.
Applications are now open for the 2023 Cohort!
Please visit the Program Description and Application page for more details. The application deadline is May 1, 2023.