Academic Support

Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition

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Can you present your research in just three minutes? PhD students are invited to enter this year’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition to hone their public speaking skills and earn cash prizes.

This year’s 3MT will take place in-person on Friday, May 19 from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. in UChicagoGRAD’s headquarters, located on the 3rd floor of the bookstore. A reception with a light lunch will follow.

In a 3MT competition, participants prepare a three-minute presentation about their research using only one static slide. It’s a great opportunity to showcase your work to a broader audience. A judging panel will award $2,000 total, with $1,000 to the first-place winner.

Any PhD student currently working on a research-based project may participate. The focus of your presentation should be your original research, pitched in an engaging way to a general audience without losing sight of the significance and impact of your work.

If you are interested in participating, please register for and attend the info session on Thursday, April 27, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. at UChicagoGRAD HQ. Questions? Contact Kathrin Kranz (kranz@uchicago.edu).

 

Reflecting on your career journey and looking ahead to 2023

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Once the bustle of the quarter winds down, you might find yourself reflecting on the professional highs and lows of the past year: the paper that was an unexpected success, the experiment that did not go to plan, or perhaps the prestigious internship opportunity that you managed to land. Whether you feel on track to meet your professional goals or bewildered at the prospect of life after graduate or postdoctoral study, UChicagoGRAD has a range of resources, opportunities, and workshops available to help.

2 tips for setting yourself up for success in 2023:

Career advising appointment: check. Even if you have met with a career advisor in the past, consider making an appointment for next week or in January. With academic and professional backgrounds that align with those of the populations they serve, UChicagoGRAD’s career advisors understand the graduate and postdoctoral experience and the distinct value that rigorous advanced-degree training brings to the wider world.

Focus on the flora. If you have a discrete project that needs to get done over the break, consider a focus app like Flora (free), which is based on the Pomodoro method of focusing on the task at hand for 25 minutes, followed by a 5 minute break. Repeat four times and then take a longer 15-30 minute break. Apps like Flora can help discrete projects stay that way. For help optimizing your work/life balance and satisfaction—especially as you manage both current work and career development—you might also consider a Sounding Board appointment with UChicagoGRAD’s Lizanne Phalen.

Sounding Board Advising

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UChicagoGrad wants to extend our support to the UChicago student community as you continue to navigate this on-going difficult time. Whether you are worried about yourself, a friend, or a family member there are extensive support resources and services provided by the UChicago community that can assist you with your mental health concerns.

Sounding Board Advising is a resource for helping graduate students and postdocs negotiate work/life balance issues, navigate relationships, and create strategies for having difficult conversations with peers, faculty, and others. Sounding Board currently functions as general support services for challenged graduate students.

UChicago Student Wellness provides access to student mental health with virtual sessions staffed by clinicians, in addition to virtual drop-in sessions and workshops. Their calendar of events is here.

Wellness Coaching is a free service that teaches you how to create goals for navigating transitions and overcoming challenges that come your way. Schedule your Wellness Coaching session today.

There is a therapist-on-call available 24/7 that students can reach at 773-702-3625.

Are You on the Academic Job Market?

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Are you applying to faculty positions and postdocs? UChicagoGRAD is here to help you put together strong academic job market applications and prepare you for your academic job interviews. Join our workshops, set up a 1:1 advising appointment, and check out our online resources. 

Upcoming Workshops 

Join us for a new workshop on Wednesday, September 15, 12:30-1:30 p.m. (CT). Tailoring Your Academic Job Market Applications will explain how to read academic job advertisements to pick up on important clues about a hiring department’s priorities. Moreover, it will provide you with practical advice on how to use this information to put together tailored CVs and cover letters for different and positions and institutions. RSVP here. 

On Wednesday, September 29, 12:30-1:30 p.m. (CT), Preparing for First-Round Interviews for Faculty and Postdoc Positions, will provide an overview of how to prepare for first-round. We’ll discuss some strategies to help you prepare for and excel at interviewing for university faculty postdoc positions. Among others, we’ll cover practical aspects to consider with Zoom or telephone interviews, what search committees are looking for, and how to prepare effectively for the most common questions. RSVP here. 

If you are looking to prepare for Campus Visits, join us on Wednesday, October 6, 12:30-1:30 p.m. (CT). We will discuss an overview of the campus visit process, how to prepare for on-campus interviews, and how to navigate social events like a group dinner with faculty. We will also discuss some tips and strategies for preparing and delivering your job talk. RSVP here. 

1:1 Advising Appointments 

Interested in discussing your job market strategy, workshopping your application materials, or preparing for an upcoming interview? Set up an advising appointment with an advisor on GRAD Gargoyle.  

Your dedicated career advisor can help you think through your job market strategy and provide feedback on your CV, cover letter, research statement/proposal, and teaching statement. Simply select “CAREERS” in the scheduling interface and you will see available appointments with your advisor. 

Looking to prepare 1:1 for an upcoming interview or presentation? Choose “GRADTALK” in the appointment system and set up a meeting. 

To discuss questions related to diversity and inclusion, set up a “DIVERSITY” appointment and meet with Dana Bozeman, who will also be able to think about and review your diversity statement. 

Online Resources  

For information about academic job documents, check out the GRAD job document resources. If you’re thinking about interviews for faculty positions and postdocs, have a look at the interview resources, which also include links to different interview workshops. 

 

Questions about the academic job market and resources for applying for faculty positions and postdocs? Email Kathrin Kranz (kranz@uchicago.edu).  

Do you wish you had an answer at the ready when someone says, “So, tell me about your research”?

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Apply by May 17th to participate in UChicagoGRAD’s Three Minute Thesis Competition (3MT) and Research Showcase. This year’s 3MT will take place virtually on Thursday, June 10, 3:00-5:00pm CT.

 

In a 3MT competition, participants prepare a three-minute presentation about their research using only one static slide. It’s a great opportunity to showcase your work to a broader audience and practice your public speaking skills. Participants compete in a Master’s or PhD category and a judging panel will award $150 to the overall winner and $100 each to the next highest score in the Master’s and PhD category. To participate please fill out the application form by May 17.

Any student currently enrolled in a graduate degree program at the University of Chicago and writing a Master’s or PhD thesis is eligible to apply. The focus of your presentation should be your original research, pitched in an engaging way to a general audience without losing sight of the significance and impact of your work. The winning presenters will have their presentations featured on the UChicagoGRAD website. To see videos of the 2020 3MT winners, please visit last year’s 3MT page.

 

The application deadline for the Three Minute Thesis Competition is May 17. To complete the application form and for additional information, please click here. For questions please contact Michael O’Toole: mfo@uchicago.edu.