Grad News Forum

Ever wonder what career options are out there for graduate students in the arts and humanities? Are you hoping to parlay your creative and qualitative skills into a position after graduation?

The Graduate Studies Office is hosting a humanities panel for graduate students on Friday, November 11th, 2011, from 12-1:15pm in Haldeman 031 (Kreindler Seminar Room). Lunch will be served.

The purpose of the panel is to expose current graduate students interested in careers in the arts and humanities to professionals currently working in such fields, all within a relaxed and informal setting.

Erin O’Flaherty, a current graduate student in the MALS program, will moderate the panel.  Coming from a background in arts administration and documentary film prior to coming to Dartmouth, O’Flaherty notes the difficulties that often come with choosing a career that is ‘off the beaten path’, especially in comparison to other industries with formal recruitment protocols.

“Establishing a career in the humanities is often difficult, as there’s not a uniformly clear trajectory laid out—you really have to forge your own individual path,” says O’Flaherty.  “That being said, it’s incredibly helpful to hear from seasoned professionals about their journey, and to learn from them through their professional and academic experiences.”

Each panelist will describe their current job, and will have the opportunity to address any questions that students might have about their individual industry. Possible discussion topics include each panelist’s own career/academic background, along with any overall advice for those seeking a similar career in the humanities.

Confirmed panelists include:

Anthony Helm, Director of the Jones Media Center

Craig Kaufman, Associate Director for Administration & Advancement, Arts and Sciences Development Office

Jim Kenyon, Columnist for the Valley News

Michael Taylor, Director of the Hood Museum at Dartmouth

Sarah Memmi, Managing Editor of Vox of Dartmouth and Dartmouth Now

Click here to sign up for the panel.

The transition from a PhD candidate to a professor can often be a daunting one, with the academic job search being notoriously competitive.  Alan Weatherwax, a Dartmouth Graduate alum and Professor of Physics at Siena College in Loudonville, New York, recently spoke with current graduate students to share his own experiences working in academia.

As a professor and associate dean who frequently leads academic search committees within his department, Weatherwax often reads hundreds of applications for just one open position. He stressed the importance of showcasing research abilities through postdoctoral positions along with teaching abilities.  According to Weatherwax, one of the most desirable attributes for a potential candidate is the ability to engage undergraduate students on a variety of levels.

While having TA experience is a plus, having independently taught at least one class is highly desirable.  In addition to developing teaching skills, Weatherwax stressed the necessity of becoming adept at applying for grants.  Even at small liberal arts colleges, the ability to finance your own research is key.  According to Weatherwax, being a grant recipient is one of the best ways to solidify the path to a tenure track position.

Many newly minted PhDs often only consider positions at large research universities, but this is not the only alternative.  Weatherwax spoke of the advantages of working at a smaller school.  Having gone from a position at a large public university to a smaller private university, Weatherwax is now currently the Associate Dean of Science at Siena.  In addition to increased grants and other funding from such agencies as the NSF and NIH, smaller undergraduate-focused schools generally offer more opportunities to actually teach and interact with students on a personal level.

When deciding between positions at different schools, Weatherwax also noted that it is important to ask for the guidelines for tenure in order to understand exactly what the expectations are.  While salaries are typically hard to negotiate at this stage, it is possible to negotiate other aspects, such as lab space or the number of classes you are required to teach.

For more information on postdoctoral career options, visit the Graduate Studies Career Page.

by Erin O’Flaherty

This past fall term, several Arts and Sciences graduate alumni returned to Dartmouth to lead a panel on job searching strategies for current graduate students. Following the discussion, students were able to speak with the panelists informally over lunch.

Moderated by Kerry Landers, Assistant Dean of Graduate Student Affairs, panelists were encouraged to share their experiences tackling the job search as PhDs. The panelists also detailed the various interview processes, salary negotiations, and hiring timelines each experienced in their individual searches.

Panelist Jeremy Ouellette, who received his PhD from Dartmouth in physics and astronomy in 2009, spoke about the decision process involved in choosing between an academic position and a job in the private sector. Currently a systems engineer at Raytheon in the Integrated Defense Systems division, Ouellette briefly considered a job at a private school in Pennsylvania; he accepted the position at Raytheon over a career in academia.

Initially interested in a governmental post-doc position, panelist Brandon Smith attended a conference during his graduate career where he successfully developed a network of contacts in the independent consulting world. Having received his PhD from Dartmouth in chemistry, Smith stressed the importance of both networking and attending academic conferences as a graduate student.

Like Ouellette, panelist Rebecca Lindstrom knew that she wanted to seek a position outside of academia upon completing her PhD in physics and astronomy in 2009. Shortly after starting at M2S in quality assurance, she switched departments and is currently working in data management and software development for clinical trials.

“I really enjoy my work, and it’s something different everyday,” commented Lindstrom.

To learn more about the career resources available to Dartmouth graduate students, contact the Graduate Studies office.

by Erin O’Flaherty

Photograph: Panelists (from left to right) Rebecca Lindstrom, Jeremy Ouellette, and Brandon Smith