Professional Development

Signature Programs

Our signature Professional Development programs help you develop a foundation for long-term scholarly and professional success. We offer innovative programs for careers in industry and academia as well as writing, teaching, and research support to enrich your personal and professional satisfaction during your time at NC State and beyond.

Accelerate to Industry (A2i) Program

To accelerate your transition to industry and to transform graduate education, we’ve designed a bold, new approach to workforce readiness. 

Academic Packways: Gearing Up for Faculty

Designed to prepare students and postdocs for the responsibilities and roles of early-career faculty and prepare them for the competitive academic job market. 

Engineering Writing Support

We work with graduate engineering writers to develop communication strategies for their academic endeavors and professional careers. 

New TA Workshop

In addition to providing a basic overview of best practices in teaching and related topics, this 1-day workshop connects participants to resources that they can draw on in the future. 

Preparing the Professoriate

A nationally recognized year-long program that gives doctoral students and postdoctoral scholars an immersive mentoring, teaching, and future faculty preparation experience. 

Teaching and Communication Certificate

Designed to increase accessibility, flexibility, and transferability of teaching and communication training for all graduate students and postdocs at NC State. 

Workshops and Series

We offer workshops and workshop series that provide sustained support, practice, and feedback on key aspects of teaching, communication, writing, and career management. 

Writing Support

We provide coaching, communities, and embedded writing instruction for graduate student and postdoctoral writers in all disciplines and at all levels. 

Mission, Goals, and Learning Objectives

The mission of the Graduate School’s Professional Development Initiative is promote the academic success, career satisfaction, and personal and professional wellness for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars across the disciplines.

Our programs increase doctoral completion and reduce time to degree by providing mentoring, community experiences, co-curricular opportunities, and professional training. By participating in the Graduate School’s Professional Development programs, students and postdocs will be able to:

• Engage in interdisciplinary academic and professional communities.
• Chart a career pathway that draws on personal strengths and disciplinary knowledge.
• Write and communicate effectively for diverse audiences.
• Develop a strategy for workforce readiness that enables professional edge and personal satisfaction.

Stay Connected

The vision of OPA is to enhance, support and promote the postdoctoral experience so that postdoctoral scholars can contribute effectively to the research and scholarly endeavors of NC State University, develop their professional skills more intently, and move on to rewarding and successful careers.

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