Professional Development Workshops
Prepare for your Profession!
Register for our workshops
The Graduate School offers an array of career preparedness, communication skills, leadership, teaching, and wellness programs which are broken down by five competency areas. If you are not sure where to start with your professional development, go to our Getting Started page for guidance.
All workshops and development series adhere to the attendance policy and the synchronous Zoom workshop policy.
If you are unable to attend a workshop you registered for, you can cancel by going to the Cancel Registration page.
Note: When you register for a workshop, please enter your correct NC State email address on the registration form so that the system will correctly add you to the registration list. Thank you!
April
Career Readiness: A2i Career Insights – NIEHS (Apr. 1)
A series of talks led by A2i industry partners to provide you the opportunity to build your network, explore career opportunities, and prepare for the transition to industry.
April 1, 12-1 p.m.; Zoom (link will be emailed prior to the event)
Topic: Join us for an inspiring Career Insights webinar featuring Dr. Mercedes Arana, Director of the Office of Fellows’ Career Development (OFCD) at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences!
Dr. Arana will share her non-linear career journey and provide insider tips on how you can leverage your skills and experiences to succeed in a variety of career paths. Don’t miss this chance to gain practical career advice and expand your professional network!
Teaching: Generative AI and the Classroom: Friend, Foe, or Facilitator? (Apr. 4)
Facilitated by the Director of Teaching Programs, this will be an interactive discussion session where attendees will discuss questions and issues regarding the use of generative AI in teaching and learning. As a group, we will also explore perspectives and potential opportunities for how AI tools can enhance instructional strategies and student engagement. Please join us in this lively discussion!
April 4, 11-12:30 p.m.; Graduate School Conference Room 2328
Career Readiness: A2i Preparedness Series – Networking Know-How
You have made a good impression at your internship site; now you just need to be sure you are networking! This seminar provides guidance on how to effectively network with others as well as the importance of building connections to help you along your career path.
April 4, Noon – 1 p.m.; Zoom (link will be emailed prior to the event)
Teaching: Mentoring 101 (Apr. 9)
This workshop aims to provide some of the core fundamentals for effectively mentoring undergraduate students. You will explore key topics such as building supportive mentor-mentee relationships, setting realistic goals, offering constructive feedback, and fostering academic and personal growth.
April 9, 3-4:30 p.m.; Albright Entrepreneurship Garage
Teaching: Mentoring 101 (Apr. 10)
This workshop aims to provide some of the core fundamentals for effectively mentoring undergraduate students. You will explore key topics such as building supportive mentor-mentee relationships, setting realistic goals, offering constructive feedback, and fostering academic and personal growth.
April 10, 4-5:30 p.m.; Zoom
Communication Skills: Capturing Content With Your Smartphone (Apr. 10)
Unlock the potential of your smartphone. Whether you’re trying to showcase your research, document new work or explain new discoveries, this Graduate School training will cover practical techniques for capturing high-quality photos and videos.
April 10, 10-11 a.m.; The Graduate School Conference Room 2328
Communication Skills: How to Respond to Reviewer Feedback (Apr. 10)
Join us for an interactive workshop that will address the challenges of interpreting journal article reviewers’ comments and revising your article. We’ll look at how reviews are constructed and strategies for composing effective replies to reviewers. Participants will also have time to implement reviewer feedback and compose their own responses to reviewers to complete the feedback cycle.
April 10, 12-1:30 p.m.; Zoom
Career Readiness: A2i Preparedness Series – Generations in the Workforce
One dimension to diversity in the work environment is that of generational differences. There are now five different generations in the workforce, and knowing how to work with each of them is imperative to one’s career success. Asa graduate student intern, having an understanding of generational differences and how to bridge the gaps will help you communicate better and work more efficiently with your co-workers, colleagues and supervisors.
April 11, Noon – 1 p.m.; Zoom (link will be emailed prior to the event)
Career Readiness: A2i Career Insights – ORNL (Apr. 15)
A series of talks led by A2i industry partners to provide you the opportunity to build your network, explore career opportunities, and prepare for the transition to industry.
April 15, 12-1 p.m.; Zoom (link will be emailed prior to the event)
Topic: Dr. William Jenks will discuss Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s research priorities and share graduate-level internship opportunities that differ from traditional undergrad programs. He’ll also walk participants through how to search for postdoc and career-track positions at the lab.
Teaching: Processing Course Evaluations (Apr. 16)
Learn ways to interpret end-of-course evaluations so they can be a helpful tool for reflecting on your teaching and also as a resource for generating new ideas for change (e.g., continuous improvement).
April 16, 3-4:30 p.m.; Albright Entrepreneurship Garage
Teaching: Processing Course Evaluations (Apr. 17)
Learn ways to interpret end-of-course evaluations so they can be a helpful tool for reflecting on your teaching and also as a resource for generating new ideas for change (e.g., continuous improvement).
April 17, 4-5:30 p.m.; Zoom
Communication Skills: Professional Emails (Apr.22)
Contact colleagues at NC State and beyond with tact and ease! In this workshop, you will gain strategies for crafting effective professional emails. Specifically, participants will practice and discuss strategies for: organizing a professional email message, making inquiries and requests, and creating a professional tone or voice in email.
April 22, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Zoom
Teaching: Writing a Teaching Philosophy (Apr. 23)
How would you describe your teaching philosophy to someone who has never observed your teaching? In this workshop, you’ll learn strategies for distilling the most important elements of your teaching philosophy and expressing it in a clear, succinct narrative. We will especially think about how it can be used to highlight your strengths when applying for academic teaching positions.
April 23, 3-4:30 p.m.; Albright Entrepreneurship Garage
Teaching: Writing a Teaching Philosophy (Apr. 24)
How would you describe your teaching philosophy to someone who has never observed your teaching? In this workshop, you’ll learn strategies for distilling the most important elements of your teaching philosophy and expressing it in a clear, succinct narrative. We will especially think about how it can be used to highlight your strengths when applying for academic teaching positions.
April 24, 4-5:30 p.m.; Zoom
May
Communication Skills: In-Person Writing Retreat (May 5 & May 6)
The two-day In-Person Writing Retreat Sprint offers graduate and postdoctoral writers the dedicated time and structure to make progress on a major writing project, as well as resources for writing strategies and guest speakers about campus writing and research resources. This event requires a $40 registration fee.
May 5, 9 a.m. -4 p.m.; College of Textiles Convocation Center Room 2225
May 6, 9 a.m. -4 p.m.; College of Textiles Convocation Center Room 2225
June
Communication Skills: Basics of Finding Fellowships & Grants (June 3)
In this workshop we will learn how to approach finding fellowship and grant opportunities. We will discuss developing a plan for locating relevant fellowship and gran, while also learning more about the types of opportunities available for your own interests.
June 3, 10-11:30 a.m.; Zoom
Communication Skills: Writing Personal Statements & Narratives (June 10)
Combining personal writing and academic writing can be a challenge, especially when it comes to applications. In this workshop we will explore how to write personal statements and narratives for fellowship and grant applications.
June 10, 10-11:30 a.m.; Zoom
Communication Skills: Writing Research Statements (June 17)
Developing a concrete research statement is a requirement for many graduate academic and research opportunities. Through this workshop we will craft research statements that can be used for fellowship and grant applications. We will discuss challenges to this type of writing, while also considering techniques to enhance your writing.
June 17, 10-11:30 a.m.; Zoom
Communication Skills: Revise & Refine: Fellowships & Grants Workshopping Session (June 24)
Wanting more one-on-one feedback on your fellowship and grant application? This workshop session is available by appointment for specific feedback and workshopping on an application you are developing or hoping to apply for in the future.
June 24, 10-11:30 a.m.; Zoom
Accommodation Requests
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, NC State will honor requests for reasonable accommodations made by individuals with disabilities. Requests can be served effectively if notice is provided at least ten days before the event. Direct accommodation requests for professional development programs to professional-development@ncsu.edu.
