Let's be honest: postdocs occupy a weird, liminal space in the path of the scholar. Is it a job? Are postdocs students? I was once told that my department considered postdocs students when it meant they didn't have to provide faculty benefits, and it considered them special faculty when it meant they could withhold student benefits. We never even really bothered to give postdoctoral fellowships a real name; we basically just call them "that thing you do after you finish your doctorate but before you get a real job." … [Read more...] about I Found a Postdoc in the Sciences: Now What? (Pt 1)
Academic Vocations
Thinking as Worship
Christian Brady recently shared a thoughtful Scholar's Compass series on transitions with us. Here he reflects on the surprising origins of a quote he learned years ago, and on how its context sent him back to Scripture for encouragement on living the life of the mind. Quote “Das Denken ist auch Gottesdienst.” Reflection Sometime in my junior year a faculty member spoke to our InterVarsity chapter. I remember distinctly one element of his talk, a quote in German that he attributed to Luther: “Das Denken ist … [Read more...] about Thinking as Worship
Teaching Tips: Grace and Identity
Bethany Bowen-Wefuan shares today's teaching tip. Want to see her other pieces for the blog, including posts on praying for students and thankfulness around graduate exam time? Click here. … [Read more...] about Teaching Tips: Grace and Identity
Teaching Tips: Growing in Respect, Learning to Fly
Beth Madison recently shared some of her tips on teaching in Humility, Caring, and Cheerleading. Here she follows up with a few teaching ideas learned from Ephesians. Ephesians 4:15 (NLT) Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. This passage encourages me to remember two things about my students when I'm teaching: They need to fly–Like a mother eagle pushes her eaglets out of the nest to learn to fly, I try to … [Read more...] about Teaching Tips: Growing in Respect, Learning to Fly
Letter to My Self, Starting Graduate School
Historian Ryan Wilkinson, PhD finished and starting a tenure track job in the fall, writes a letter to himself at the beginning of graduate school. We hope it's a great encouragement, wherever you are on your academic journey. Dear Me, Well, congratulations—you're going to graduate school! So—this is your future self, writing from a decade ahead to let you know that you'll have a lot of fun. On the other hand . . . it won't all be easy. Hmmm? What do I mean? Well, let me give you some examples. … [Read more...] about Letter to My Self, Starting Graduate School