Essential Professional Skills Series

This intentionally-designed series blends OACD programming with top-rated virtual content to give Pitt trainees access to an expanded set of sessions covering skills that all doctoral students and postdoctoral trainees should learn as an essential part of your professional development (see this stage in the ADAPT model for more information). This series covers a range of topics critical to your success and the foundational content applies across all disciplines.

List of acronyms: BtP: Beyond the Professoriate; NPA: National Postdoctoral Association; OACD: Office of Academic Career Development

January 17, 2024
OACD: Maximizing the Mentee Experience

Time: 3-4:30pm ET
Location: Virtual
Presenters: Joseph Ayoob, PhD, Joel C. Brady, PhD,  April Dukes, PhD

Description: Targeted to postdocs and graduate students. Mentoring relationships are an essential part of any career journey but they are not always easy to navigate, particularly in the role of the mentee. During this session, we will provide you with guidance regarding how to cultivate a mentoring network, what it means to be a mentee, how to identify and cultivate new mentors, what makes for a successful mentor/mentee relationship, and how to manage a multitude of difficult situations that may arise in these relationships. This session will be interactive, so please be sure that you are in an environment that will allow you to engage verbally and come prepared with any questions you may have!

Presenters Bios: Dr. April Dukes is the director of the Faculty and Future Faculty Program for the Engineering Educational Research Center and the Institutional Co-administrator for Pitt’s Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning. Dr. Joel Brady is the Program Supervisor for the Graduate Student Teaching Initiative and staff liaison for the Center for Mentoring at the University Center for Teaching & Learning. Dr. Joseph Ayoob is a Faculty Fellow for the Center for Mentoring at the University Center for Teaching & Learning; and is an Associate Professor of Computational and Systems Biology in the School of Medicine.

January 23, 2024
NPA: The Hidden Curriculum

Provided via the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA)

Time: 3pm ET
Location: Virtually through the NPA as part of their SmartSkills Series
Presenter: Shoba Subramanian, Ph.D.

Register Here after logging into the NPA site. If you register in advance, register for the series and save to this date.

Description: Regardless of career stage, whether you are a student, postdoc, staff, faculty, or a non-academic professional, there almost always is a "hidden curriculum," otherwise known as the "unwritten rules," to navigate to achieve success. So how does one address things that are seemingly hidden? From building professional relationships to identifying champions for career growth, we will explore ways to demystify the hidden curriculum while improving equity, inclusion and belonging.

Bio: Shoba Subramanian, Ph.D., is principal manager, Amazon University Partnerships, NPA Board of Directors

February 7, 2024
OACD: Optimizing Your Immigration Portfolio *RECORDING AVAILABLE*

Time: 3-4:30pm ET 
Location: Virtual
Presenters: Delo Blough, JD, and Sara Jones

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Description: International scholars and employees who may eventually want to apply for permanent residency in the US could benefit from taking steps to compile their immigration portfolio early in their career. An immigration portfolio is an organized system of documents that show a person's ability to meet the criteria necessary to obtain permanent residence in the U.S. based on employment and educational backgrounds. Compiling an immigration portfolio before it’s needed allows for time and space to gather the best documentation without being rushed. It also helps people to identify opportunities that could augment their portfolio, such as conference session reviewing and professional memberships.

This session is geared toward nonimmigrant visa holders in the U.S. We will review the various criteria necessary to obtain permanent residence through several employment-based categories. The participant will learn how to assess their career goals against the green card criteria to better understand how to enhance their immigration portfolio with a desire to obtain permanent residence as early as possible in their career, thus providing stability and ultimate flexibility in their lives.

Presenter Bios: 

Delo Blough, JD: With over 30 years as an attorney in both the public and private sector, Delo Blough is an expert in immigration regulations related to international populations in colleges and universities.  In addition to immigration expertise, Delo believes that it is vital to provide support services to international populations in order to attract and retain highly qualified candidates who will enhance the entire campus community by sharing their diverse thoughts and experiences. Delo received her J.D. from Georgetown University and is an active member of the Virginia Bar Association. 

Sara Jones: Sara holds a wealth of information about Pitt, immigration rules, and the benefits of employment visa types, having served in various positions in OIS for more than 13 years.  Currently serving as the Associate Director, Sara leads a team of specialists to assist international students and academic departments with various immigration related requests and to provide advising, programming and related services. She also manages various special projects and administrative functions of the office.

March 28, 2024
OACD: Networking With Intention: Personalizing Your Style for Precision Results

Time: 4-5:30pm ET
Location: Zoom
Presenter: Cecelia C. Yates, PhD

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Description: Strategic networking may be the most intimidating of all the steps to grow your career. Yet networking is a necessary evil and considered foundational to developing a successful career. Networks are seen as valuable and essential to academic career advancement, such as getting published and funding success. Educational networking often produced desirable job opportunities and promotion applications, such as being invited to submit articles to special issues of journals, contributing book chapters, or speaking on plenary panels.  

The workshop will provide valuable insights into personalizing your networking style and branding, and help you think strategically about building your network with focus and precision. The workshop introduces a new element this year: a Speed networking event. During the event, each participant will receive personalized feedback and coaching in real-time to better personalize their approach and strategies. The event promises to be a great opportunity for professionals looking to refine their networking skills and personal brand.

Presenter Bio: Cecelia C. Yates, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Promotion & Development, School of Nursing at the University of Pittsburgh, with secondary appointments in the Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, the Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, and the McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine. Additionally, she is co-director of the University of Pittsburgh’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute’s TL1 Predoctoral Fellowship sponsored by NIH Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program. Dr. Yates attended Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama, where she earned her BS in Biology/Chemistry, and her PhD in Integrative Biomedical Science and Pathology in conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh. Upon completing her education, she participated in a Fellowship in Pathology at Pitt’s School of Medicine.

Dr. Yates serves on a number of editorial boards including The American Journal of Pathology and Current Pathobiology Reports. She serves on the Department of Defense and National Institutes of Health scientific review study sections. She is a member of American Society for Investigative Pathology, American Association of Immunologists, and the Wound Healing Society.She developed and directs the course “Foundations of Personalized Health: Translation from Basic Research to Clinical Practice” and teaches both undergraduate and graduate level courses including “Pathophysiology Across the Life Span” and “Anatomy and Physiology.” Dr. Yates mentors nursing, pathology, bioengineering, clinical and translational graduate and medical trainees at the University of Pittsburgh and nationally.

April 3, 2024
NPA: Inclusive, Identity-Conscious Facilitation Skills

Provided via the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA)

Time: 1pm ET
Location: Virtually as part of their SmartSkills series
Presenter: Liza Talusan, PhD

Register Here after logging into the NPA site. If you register in advance, register for the series and save to this date.

Presenter Bio: Liza Talusan, PhD, is an educator, facilitator, and strategic change partner for organizations, corporations, leadership teams, schools and individuals who are looking to build their skills in areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and leadership. She leads with compassion and connection, even when conversations are difficult and challenging.

Through workshops, dialogue groups, community conversations, strategic planning, and equity audits, Liza helps your community build knowledge, engage in reflection, and move to action in meaningful and thoughtful ways. The goal is always to build stronger, healthier, and more inclusive communities by learning more about who we are, why we do what we do, and how our identities and experiences shape our actions.

April 17, 2024
OACD: LinkedIn is a Necessity, Not an Option 

Time: 3-4:30pm ET 
Location: Virtual
Presenter: Alyson Kavalukas

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Description: Learn critical facts about the world’s largest professional networking website, from premium profile tips to navigating connections and building even more through our vast alumni network.  Get in the know on how recruiters use the tool to review candidates and get engaged for long term career success. 

Presenter Bio: Alyson Kavalukas joined the Career Center staff in 2012 and has been with the University since 2004.  She serves as the Assistant Director for Operations and has spent over a decade helping undergraduates to increase their employability through resume, cover letter, networking, and application support. 

She has lived in Pittsburgh, Miami, Tampa, New York City and Lyon, France, with professional experience in a variety of industries.  Alyson has two degrees from the University of Pittsburgh, a Bachelor of Arts in French and a Masters of Public Policy and Administration from the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs.  

May 15, 2024
OACD: Tips for Mentoring in Summer Research Programs 

Time: 4-5pm ET 
Location: Virtual
Presenter: Joseph Ayoob, PhD

Register Now!

Description: This 1-hour session is designed to help support new and novice mentors at all stages who will be mentoring undergraduates and high school students in structured summer programs and related efforts.  The workshop will share strategies for both building a strong foundation to the mentor-mentee relationship and addressing unique challenges to working with less experienced trainees.  If you’re relatively new to mentoring or are just looking for ways to better engage your students, please spend an hour with us at this informative session. 

Presenter Bio: Dr. Joseph Ayoob is a Faculty Fellow for the Center for Mentoring at the University Center for Teaching & Learning; and is an Associate Professor of Computational and Systems Biology in the School of Medicine.

 VIEW PAST SERIES:

Fall 2023 Essential Professional Skills Series
2022-2023 Essential Professional Skills Series
2021-2022 Professionalism Series