Ph.D. student selected for 2021 NextProf Pathfinder Workshop

Congratulations to Ph.D. student Charlie Tran, who has been selected to participate in the 2021 NextProf PathFinder Workshop: Preparing the Next Generation of Scientific and Technological Leaders at the University of Michigan on October 17-19, 2021.

The NextProf Pathfinder is a two-day program developed at Michigan Engineering and aimed at first and second-year Ph.D. students, as well as students in master’s programs, to keep them pursuing careers in academia.

Tran (Lab: Dr. Ruogu Fang) and participants will hear from top faculty and deans from around the U.S. to gain a better understanding of academic life and how to achieve a position in it. They learn best practices in applying and networking for positions, how to set up a lab and what kind of work/life balance they can expect, for example.

NextProf Pathfinder, designed for earlier-stage students, teaches participants what types of experiences they should seek to best position themselves.

Developed by expert faculty, Michigan Engineering’s annual NextProf workshops have established a reputation as preeminent event in a nationwide effort to strengthen and diversify the next generation of academic leaders.

  • Meet mentors & future collaborators – expanding personal networks
  • Attend panel discussions with successful faculty
  • Learn about the faculty search process
  • Prepare for the academic job market
  • Plan for the rigors of first faculty positions
  • Understand how to build a successful research program