Graduate Students

Writing a Teaching Philosophy

Your teaching philosophy is a self-reflective statement of your beliefs about teaching and learning. It’s a one to two page narrative that conveys your core ideas about being an effective teacher in the context of your discipline. It develops these ideas with specific, concrete examples of what the teacher and learners will do to achieve those goals. Importantly, your teaching philosophy statement also explains why you choose these options (University of Minnesota, 2022).

Here are a few resources that can help you create your own teaching philosophy.

Writing Your Teaching Philosophy-University of Minnesota

Teaching Philosophy Statement-Cornell University

Writing a Teaching Philosophy-Washington University in Saint Louis

Writing a Research Statement

The research statement (or statement of research interests) is a common component of academic job applications. It is a summary of your research accomplishments, current work, and future direction and potential of your work.

The statement can discuss specific issues such as:

• funding history and potential
• requirements for laboratory equipment and space and other resources
• potential research and industrial collaborations
• how your research contributes to your field
• future direction of your research (Cornell University, 2022)

Here are a few resources that you can use to write your own research statement:

Research Statement-Cornell University

Research Statements-University of Pennsylvania

Research Statement Template-UCLA

Writing a Diversity Statement

Diversity statements typically include your personal stories and past experiences as a member of an underrepresented group and your future plans to advance diversity, equity and inclusion. These statements are usually 1 to 2 pages long. Candidates can talk about how they have been impacted by diversity throughout their academic career and can bring up examples from their education or instructional experiences on how they have come to understand and appreciate diversity. “A university that seeks this statement from applicants is typically concerned with ensuring that faculty hires are familiar with its diverse student populations and willing to support students in line with the university’s mission statement.” (Diversity Statement, 2023). 

HERC (2021) has provided four steps to writing an effective diversity statement, which are:

1. Providing your context (write about your personal story on diversity)
2. Identify your diversity conflict (what prompted your commitment to diversity?)
3. Demonstrate your commitment (any positions you held or projects you worked on that furthered equity and inclusion)
4. Revise and refine your statement (make sure it has a logical flow and is reviewed by colleagues)

University of Pennsylvania’s Career Services also has included a set of questions that you can answer when writing your diversity statement.

• What does diversity mean to you, and why is this important?
• Do you understand the university’s diversity goals?
• What have been some of your experiences either being part of a non-majority group, or interacting with diverse populations?
• How has your thinking about diversity actively influenced your teaching, research, and/or scholarship?
• In thinking about the different roles you have played, and will play, as part of your university service, what role has/will diversity issues play?
• What role do you believe that advising and mentoring play in working with diverse populations?
• Does your engagement with diversity help students prepare for careers in a global society?

Some universities also provide sample Diversity Statements from faculty that candidates can look at prior to writing their diversity statements. You can check out University of Pennsylvania’s, University of Berkley’s, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s sample Diversity Statements.

ImaginePhD

ImaginePhD is a free online career exploration and planning tool for PhD students and postdoctoral scholars in the humanities and social sciences.                      Imagine PhD users can:

• assess their career-related skills, interests, and values
• explore careers paths appropriate to their disciplines
• create self-defined goals
• map out next steps for career and professional development success  

myIDP

myIDP is a unique, web-based career-planning tool tailored to meet the needs of PhD students and postdocs in the sciences. myIDP provides:

• Exercises to help you examine your skills, interests, and values
• A list of 20 scientific career paths with a prediction of which ones best fit your skills and interests
• A tool for setting strategic goals for the coming year, with optional reminders to keep you on track
• Articles and resources to guide you through the process

Graduate Career Consortium (GCC)

Graduate Career Consortium (GCC) is an international organization comprised of higher education professionals leading career and professional development for graduate students and postdocs since 1987.                                                                 As a unique community of practitioner scholars and teachers, the GCC’s role is to connect and support our members while also raising the awareness of their contributions to the field.  

Inside Higher Ed provides News, Jobs, Career Advice and Events for college and university faculty, adjuncts, graduate students, and administrators. You can search for more than 34,000 faculty and administrative jobs in higher education as well as get career advice. Browse for jobs.

Chronicle of Higher Education

Chronicle of Higher Education is a leader in higher education journalism and research, providing insights, tools, knowledge and career opportunities in the field of higher education. Students can search for jobs and relevant information in higher education on their website.

HigherEdJobs

HigherEdJobs is the leading source for jobs and career information in academia.  They provide students with job search, resources, and news in higher education. 

Academia.edu

Academia.edu is a platform for sharing academic research. Academics have uploaded 40 million papers, and 93 million academics, professionals, and students read papers on Academia every month.     You can share your published or works in progress with other researchers and get feedback.   

ResearchGate

ResearchGate is a site where scientists can connect, collaborate and share their work. Their mission is to connect the world of science and make research open to all. You can also find research jobs on their site. 

Professional networking is a critical tool for career success, and LinkedIn is the premier tool for making connections. Learn more about using LinkedIn for career success.

Yale Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning

Yale’s Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning provides strategies for teaching and instructional tools that may be helpful for new faculty. 

Center for Learning and Teaching

Binghamton University’s Center for Learning and Teaching promotes and supports excellence in student-centered learning for all members of the Binghamton University community. They provide supported technology, instructional design services, and educational support for faculty, students, and staff. 

GRADUATE SCHOOL

The Graduate School, in partnership with other Binghamton University resources, has put together a series of workshops and programs to enhance and help students articulate these skills, as well as promote personal well-being. Students who are at different stages of their graduate program can check these workshops and programs and consider what skills, training, and resources they need to be successful in each stage. Professional Development at the Graduate School