The job search process for assistant professor positions in engineering and science can feel daunting due to the competitive landscape and the variety of institutions and roles. This guide covers key strategies to help streamline your search and research institutions and customize each application to increase your chances of finding the ideal fit.
This post is part of Navigating the Path to an Assistant Professor Position in the U.S.: A Multi-Part Guide, offering insights and practical steps to help you succeed in securing and thriving in an academic career. Each installment explores different facets of the journey, from understanding position expectations to achieving early career success.
1. Identifying the Right Positions
- Clarify Your Priorities: Begin by defining what matters most to you in a position—research vs. teaching focus, geographic location, department size, or institutional mission (e.g., public vs. private, research-intensive vs. teaching-focused). Knowing your priorities helps filter options early.
- Track Job Listings Across Platforms: Regularly check job boards specific to academia and STEM fields, such as:
- HigherEdJobs: Lists a broad range of faculty positions across disciplines and institution types.
- Chronicle Vitae: A trusted platform with detailed position descriptions and application deadlines.
- Academic Keys: Focused on higher education, especially for science and engineering positions.
- Professional Societies: Many academic societies (e.g., BMES for biomedical engineering) have job boards that feature roles in specific disciplines.
- University Websites: Institutions often post positions on their own websites, sometimes before they’re listed elsewhere.
- Networking and Word of Mouth: Reaching out to colleagues or attending conferences can provide early insights into open positions that may not be widely advertised. Building connections within your field often leads to insider knowledge about upcoming opportunities.
2. Researching Target Departments and Institutions
- Understand the Institution Type and Mission: Knowing the institution’s mission can help you assess how well your profile aligns. For example:
- Research Universities (R1/R2): Typically prioritize research output and external funding. If applying here, highlight your research potential, funding prospects, and collaborative interests.
- Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs): Emphasize a commitment to teaching excellence and working closely with undergraduate students.
- Community Colleges: Focus on pedagogical skills, accessibility, and commitment to student-centered teaching.
- Examine Departmental Focus and Faculty Interests: Review the department’s website and faculty profiles to understand the specific expertise and research strengths. Key points to assess:
- Current Research Areas and Gaps: Determine how your research complements or fills a gap within the department. This allows you to pitch yourself as a candidate who brings a unique and needed skill set.
- Teaching Needs: Look at current course offerings and identify where you could contribute. Mentioning specific courses you could teach (or create) shows you’ve done your homework.
- Identify Unique Institutional Resources: Some universities have specialized resources like research centers, advanced labs, or interdisciplinary initiatives. Mentioning these in your application and linking them to your work signals a strong institutional fit.
3. Crafting Tailored Applications for Each Position
- Align Each Document to the Job Ad’s Requirements: Carefully read the job description to identify key requirements, like teaching experience or specific research expertise, and ensure these are reflected in your application materials. For instance, if a department is seeking experience with specific lab techniques, explicitly highlight your proficiency in those areas.
- Demonstrate Your Fit for Both Research and Teaching: For balanced positions, clearly show how you will contribute to both realms. In your cover letter, articulate how your research agenda aligns with department goals, and discuss your teaching philosophy in relation to the specific courses offered.
- Address Department-Specific Values and Goals: Tailor your cover letter to echo the department’s values or goals, whether it’s advancing diversity, fostering community engagement, or building interdisciplinary collaborations. If a department highlights a commitment to diversity, you might frame your experience or goals in a way that reflects your dedication to inclusive practices.
- Showcase Adaptability and Growth: Departments often seek candidates who demonstrate potential for long-term growth. Mention skills you plan to develop or interdisciplinary interests that align with broader institutional goals. This signals that you’re adaptable and invested in your continued professional development.
4. Leveraging Professional Connections and Networking
- Contacting Faculty and Alumni: If possible, reach out to faculty members at the institution to ask questions about the department and its culture. If you know alumni or former students who have worked there, they can also provide valuable insights into the hiring process and expectations.
- Connecting at Conferences and Seminars: Networking events provide opportunities to learn about openings and connect with potential colleagues. Conference presentations are also a chance to showcase your work and establish your reputation among peers.
- Seeking Informational Interviews: If you’re interested in a particular institution, consider requesting an informational interview with someone from the department. This is an excellent way to learn more about the position informally and to show your interest in the institution.
5. Strategies for Organizing and Tracking Applications
- Create a Master Spreadsheet: Track each application in a spreadsheet with columns for institution name, department, application deadline, and specific requirements (e.g., teaching statement, diversity statement). This keeps you organized and ensures you don’t miss deadlines or required documents.
- Document Customization Notes: Keep brief notes on how each application should be tailored based on your research into the institution. For example, specific research areas to highlight, courses you’ll mention, or faculty members you could collaborate with.
- Set Regular Review Intervals: Academic job searches require timely responses to application deadlines and interview requests. Setting a weekly or bi-weekly review interval for your search efforts ensures you don’t miss updates or new postings.
Tips for Navigating the Job Search Successfully
- Balance Quality with Quantity: While it may be tempting to apply broadly, focusing on positions where you’re a strong match yields better outcomes. Aim to balance between a focused approach and adequate reach by targeting institutions that genuinely align with your background and career goals.
- Use Your Network Strategically: Inform mentors, colleagues, and professional contacts about your job search. Even a casual mention can lead to referrals or insider knowledge about upcoming openings.
- Stay Organized and Resilient: The academic job market can be competitive, and resilience is key. Maintain a schedule, track your progress, and celebrate small milestones to keep yourself motivated.
Parts of this Series:
- Understanding the Role and Expectations
We’ll begin by examining what it means to be an assistant professor, including the expectations surrounding research, teaching, and service. Knowing what institutions are looking for will help you tailor your application to meet their needs. - Building a Standout Application Package
Crafting a strong CV, cover letter, research statement, teaching philosophy, and diversity statement is crucial. We’ll provide in-depth advice on how to develop each component, ensuring that your application stands out in a competitive field. - Navigating the Job Search
Finding the right positions and tailoring your applications accordingly is an art. We’ll explore strategies for identifying opportunities, researching departments, and aligning your application with the specific requirements of each job posting. - Mastering the Interview Process
Interviews are a critical step in the process, from initial phone or Zoom interviews to on-campus visits. We’ll offer tips on how to prepare, what to expect, and how to present yourself as the ideal candidate. - Negotiating and Accepting an Offer
Once you receive an offer, it’s key to know how to negotiate terms that align with your professional and personal needs. We’ll guide you through the negotiation process, including salary, start-up funds, teaching load, and other critical factors. - Onboarding and Early Career Success
Finally, we’ll discuss how to navigate the early stages of your new role, from onboarding to establishing your research and teaching portfolios. Building a strong foundation during your first years can set the tone for a successful academic career.
