Career Advancement and Development
Below is a list of resources and programs to help develop and advance careers in Neurobiology and related fields.
Jump to:
- BioProfessionals Program
- Fellowship Application Procedure
- TGS Career Development Resources
- Northwestern Career Advancement (NCA)
- Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA)
- Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching
BioProfessionals Program
The BioProfessionals Program, run by IBiS, provides programs and workshops in three different areas designed to help PhD students jump-start their career:
- Pathway to the Professoriate: Touches on issues important for successful academic careers including lab management, startup package negotiations, and the tenure-track process.
- BioSurvival Skills: A series of workshops on topics such as presentation skills, grant and CV writing, and job hunting.
- BioOpportunities: This program regularly invites alumni and other professionals to talk about the diversity of careers available to PhD students.
Fellowship Application Procedure
The following is the ideal timeline for submission of a postdoctoral fellowship requiring institutional support:
- Two to three months prior to the proposal date: PI informs the Senior Research Administrator (SRA) for Neurobiology, Anthony Arnold, of postdoctoral fellow’s upcoming submission for inclusion in the Neurobiology calendar to Sponsored Research (SR).
- One month prior to the proposal due date: Announce your intent to apply by meeting with SRA Anthony Arnold. In this meeting, we will discuss the budget, a timeline, required documents, examples of past applications, and a breakdown of tasks, including which items will be completed for you. This meeting must occur one month prior to the proposal due date or we cannot guarantee support for your application.
- 2-3 weeks out from due date: Meet with your faculty mentor to review all documents to be submitted. Provide them with a complete draft of your proposal and plan time for extensive revisions following the meeting. Keep in mind we can only process documents that have been approved by faculty.
- 7 business days out from due date: All final documents except science are due to SRA Anthony Arnold for completion of the University form package and PI, department, college, and SR preview/approval. Forms are due to SR five business days out from due date. There is no flexibility on this deadline for postdoc applications.
- 2 days out from due date: The final science and any updates are due to SR for final review and submission. Fellows may also be responsible for completion of a separate online application depending on the requirements of the agency.
The graduate school Career Development Resources
The Graduate School (TGS) offers a comprehensive suite of career and professional development resources—ranging from digital exploration platforms and design thinking workshops to intensive research communication training—designed to empower PhD students and postdoctoral fellows to navigate diverse career pathways with confidence and clarity.
- Academic Job Market Prep Workshop Series
- Beyond the Professoriate
- PhD and Postdoc Careers
- Research Communication and Training Program
Northwestern Career Advancement (NCA)
Northwestern Career Advancement (NCA) helps undergraduate and graduate students with the career development process, including academic major and career decision making, internship advising, full time job search advising, and graduate school and pre-law advising. Students can schedule individual appointments as well as attend express advising hours for assistance. In addition, all students have access to Handshake. Handshake is an online internship and job database for employers who recruit Northwestern students. Handshake also enables students to receive email updates on services, programming, and special events.
Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA)
The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) is a central resource for postdoctoral training at Northwestern University. The OPA works with Northwestern faculty members and administrators to provide postdocs access to an array of services.
- Career Preparation Support
- Mentoring
- Northwestern University Postdoctoral Association
- Professional Development
Searle Center For Advancing Learning And Teaching
The Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching encourages teaching practices grounded in pedagogical scholarship through programs and workshops that help Northwestern faculty members, graduate students, and post-docs develop their teaching practice.
Faculty Resources
- New Faculty Transitions Workshop: A full-day event to welcome and orient new faculty.
- Searle Fellows Program: A year-long program for early career faculty to enhance their teaching skills and practices.
- Workshops & Sessions: Single events such as Faculty Workshops, University Teaching Roundtables, and Faculty Brownbag Discussions.
Graduate Students & Postdocs
- Teaching Certificate Program: A three-tiered certificate for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars focused on reflective, evidence-informed, and inclusive teaching.
- Graduate Teaching Fellowship: A year-long program to support advanced graduate students in developing their pedagogical skills and knowledge.
- Workshops: An array of flexible programming designed to fit every schedule, allowing graduate students and postdocs to feel confident in the classroom and on the job market while making timely progress toward their degrees.