Job searching strategies for science education researchers

IISME seminar Nov 6 2012

Beat A. Schwendimann, Ph.D.

Reflect on your ProfileBeat A. Schwendimann, Ph.D. in Science and Mathematics Education

• What are your passionate interests? What topics do you like reading/talking about?

• What is your skill set? What could you use your skills for besides education research?

• What is your expertise? Where could you apply your knowledge?

• How mobile are you? Local, national, international.

Alternative Job Ideas in Science EducationBeat A. Schwendimann, Ph.D. in Science and Mathematics Education

PostDoc/ Faculty research positions

Science teaching positions

Teacher education positions

Non-profit organisations/ Foundations

• Bill and Melinda Gates foundation

• Edutopia foundation

• Rand Think Tank

• Educational NGOs

Government

• Department of education

• School administration

• International organisations

• Google Education/ Google for teachers

• United Nations: UNESCO

• Intel Education

• Microsoft Education Group

Media/ Communication

• Science journalism

• Science museums

• Science TV shows

Companies

• Educational game development companies

• Educational learning environment development companies

• Pasco

• Textbook development companies

Consulting/ Think Tank

• Building on skills from you dissertation

• Educational consultant

Job Seeking StrategiesBeat A. Schwendimann, Ph.D. in Science and Mathematics Education

SENDING OUT• Direct contact: Email people you are interested to work with• Introduction though your advisor• Let your contacts know that you are looking for a job, e.g. at conferences, through email,

through social networks• Search for job postings on university/ company websites• Have a professional public profile: Personal website, CV, LinkedIn, Academia.edu, blog, etc.• Apply for scholarships, e.g. Fulbright

RECEIVING• Sign up for university job newsletters• Sign up for research community job newsletters

– AERA job database: http://www.jobtarget.com– Chronicle of Higher Education: http://chronicle.com– ISLS Job announcements: http://www.isls.org/jobs.html– Academia jobs wiki: http://academicjobs.wikia.com/wiki/Academic_Jobs_Wiki– AcademicJobs.com: http://www.academiccareers.com/– Academics.com: http://www.academics.com/home.html– Higher Education Jobs: http://www.higheredjobs.com/– Pathway to Science Jobs: http://www.pathwaystoscience.org/Postdocs.asp

• Set up Google alert, e.g. “postdoc; science education”