A graduate student’s or postdoctoral fellow’s first resource for professional development is their faculty advisor/PI. However, for those who seek a broader range of information, there are rich resources and tools available for career exploration and development. These lists can be used as a starting point.

Department Resources

• Connect with Cognitive Science PhD alumni and MA alumni
• AS.050.860 Professional Seminar in Cognitive Science: Addresses professional issues such as research ethics, success on the job market and in an academic career, teaching and mentoring and differing professional standards in the sub-disciplines of cognitive science. Typically offered in the spring.

Johns Hopkins Resources

• PHutures serves Homewood doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows with professional development and career connections. It offers a variety of workshops, seminars, and one-on-one consultations. Subscribe to their YouTube Channel.
• OneHop is a dedicated hub for alumni-to-student mentoring and alumni-to-alumni networking.
• Passport to Future Technology Leadership program enhances skills and create opportunities for URM doctoral students interested in industry careers.
• Life Design Lab serves Homewood undergraduate and masters students, but some programming and resources extend to  doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows to explore careers interests, including ImaginePhD and VersatilePhD, to help them explore career paths.
  • International student career resources
• The Professional Development and Career Office, while serving the East Baltimore campus also extends it’s wide-ranging workshops, events, and resources to interested graduate students and postdoctoral fellow from other campuses. If you want to practice your elevator pitch consider participating in the annual Three Minute Thesis Competition.
• Center for Leadership Education’s Professional Development Program offers workshops and courses that aim to fill skill- and knowledge-gaps that have been identified by employers in industries that value STEM doctoral degree holders.
• The Center for Teaching Excellence and Innovation offers teaching support, tools, and resources to faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows who seek instructional services, educational technology and tools, and instruction-related publications.
  • The Teaching Academy is especially relevant for those who are considering careers in academia and education. They also offer support in applying to grants and fellowships aimed at pedagogical innovation.
  • The Innovative Instructor Blog covers topics such as active learning, assessment, use of case studies in instruction, classroom management, instructional design, how to engage students, grading and feedback, collaborative learning, leading discussions, hybrid instruction, and teaching methods.
• Coursera courses designed and taught by Hopkins’ departments (free).

External Resources

Relevant professional organizations (e.g. LSA, SfN, APA etc.) are also a great place to start. They usually have jobs boards, may offer professional development workshops or webinars, and can be good networking resources.

• 80,000 Hours Career Guide
• APA Podcasts on Graduate School, Careers, Hot Topics 
• Career Linguist
• Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning
• Individual Development Plan skills survey
• Inside HigherEd Careers
• InterSECT job simulations
• NIH Annual Career Symposium
• NIH Videocasts
• Women in Cognitive Science

Have something to add? Contact our academic coordinator.