Teaching – Career Advising & Professional Development | MIT https://capd.mit.edu Tue, 22 Jul 2025 19:32:04 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 Save the date: Professional certificates for PhDs and postdocs https://capd.mit.edu/blog/2025/07/22/save-the-date-professional-certificates-for-phds-and-postdocs/ Tue, 22 Jul 2025 19:32:03 +0000 https://capd.mit.edu/?p=293342 Professional Certificate programming for graduate students and postdocs has entered its 3rd year. These popular programs provide opportunities for participants to go a little deeper into grant writing and research mentoring, two important topics  certain to play key roles in the careers of research trainees, regardless of their career destination. Past programs have seen high numbers of applicants and strong outcomes in terms of participant satisfaction and growth.

Opportunities to apply for the next round of certificate programs are approaching in the fall semester. Applications for the Grant Writing Training Certificate program open October 1 and close October 15. The Research Mentoring Certificate Program begins accepting applications on November 7 with a due date of November 25.

All MIT PhD students and postdocs are enthusiastically welcome to apply. For questions on the Research Mentoring Certificate please contact Elsie Otero, Assistant Director of Graduate Student Professional Development at eotero@mit.edu; for inquiries about the Grant Writing Training program, please email Amanda Cornwall, Associate Director of Graduate Student Professional Development at acorn5@mit.edu.

]]> 293342 New Professional Development Certificates for PhDs and Postdocs https://capd.mit.edu/blog/2023/10/13/professional-development-certificates-for-phds-and-postdocs/ Fri, 13 Oct 2023 18:50:18 +0000 https://capd.mit.edu/?p=164122 Applications are now open

We are excited to announce that applications are now open for two new professional development certificate programs for PhDs and postdocs for AY 2023-2024: the Research Mentoring Certificate and the Grant Writing Training Certificate. Applications for both certificate programs will close on Wednesday, November 1st. 

Research Mentoring Certificate for PhDs and Postdocs

This program provides an opportunity for PhDs and postdocs to develop their mentoring skills and grow their practice of productive and inclusive research mentoring.  Fundamental to the success of mentors and mentees alike, mentoring is also a transferable skill that is highly valued within multiple contexts. Each session will be led by facilitators trained by the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER).

During this program, students will explore key concepts in mentoring pedagogy, including:

  • maintaining effective communication
  • aligning expectations
  • addressing equity and inclusion
  • assessing understanding

Over the course of the program, students will develop a mentoring philosophy that they can use in their mentoring experiences.

All PhDs and postdocs at MIT who are interested in research mentoring are encouraged to apply for the program, which will take place in person during IAP 2024.  

Applications open October 16th and close on November 1st. Spaces are limited. 

This certificate program is co-produced by CAPD and the Engineering Communication Labs.

Apply for the Research Mentoring Certificate

Grant Writing Training Certificate for PhDs and Postdocs

Grant writing is an essential skill that grows in importance during the transitions from graduate student to postdoc and faculty member. PhD students and postdocs planning for research-focused or research-supporting roles in industry will have an advantage if they are familiar with the principles of grant writing and the grant submission process.  

The Grant Writing Training Certificate consists of 3 training sessions (and one additional session for those focusing on NIH grant proposals):

  • Overview session featuring faculty expertise on the grant-writing process
  • IAP 1-day intensive session facilitated by Dr. John Robertson, a noted expert in grant writing who facilitates trainings at institutions around the US and internationally. 
  • Spring semester session focusing on the grant submission process, including MIT’s internal processes, requirements for submission of federal grant applications, and information on creating budget proposals. 
  • Optional 4th session focusing on NIH proposals

Applications open October 16th and close on November 1st. Spaces are limited. 

This program is co-sponsored and produced by CAPD and the Office of the Vice President for Research.

Apply for the Grant Writing Training Certificate
]]> 164122 Academic wellbeing practices (filterable list of ideas) https://capd.mit.edu/resources/academic-wellbeing-practices-filterable-list-of-ideas/ Thu, 21 Sep 2023 19:29:59 +0000 https://capd.mit.edu/?post_type=resource&p=160507 To explore methods that might work for your teaching style, use DoingWell’s filterable list of ideas that MIT instructors have used to promote wellbeing and engagement for students.

]]> 160507 How to Hold a Better Class Discussion https://capd.mit.edu/blog/2022/08/09/how-to-hold-a-better-class-discussion/ Tue, 09 Aug 2022 17:54:35 +0000 https://capd.mit.edu/?p=87079 By  Jay Howard

Learn how to structure your course and particular class sessions in ways that will get students actively participating — and will enhance their learning:

  • Why Discussion Matters
  • 7 Strategies to Change the Norms of Class Discussions
  • How to Keep a Discussion on Track
  • Common Challenges: Participation Grades, Bad Answers, and Divisive Top
  • Resources


Read the full guide in the Chronicle of Higher Education.

]]> 87079 “Yulia’s Dream” to support young, at-risk Ukrainian students of mathematics https://capd.mit.edu/blog/2022/04/04/yulias-dream-to-support-young-at-risk-ukrainian-students-of-mathematics/ Mon, 04 Apr 2022 14:46:10 +0000 https://capd.mit.edu/?p=58566 Sandi Miller | Department of Mathematics | March 30, 2022

Millions have fled the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and for those who are staying, schools are closed. While refugee-supporting programs focus on immediate needs, the Department of Mathematics’ MIT PRIMES program plans to use its resources to support the mathematics education of Ukrainian high school students.

In honor of Yulia Zdanovska, a 21-year-old Ukrainian mathematician killed by a Russian-fired missile in her home city of Kharkiv, PRIMES has launched “Yulia’s Dream,” a free math enrichment and research program for Ukrainian high school students and refugees in grades 9 to 11.

Read the full article at MIT News.

]]> 58566 ESL TA Peer Mentoring Program https://capd.mit.edu/blog/2022/03/09/esl-ta-peer-mentoring-program/ Thu, 10 Mar 2022 02:28:35 +0000 https://capd.mit.edu/?p=52511 Are you a graduate student who considers English to be your second (or third, or fourth…) language? Join the ESL TA Peer Mentoring Program. 

The program is open to all ESL grad students, whether you are an experienced teacher who hopes to mentor new TAs, or a newer teacher looking for a friend to provide feedback and support throughout the semester.

For more information and to sign up, please check out this form, or reach out to Michelle Peters (michp@mit.edu) with questions. 

]]> 52511 A new resource for teaching responsible technology development https://capd.mit.edu/blog/2022/03/07/a-new-resource-for-teaching-responsible-technology-development/ Mon, 07 Mar 2022 14:46:15 +0000 https://capd.mit.edu/?p=51980 Terri Park | MIT Schwarzman College of Computing | MIT News

The Social and Ethical Responsibilities of Computing publishes a collection of original pedagogical materials developed for instructional use on MIT OpenCourseWare.

Read the full article on MIT News.

]]> 51980 Social Justice and Anti-Racism Resources for Graduate Education https://capd.mit.edu/resources/social-justice-and-anti-racism-resources-for-graduate-education/ Fri, 18 Feb 2022 19:31:17 +0000 https://capd.mit.edu/?post_type=resource&p=48367

The Council of Graduate Schools has created a social justice and anti-racism resource list intended to help support reflection, dialogue, and action by graduate education leaders, faculty, staff, and students interested in social justice in graduate education programs and institutions.  Many of the resources focus on anti-Black racism while others focus on or include Asian-American, Indigenous, Latinx, or Pacific Islander communities.Graduate educators may find these resources useful for providing background information to inform their work on social justice issues in graduate education, or for sharing directly with members in their communities.  Many of these resources may be useful to read, watch, or listen to in facilitated groups, with prompts developed locally to stimulate questions and discussion appropriate to the local campus context.  Some resources may be particularly helpful in identifying potential actions and motivating a commitment to programmatic or institutional change.

This list was compiled in 2021 by Barbara A. Knuth, former graduate dean at Cornell University, in her year of service as virtual-dean-in-residence with the Council of Graduate Schools.

]]> 48367 Checklist For Constructing Better Tests https://capd.mit.edu/resources/checklist-for-constructing-better-tests/ Tue, 08 Feb 2022 17:01:20 +0000 https://capd.mit.edu/?post_type=resource&p=46533 Getting Ready: Checklist For Constructing Better Tests

Well-constructed tests help motivate students and reinforce their learning while enabling instruc- tors to assess students’ mastery of course objectives. Tests also provide feedback about teaching, often showing what was and was not communicated clearly. Designing tests is one of the most challenging tasks confronting college instructors. Use this checklist to assess your test construc- tion and test administration strategies.

]]> 46533 Getting Ready for an Academic Career: Preparing Future Faculty Conference Resources https://capd.mit.edu/resources/getting-ready-for-an-academic-career-preparing-future-faculty-conference-resources/ Tue, 08 Feb 2022 16:44:42 +0000 https://capd.mit.edu/?post_type=resource&p=46527 Check out University of Michigan’s resources for life after grad school: Getting Ready for an Academic Career: Preparing Future Faculty Conference Resources

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