NC State MSE doctoral candidate, Saeed Saeed, recently completed a weeklong faculty training program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The highly prestigious WiscProf: Future Faculty in Engineering Workshop, led by the College of Engineering, selected Saeed to attend the 2023 session from May 22-25.
About WiscProf
The WiscProf program is designed for doctoral students in their last two years of study, and postdocs pursuing or considering pursuing an academic career at a research-intensive university. It also targets traditionally underrepresented groups in engineering.
This all-expenses-paid program began in 2022 and gives a window into life as a faculty member in engineering. Participants get a feel for what it’s like to work at a top-tier university by meeting with current faculty members, department chairs, and college leadership. They begin to develop a plan to pursue their career in higher education, and they even can present their current research, receive feedback, and learn how to be a great faculty candidate.
The program emphasizes a unique faculty committee mentorship program that pairs new faculty members with mentors. Each research group has its mentor committee, and a benefit is an unparalleled feedback and assistance they give while applying for grants. This exceptional bonus provides help with editing, revisions, and even advice on which grants to apply for. Boosting confidence puts less pressure on incoming faculty, and makes them more apt to have long-term success.
Overall Impressions
The moment Saeed arrived at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he was struck by the beauty of the campus. Nestled by the stunning Lake Mendota, the campus proved to be a fitting backdrop to entice a future faculty member.
The program began with a snapshot of the first couple of years as a faculty member. Learning how to balance all of the aspects from hiring students, applying for grants, conducting research, and instructing students, while also learning the unique culture at the university, college, and department helped Saeed managed expectations.
Each day of the week, different topics were presented to give a holistic view of the program. Some of the panel discussion topics include diversity and inclusion, mentoring, navigating college environments, and overcoming stressful workloads.
Saeed was inspired to hear from so many different perspectives: particularly from minorities and other underrepresented groups in engineering. He was also impressed by the emphasis on asking questions and providing guidance. He saw that new faculty members are more successful when working with a mentoring committee, particularly if one has never been to grant writing workshops before.
Lab tours were also a part of the program. Saeed was guided through some of the MSE facilities, one that stood out the most being the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC). The focus of this center is materials science research while encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration.
As the only invited representative from NC State MSE, Saeed was honored to participate. The WiscProf program generously covers all expenses for participants and is committed to fostering a well-rounded learning experience.
Final Takeaways
Saeed 100% recommends the program “to anyone interested in being a faculty member or even those who are not sure about joining academia.” He adds, “The program details how to enter and be successful in the academic landscape.” Giving a shoutout to UW-Madison DEI Project Program Manager Brian Nunez, Saeed felt encouraged during the application process.
Heartened by the diverse makeup of the program’s participants, Saeed was thankful to meet other like-minded individuals from different backgrounds and cultures. He thinks it is impressive to see how many people of color or underrepresented groups are thinking about becoming faculty members.
Saeed was drawn to a concept that some professors use in their research to impact people’s lives more broadly beyond the state of Wisconsin, globally, and for all mankind: the progressive movement, The Wisconsin Idea. “The boundaries of the university campus are the boundaries of the state,” as an effort to bring together the resources of state government, the University of Wisconsin, and citizens’ groups to solve social, political, and economic problems.
Admitting that the only con of the program is the daily firehose of information presented in a slideshow format, Saeed feels a different method of hands-on interactive learning could have been used. But knowing that the program is only two years old, Saeed acknowledges that there is a lot of information to teach, and will take time to adapt to different learning techniques.
After this program, Saeed now feels more confident about becoming a full-time faculty member one day. Being armed with the partnership of a robust faculty mentor program is one thing he will be looking for when he pursues the next chapter in his academic career. With NC State having an established Faculty Mentoring Program similar to UW-Madison, Saeed now knows exactly what to include in future decision-making about becoming a faculty member. The program provided more certainty and clarity and reassured him that he does want to move forward into academia. He feels more at ease that he is not going in blind.
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Registration for the 2024 WiscProf: Future Faculty in Engineering Workshop has not been updated as of the press date, but continue to check the website for details, or email Brian Nunez.
This post was originally published in Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
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