Karen Kashmanian Oates - Dean of Arts and Sciences at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and SCI-New England Co-Director

Karen Kashmanian Oates on Employment Struggles of STEM Graduates and Postdocs and How Institutions Can Help

It’s no secret that tenure track positions are rare, and the selection process highly competitive. It’s also no secret that STEM graduate students and postdocs spend most, if not all, of their time in the lab conducting research, leaving little opportunity to develop the other skills necessary for building a career. Dean of Arts and Sciences at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and SENCER Center for Innovation-New England Co-Director Karen Kashmanian Oates argues that leaders of STEM institutions have an obligation to graduate students and postdocs that extends beyond the basics of providing a decent working environment, research mentoring, and a living wage. Last fall, Karen’s institution offered a workshop that helped STEM Ph.D.s and postdocs craft career plans, draft application materials, prepare for hiring interviews, and present themselves more professionally. Learn about WPI’s STEM Faculty Launch Program, including how to get involved, by reading her article in Inside Higher Ed.

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