Please join us for another Department of Anthropology Proseminar speaker series:

Title: You Graduated, Now What?: Next Steps in Post-Graduate Careers

Speaker: Joe Curran, Statistical Research, INC (SRI)

Abstract:

Many graduating students ask the question: what comes next? This presentation explores multiple post-graduate career pathways for early-career Ph.D.s, including postdoctoral opportunities through the National Science Foundation (NSF) Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (SPRF), as well as careers in cultural resource management (CRM) and applied archaeology. Drawing on over a decade of CRM experience alongside his trajectory through the NSF SPRF, Dr. Joseph Curran discusses how to develop or extend a research agenda after the Ph.D., navigate the application process, and balance academic and applied career options. The presentation highlights practical strategies for building competitive proposals, leveraging field and project experience, and translating academic training into both research and professional contexts. It also addresses common pitfalls and provides actionable guidance to help new Ph.D.s successfully transition into postdoctoral positions, CRM leadership roles, or hybrid career paths that bridge academia and practice.