Diversity
Future Leaders Program

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The Future Leaders Program aims to broaden the pipeline of diverse materials researchers by providing targeted information and support to senior graduate student and postdoctoral researchers pursuing academic positions. Several events are held throughout the year. If you are interested in participating, please apply here.

Future Leaders Events

Fall

  • New Faculty Networking: The Future Leaders Committee and junior faculty in the MRSEC hold a virtual information sharing and networkign event for new faculty in MRSEC-affiliated departments. (September)
  • Faculty Search Open House: The Future Leaders Committee and select search committee members host a virtual open house to describe research areas of interest and answer questions from prospected applicants. (October)

Winter

  • Demystifying the Faculty Hiring Process (Panel Discussion & Small Groups): The Future Leaders Committee and NU MRSEC faculty host an online panel discussion to demystify the faculty hiring process and lower barriers to application.  The panel discussion will be followed by small group meetings with faculty. (February) Apply here.

Spring

  • The Academic Research Proposal (Panel Discussion): This event will give attendees an understanding of the typical structure of and expectations for the research proposal that is part of the faculty application package. Hosted by MRSEC and MSE faculty with recent service on search committees. (April)
  • Future Leaders Seminar Series: Select participants in Future Leaders events will be invited for a virtual visit to give short seminars, meet MSE faculty, and expand their network. (April-May)
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Past & Present Future Leaders

Click here to view alumni of the Future Leaders Program.

Click here to view detailed profiles of the current cohort of Future Leaders, who are listed below:

Current Cohort
Vivian Feig Postdoctoral Fellow University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Regina Garcia-Mendez Assistant Professor Johns Hopkins University
Varda Hagh Assistant Professor University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Rhiannon Kennard Postdoctoral Fellow University of Sheffield
Eve Mozur Assistant Professor Colorado School of Mines
Monica Ohnsorg Postdoctoral Fellow University of Colorado Boulder
Kate Reidy Ph.D. Student  Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Joshua Sanchez Postdoctoral Fellow Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Antonio Tavera-Vázquez Postdoctoral Fellow University of Chicago
Christina Tringides Postdoctoral Fellow ETH Zürich
Yichao Zhang Postdoctoral Fellow University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

 

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Application

Click here to apply to the program. You will be asked to provide the following information:

  • Name
  • Email
  • Current position (grad student or postdoct)
  • Current institution
  • Why do you want to apply for a faculty position? (<100 words)
  • Provide 5 keywords related to your research area.
  • What is the anticipated impact of your research? (<100 words)
  • What activities are you involved in outside of research? (<100 words)
  • Describe any involvement in activities to broaden representation and promote inclusion in materials research. If desired, describe how your own identity informs your participation. (<100 words)
  • If available, provide a link to your CV.
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