Throughout the academic (and non-academic) journey, we are continuously faced with occasions where our work is reviewed and evaluated by others, or where we are responsible for providing critical feedback to peers. In this session, Dr. Gustafson will discuss the revision stage, the crucial stage in every journey toward improvement. Whether in our writing or project development, we may have mixed feelings about reviewers’ comments or have difficulty making sense of and addressing feedback. As authors, understanding expectations and knowing where to focus our energies are essential when making revisions. As peer reviewers, understanding how to offer clear, constructive and insightful feedback is also an essential skill. This workshop will provide authors with important behind-the-scenes insights into the review and evaluation process and offer reviewers a framework of best practices for evaluating written submissions and delivering feedback to support those revising their manuscripts.

Whether you are an author revising your work, or a reviewer evaluating someone else’s writing, this workshop is for you.

Whether seeking employment or other opportunities inside academia or outside, marketing yourself for positions can often seem like a daunting task. What audience should you pitch to? How can you stand out? What aspects of your expertise should you highlight?

In this workshop, Dr. Bryer will draw on his own expertise across areas to support participants interested in careers both within and outside of academia. He will discuss strategies for finding opportunities, from networking to building collaborations as well as finding and securing grants. He will share tips and tricks on various ways to make academic work public and accessible to various audiences, he will share best practices when building a CV, and he will talk about strategies for increasing visibility by engaging publicly through social media, blogs, podcasts, and other forms. Finally, in his session, Dr. Bryer will offer advice on how to prepare for interviews and job talks, and key factors that can help you to stand out from all the other candidates.

In this workshop, Dr. Jeff Gill, former Editor-in-Chief of Political Analysis, will share his experience publishing in political science. He will discuss some of the most common expectations unique to the world of political science publishing, as well as some of the inside workings of more prominent top-tier journals in the field. From format to content, understanding the gaps and figuring out what editors are looking for, Dr. Gill will work through the most important challenges we face when getting our work noticed and accepted.

Regardless of the types of analyses you are presenting, or the journals you are targeting with your submissions, this workshop offers important insights and direction to improve your work and increase your chances of acceptance. Whether you are just starting out or are advising others, this session is recommended for scholars at all stages of their academic careers.

The writing of a PhD thesis is quite often a fraught process, at worst experienced as stressful, unpleasant or lonely; at best navigated without a clear sense for what is "enough". This workshop aims to provide participants with some keys to making the process smoother and more predictable. Based on years of experience mentoring and guiding graduate students through the thesis writing process, Dr. Sgier will work with participants to build the confidence and tools necessary to successfully embark on the writing journey and to see it through. She will walk participants through some components required to set themselves up for success, from understanding expectations to freeing up (and prioritising) writing time and space, to getting and handling feedback. Dr. Sgier will also offer practical tips for getting started and putting pen to paper. She will also discuss what students can do to navigate the inevitable ebbs and flows of the process.

This workshop is designed mainly for students completing Masters’ or PhD theses; but it can also be useful for participants at later stages, looking to improve their writing productivity or moving from the PhD thesis to publications.

Our productivity is routinely measured. As researchers and academics, everything is measured from the number of publications and amount of funding to the time to complete a thesis or be promoted to full professor. Yet very little time is spent talking about how to develop a way of thinking that promotes productivity. In this session, Dr. Gustafson will discuss how to adopt a productivity mindset that draws on various clear strategies and coping mechanisms that ensure outputs while maintaining mental and physical health. This process begins by challenging how we think about outputs. You will consider strategies for setting reasonable goals and establishing boundaries that align with your values. We will discuss ways to adapt and react to differing expectations, plan and track output to achieve our desired goals, improve everyday efficiency, and respond more positively under pressure.

Come prepared to question, share, learn, and grow.