After the PhD: The Early Years

It is no mean feat navigating the final stages of graduate school and the period immediately following the completion of one’s PhD. How does one grapple with the academic job market, address the questions of whether and how to explore non-academic (alt-ac) paths, or handle those initial years in a research position? In particular, how do those with graduate degrees in the humanities and social sciences met those challenges?

A strong support network, not just friends and family, but supportive colleagues and mentors, is critical for anyone hoping to survive and thrive in the late- and post-PhD phases.

This postgraduate networking event, organized by the College of Integrative Studies at SMU, is an opportunity for senior and graduating PhD students in the humanities and social sciences to further build up their support network.

At this event, several researchers from the local universities will share briefly about their experiences with early career research and/or alt-ac options. Following that, during a networking session and over light refreshments, senior postgraduate students will be able to strike up conversations informally with these speakers, other senior scholars from the local universities in attendance, and make connections with many postgraduate students in cognate fields.

Panelists

Asst Prof Kung Chien Wen

Chien Wen is a Singaporean historian, who teaches in the Department of History, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, NUS. His first book, Diasporic Cold Warriors, explores the rise of the Philippine Chinese as Southeast Asia's most ardent overseas Chinese supporters of the KMT.

Assoc Prof Setoh Pei Pei

Peipei is a developmental psychologist and the Director of the Early Cognition Lab. She teaches in School of Social Sciences at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Her research goal is to see children thrive and achieve their potential.

Asst Prof Ng Teng Kuan

Teng Kuan is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies in the College of Integrative Studies at Singapore Management University. His research focuses on the interdisciplinary study of religion and film in East Asia. At SMU, he teaches students to grapple with issues of social and global import.