Communication and Negotiation Skills Seminar for Women

With support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), APS has trained women in physics to host professional skills seminars for students and postdocs at APS-sponsored meetings and at universities and institutions. Professional Skills Development Seminars are highly interactive workshops where participants will learn and practice communication and negotiation skills.

What will you learn in a professional skills seminar?

This two-hour seminar will focus on professional skills that women need to effectively perform research and thrive in physics, including how to:

• Negotiate a graduate, postdoc, or professional position in academia, industry, or at a national lab
• Interact positively on teams and with a mentor or advisor
• Think tactically
• Enhance personal presence
• Develop alliances
• Achieve professional goals

Who are seminars available to?

These seminars are designed to reach women in physics. Physics departments or student groups may request to host a workshop for undergraduates, graduate students, or postdocs. They are also usually available at CUWiP meetings and at APS national meetings. For mid- to senior-level women in physics, Professional Skills Development Workshops are also available at some APS national Meetings.

How much do seminars cost?

With support from NSF, APS is able to provide stipends to offset the travel costs of the seminar leaders indicated on the map below with orange, single-point flags. If you request a seminar from someone with a blue, swallowtail flag, please be prepared to offer travel support for those individuals. All of our seminar leaders are volunteers.

How do I request a seminar?

Use the map below to find a seminar leader near you! Seminar leaders in orange are likely to be available due to funding. You may reach out directly to the seminar leaders using the email address listed below their name and institution. When reaching out, note a range of dates that would work for your group. If you are unable to reach a nearby seminar leader, please email women@aps.org.

What does your group need to do?

Advertise the seminar, invite students and postdocs in physics and other STEM disciplines to participate, and reserve a space to host the seminar. For more information, contact women@aps.org.

The APS Professional Skills Development Program acknowledges the contributions of COACh at University of Oregon, for not only developing the materials but being involved in training the seminar leaders.

  Support for this program has been received from the National Science Foundation under Award No. PHY-1419913.