The Postdoctoral Teaching Academy provides a professional opportunity for postdoctoral fellows to build their knowledge and confidence around evidence-based teaching practices.
Tailored to the unique needs of postdoctoral fellows at the University, the program is structured to give postdocs an opportunity to develop and deliver course material in an undergraduate class, at different levels that range from preparing and teaching 1-2 lectures to co-teaching when close to completing their training.
While the program is geared towards highly motivated postdoctoral scholars who intend to become faculty at primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs), the skills and teaching experience developed through the program are transferable to a wide range of careers within and outside academia.
Join the Teaching Academy
Applications for the 2026-27 cohort open on August 1, 2026 and close on August 31, 2026.
Scholars will need to submit the following:
- Briefly describe their teaching experience in a short response.
- Briefly describe their interest in participating in the Teaching Academy and how it will enhance their overall career goals in a short response.
- Curriculum vitae
Objectives
Introduce postdoctoral fellows interested in academic careers to best practices, tools and resources that promote teaching excellence
Provide opportunities to build teaching skills through in-class exercises, between-session experiences and assignments, and instructor and mentor feedback
Help fellows prepare deliverables for a teaching portfolio, so they are competitive for teaching positions in academia
Create a community of practice among postdoctoral scholars centered around teaching
"As I prepare for the job market, I have sometimes felt less confident about my teaching experience because much of my background has been in mentoring rather than formal classroom teaching. Through this program, I learned valuable approaches to inclusive, engaging and student-centered teaching."
- Yeonha Ju, Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 2025-26 Teaching Academy Graduate
Fall Semester
Teaching Academy scholars meet in-person for workshops and discussions throughout the Fall semester, where they learn the fundamentals of...
- Lesson planning
- Course design
- Grading, assessments and rubrics
- Engaging students with active learning strategies
- Communicating complex materials and concepts
- Working with large classes
- Using reflective practices to improve teaching
Spring Semester
During the Spring semester, Teaching Academy scholars focus on implementing the skills learned in the Fall semester. As a final project, under the mentorship of an experienced instructor, scholars develop original lecture materials to deliver 1-2 guest lectures to a course.
In monthly meetings with the Teaching Academy cohort, scholars have the opportunity to receive feedback and support from their peers on skills such as time management, communicating research to a non-specialized audience, and facilitating student engagement.
At the end of the Spring semester, scholars' efforts are formally recognized with a Certificate of Completion.
"It was amazing to learn alongside a cohort of postdocs at the same career stage, who were also applying for jobs and developing their own teaching visions. The skills we learned have already helped me put together stronger applications and made me a more competent interviewer. I'm excited to apply these skills when I finally land a position and begin teaching."
- Dale Forrister, Stengl-Wyer Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Integrative Biology, 2025-26 Teaching Academy Graduate
