May 2021

Curricular Development Opportunity for Ph.D. Students (PDF): New Collections-Based Modules in Existing Undergraduate Courses

Humanities Engage calls for proposals from Humanities Ph.D. students who will partner with a faculty sponsor to develop new collections-based modules to be integrated in existing undergraduate courses. Mentored by their faculty collaborator, and working closely as well with librarians, archivists, or curators, this funded opportunity will afford doctoral students valuable opportunities to gain leadership experience in curricular development, digital pedagogy strategies, and collaborative skills. Applications are due May 28, 2021.

Hear from last year's awardees.

Administrative Micro-Internships for Ph.D. Students, Summer 2021 (**under development –  please check back soon for specific opportunities **)

This program will match mid-degree to advanced students enrolled in DSAS Ph.D. programs in Humanities with administrative units in the University to collaborate on short-term, mentored projects that will enhance the students’ professional development and support the mission of the host units. Doctoral students will gain crucial collaborative experiences that help prepare them for a variety of careers – from the tenure track and higher education administration to government, industry and business, and the social impact sector. Using their existing skills and developing new skills, interns will gain a deeper understanding of university administration and higher education leadership.

Pitch Your Own Summer Immersive (PDF)

Students can create an immersive fellowship with a host organization of their choice that cannot pay, or cannot fully pay, for a graduate fellow (e.g., not-for-profits, public sector institutions, small start-ups, etc.). Applications will be reviewed, and fellowship stipends awarded, on a rolling basis and as long as resources last.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to schedule a consultation with Dr. Marques Redd, Senior Director for Graduate Advising and Engagement for the Humanities (marques.redd@pitt.edu) to discuss the viability of their prospective project. Additionally, applicants considering projects with organizations in the Pittsburgh region are requested to contact Dr. Redd first, so that he can help orient you to pre-existing contacts and liaise appropriately. 

Learn about last year's projects.

This fellowship incentivizes innovative, collaborative research that seeks to expand the traditional dissertation through incorporating rigorous engagement with institutions or communities.

Brittney Knotts, Ph.D. Candidate in Critical and Cultural Studies, Department of English: “Keywords, Practices, and Products of the Twenty-First Century Girl Coder”

Manuel Robles, Ph.D. Candidate in History: “Black Inclusion: Afro-Mexicans and the International Struggle for Recognition, 1974-2020”

Celena Todora, Ph.D. Candidate in Critical and Cultural Studies, Department of English: “Rhetorical Imaginaries of Liberation within Anti-Liberatory Spaces: Liberatory Rhetoric in Prison Education”

Learn more about our Immersive Dissertation Research Fellows.

Three faculty members will receive summer stipends to design new graduate courses with significant public and/or digital humanities scholarship components:

Shalini R. Ayyagari, Assistant Professor of Music: “Transmedia and Sounding Publics: Refugee Stories in Pittsburgh”

Caitlin Bruce, Associate Professor of Communication: “Rhetoric of Space and Place in Western PA: Generating Scholarship with Place”

Laura Lovett, Associate Professor of History: “The Public-facing History Laboratory”

The awardees will be posting their syllabi on our website by the fall term and blog about their curricular design experiences.

Make a one-on-one appointment today with Dr. Marques Redd, Senior Director of Graduate Advising and Engagement, to discuss:

• Succeeding in doctoral study (productivity, time management, etc.)
• Setting professional development goals and marshaling resources
• Honing strategic competencies
• Establishing and maintaining strong mentoring networks
• Preparing for interviews and job searches in all sectors

Email marques.redd@pitt.edu or schedule directly.

As someone seeking a PhD, you have many valuable strategic competencies and transferrable skills. This month, I suggest resources to help you recognize and articulate your skills, strategic competencies, and experiences to employers across sectors. Such skills can include

• Analysis & Problem-Solving
• Interpersonal & Leadership Skills
• Project Management & Organization
• Research & Information Management
• Self-Management & Work Habits
• Written & Oral Communication

If you would like to meet to discuss any area of your career and professional development, please email me at marques.redd@pitt.edu or schedule directly, and we can make an appointment. 

All the best,

Marques