Professional Development

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Department of Mathematics

Graduate students in the department have many opportunities to educate, nurture, and inspire future generations of students, as well as to make an impact in the community as a whole.

Introduction to Teaching Seminar

As a large percentage of our graduate students go on to positions at four-year colleges, it is crucial to provide these students with good training as future teachers.

  • targeted at first year graduate students and to undergraduates considering graduate school
  • offered in the spring semester, as a counterpart to the fall Mathematical Landscape seminar
  • presents issues such as preparing a syllabus, preparing a lecture, grading, facilitating group work, what to do if you suspect academic dishonesty
  • includes several hands-on sessions in which participants prepare and give practice "mini-lectures", which are videotaped and analyzed


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    Professional Development Seminar

    This seminar is intended to give participants the best possible preparation for the issues they will face as faculty members at four-year colleges.

  • run by mathematics faculty
  • several sessions are offered by the Coordinator of Graduate Student Training and Development for the UNL Graduate College

    • Topics include:

  • writing grant proposals; in this seminar participants begin working proposals to the NSF Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships program
  • navigating service commitments
  • strategies for teaching courses outside one's area of expertise
  • tips for incorporating active learning in courses
  • time management


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    Academic Job Search Workshop

    This workshop provides a collaborative approach to the daunting task of seeking employment.

  • Participants work together in sorting through job announcements and writing CVs, cover letters, research statements, and teaching statements.
  • Each participant will prepare a talk that (s)he can give on interviews, and they present these talks to each other.
  • Follow-up mentoring is provided in the spring, with guidance on negotiating job offers and encouragement to apply for programs such as Project NExT.


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    Outreach Programs

    Through our outreach programs, graduate students can begin to take on roles in professional service and education. Doctoral students are able to play a role in communicating mathematical knowledge and educating the mathematical (and non-mathematical) community. Programs include:

  • annual math day and summer camps
  • unique opportunites to interact with middle and high school mathematics instructors
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