What comes next?

The transition

• You’ve defended. Congratulations!
• But there’s still work to do before you start your new position
• This is a unique window of time. Use it wisely.

Converting chapters to papers

• Your dissertation chapters are not journal articles (yet)
• Each chapter likely needs significant revision for submission
• Prioritize your JMP, then work outward

Converting chapters to papers

Key differences between a chapter and a paper:

• Length: Chapters are often too long. Cut aggressively.
• Audience: Committee knows your context. Journal readers do not. Write a standalone introduction.
• Framing: Reframe contributions for the target journal’s audience
• Literature: Update the lit review (the field didn’t stop while you were writing)

Submitting papers

• Target journals strategically (talk to your adviser)
• Don’t wait for perfection. Get papers under review.
• Having papers “under review” or “R&R” matters for tenure clocks
• Keep a pipeline: while one paper is under review, work on the next

Preparing for your new role

Starting a faculty position

• Teaching prep is time-consuming. Start early if possible.
• Build your syllabi and course websites before you arrive
• Identify your service obligations and set boundaries early
• Protect your research time from day one

Starting a postdoc or research position

• Clarify expectations with your supervisor/PI
• Understand the balance between your own research and lab/group projects
• Use the postdoc to build publications and expand your network
• Treat it as a job, not an extension of grad school

Starting in industry or policy

• Different pace and different incentives
• Your analytical skills are your biggest asset
• Be open to learning new tools, languages, and workflows
• Build relationships across teams early

Staying connected

• Keep presenting at conferences
• Maintain relationships with your adviser and committee
• Stay in touch with your cohort (they are your lifelong professional network)
• Continue engaging on social media and sharing your work