5th Year Workshop

Post-defense transitions

Ian McCarthy, Emory University

Economics PhD Professionalism Workshop

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

The tenure clock starts immediately. Have a plan.

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

Final advice

  • Be patient with yourself during transitions
  • Imposter syndrome doesn’t end with the PhD
  • Ask for help. Everyone is figuring it out.
  • Remember why you started this journey

You’ve accomplished something remarkable. Now go make the most of it.