How to get promoted in academia

“You really need to commit to the promotion process,” says Joan Briller, associate professor of medicine and chair of the department of medicine’s Women’s Task Force.

It’s a common conundrum among academic medical professionals of all genders: how to advance from assistant professor to full professor over the course of a career?

“There are different timelines for different academic tracks so it can be difficult to know what needs to get done when,” said Joan Briller, associate professor of medicine and chair of the department of medicine’s Women’s Task Force.

“A survey we did of faculty within our department found that far fewer women successfully advance from assistant to associate professor compared to men. This is not unique to UIC but echoes the situation across the country.”

One problem, Briller said, is paperwork.

“You really need to commit to the promotion process. In addition to publications, you need to keep track of accomplishments such as teaching portfolios, grants, regional and national visibility. Some women decide to start families, putting the clock on hold, which could be one reason there are fewer women associate professors.”

If you don’t know how to navigate the timelines and paperwork, it’s easy to get left behind, Briller said.

Mentoring can help. That’s why the department’s Women’s Task Force and the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force are offering the symposium “Navigating Your Way to Success in Academic Careers” Nov. 10. The symposium will help UIC faculty and students of all genders and backgrounds gain insight into the academic promotion process.

The symposium will be held 8:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Moss Auditorium, College of Medicine Research Building.

Featured UIC speakers will review the promotion process and how to search for a position in academia.

Other speakers include Monica Vela, associate dean, University of Chicago, on increasing visibility, and Kris Lonsway, executive coach, on negotiation skills. Keynote speaker is Cynthia Rand, associate dean for faculty, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, who will talk about work-life balance.

For more information, call 312-996-7700 or email krystle2@uic.edu.