GEAR+
Graduate Education Resources Beyond the First Year
Graduate Education Resources Beyond the First Year, GEAR+ is a hub of online resources that helps graduate students succeed in their development of personal, academic, and professional skills.
UMN Graduate Students have free membership to a number of career- and skill-building resources.
Some platforms may require you to register:
Explore support and resources for international graduate students and first generation college students in graduate programs at the University of Minnesota, and enhance your academic and professional development with Doctoral Net resources.
Resources for Getting Started
Video: Note-taking (24min)
UMN online tutorial: Navigating scholarly research titles
UMN online tutorial: Introduction (and important refresher) to effective library research
Video: Skills to ace graduate school - Email sanity (20min)
Video: Mentoring maps: Ensure adequate academic, career, and personal support (42min + Q&A)
Research, Writing, and Teaching
Learn new skills for dissertation and grant writing, communicating your research to different audiences, and teaching students.
Remember to add goals and resources to your Individual Development Plan!
Resources for Research
Research
UMN videos on scientific reading for first-year graduate students
Article: On the dissertation: How to find a research topic
Video: How to choose a research topic for a dissertation or thesis (38min)
Video: Let’s kick it off right, what to do and what to avoid (36min + Q&A)
Video: Practical tips for researchers: Theoretical and conceptual frames (20min + Q&A)
Video: The flow of methodology: A cross comparison of finished dissertations (32min)
Literature Review
UMN online tutorial: Researching and writing a literature review
Video: Building the conceptual frame (15min)
Video: How to write a literature review in 3 simple steps (40min)
Video: Beginning and expanding the literature review (1h)
Video: The best PhD literature review the world has ever seen (18min)
Research Proposals and Grants
Video: Grantwriting and fundraising (49min + Q&A)
Sample funding proposals for UMN graduate students, by UMN graduate students
UMN online tutorial: Composing a personal statement in your fellowship application
UMN online tutorial: Letters of recommendation for your fellowship application
Video: How to write a research proposal for a dissertation or thesis (with examples) (41min)
Resources for Writing
Writing
UMN Student Writing Support:
UMN Writing Group Resources:
UMN Resources for Scholarly Writers
Video: Using models for academic writing (53min)
Video: Writing that takes your readers where you want them to go (51min)
Basics on MS Word
Video: MS Word snippet 1- Navigation pane and headings (4min)
Video: MS Word snippet 2 - Headings for academic users (13min)
Video: MS Word snippet 3 - Setting up personal tools for academics (4min)
Video: MS Word snippet 4 - Setting up for a dissertation (4min)
Video: MS Word snippet 5 - Collaborative editing and saving without track changes showing (8min)
Video: MS Word snippet 6 - Citations and references for academics (5min)
Video: MS Word snippet 7 - Table of contents for academics (3min)
Video: MS Word snippet 8 - Last thoughts on writing for academics (2min)
Publishing
Video: UMN Minnesota Population Center, Tips and tricks for publishing part 1: Journal picking and choosing (55min)
UMN Library Resources:
- Identifying peer-reviewed journals
- Measuring journal impact
- Choosing a publication venue
- Avoiding predatory journals and publishers
- Sharing and preserving your work
Video: Dos and don'ts of getting published (44min +Q&A)
Video: Writing and publishing scientific articles deep dives: Focused writing
Book: Write a journal article in 12 weeks, available at UMN Library
Identifying co-authors, discussing authorship, and navigating hierarchies
UMN Library: Managing your scholarly identity
Article: A simple guide to ethical co-authorship
Video: Getting the Most out of Co-Authorship (59min)
Video: How to write a cover letter for journal submission (11min)
Article: A cover letter can "sell" your article or manuscript
Roles of editors and reviewers
Book publishing
Video: Publishing with a University press (58min)
Video: The Academic Publishing Process (1.5h)
Resources for Teaching
Teaching
Inclusive teaching
UMN Guide: Inclusive teaching at a predominantly white institution
UMN Online Course: Teaching with access and inclusion
Article: How to make your teaching more inclusive
Resources: Inclusive teaching strategies
Engaged teaching methods
UMN Article: What is active learning?
Resources: Effective teaching strategies
Teaching multilingual speakers
Difficult conversations in the classroom
Resources: Responding to difficult moments
Teaching with technology
Article: How to make smart choices about tech for your course
Resources: Choosing technology and flipping your class
Resources: Explore topics of technology for education
UMN Resources: Online teaching and design
Video: Slide design for eLearning (45min)
Transferable Skills
Focus on developing your transferable skills in communication, leadership, time and project management, emotional intelligence, and data literacy.
Remember to add goals and resources to your Individual Development Plan!
Resources for Transferable Skills
Communication and Presentation
Project Management
Article: Using project management to tame your dissertation
Resources: Top project management courses for free
Video: Managing graduate school using project management practices (50min)
Resources: Project management
Leadership
UMN resources: Integrative leadership and cross-sector conversation series
UMN resources: Institute on the Environment - Leadership and Education
UMN resources: Cross-cultural leadership
Video: So you want to be a leader? Pros and cons of moving into leadership (50min)
Video: People management skills (57min)
Time Management
LinkedIn resources: Time management fundamentals
Video: Time, habits, focus, drive, grit, tools & making your own checklists (1h)
Video: 10 time management tips (12min)
Video: The trident calendar system (19min)
Emotional Intelligence
Video: Emotional intelligence (41min)
Article: Emotional intelligence skills and how to develop them
Article: How to emphasize emotional intelligence on your resume
Data Management and Literacy
UMN video series: Data management
UMN Library: Research data services; data visualization resources; data mining resources
Video: Data Visualization (85 min)
Video: UMN Minnesota Population Center, Best practices for creating effective tables (57min)
Job Search
Learn how to write compelling job application materials, and explore diverse careers. Connect with your Career Services office to receive advice related to your discipline.
Remember to add goals and resources to your Individual Development Plan!
Resources for Job Search
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Article: Creating and maintaining your CV
UMN online course: Composing your curriculum vitae
Resumes and Cover Letters
UMN career help: All about cover letters & All about resumes
UMN resources: Add your transferable skills to your resume
Networking
Video: Building your networks in a remote world (58min)
Article: Ten tips for conference connections
Article: Tips and tricks for academic networking
Article: Informational interviewing is key to your job search
UMN resources: The “bumper sticker”
Interviewing
Academic Careers
Resource: Higher Education Recruitment Consortium
Article: Interview advice from Inside Higher Ed
Article: A committee member’s perspective on the job interview
A guide to campus interviews: What you need to practice (repeatedly) to make a good impression
Video: UMN Minnesota Population Center, Tips and tricks for getting a faculty position Part 2: Future career planning (59min)
Video: UMN Minnesota Population Center, Tips and tricks for getting a faculty position Part 3: Prepping for interview (59min)
Preparing Academic Job Market Materials
UMN academic job search videos and resources
Pre-Application Q&A workshop recording
Post-Application Q&A workshop recording
UMN resources on writing a teaching philosophy statement:
Resources: Effective strategies for teaching philosophies and statements
Article: Developing and writing a diversity statement
Article: More colleges are asking for diversity statements. Here’s what you need to know.
Careers Beyond the Academy
Resource: Beyond the Professoriate
UMN workshop series: Jobs outside of academia
Article: What can I do in my discipline outside academe?
Master's Students
Additional video resources specifically for Master’s students.
Remember to add goals and resources to your Individual Development Plan!
Resources for Master's Students
Video: Starting with end in mind for Master’s (49min)
Video: Scientific research principles for all types of Masters (19min)
Video: What are Masters expected to be able to do in the work environment? (17min)
Video: Outlining three chapters or sections for ABDs and Masters researchers (58min)