Academic Careers.

Overview

A career in academia offers a fulfilling and impactful pathway for public health graduates. Within higher education, professionals with advanced public health degrees can pursue paths including faculty positions, research positions, postdoctoral fellowships, and  leadership roles in academic institutions and research centers. These career opportunities allow individuals to advance knowledge in public health, mentor future generations of public health professionals, and shape policies and practices that promote population health and well-being.

Career Pathways

It’s important to note that the specific career path can vary depending on individual interests, goals, and the availability of opportunities. Mentorship and guidance from experienced faculty members can also play a significant role in navigating the academic career path in public health. For public health master and doctoral students interested in pursuing a career in academia, the typical career path involves the following steps:

  • Postdoctoral Training (for Ph.D. graduates)
  • Teaching Assistantships and Adjunct positions
  • Faculty positions
  • Research
  • Leadership and Administration

Common Job Titles

  • Professor / Associate Professor
  • Lecturer
  • Research Scientist
  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Program Director
  • Department Chair
  • Dean/Associate Dean
  • Research Assistant/Associate

Where These Positions Can Be Found

  • Private and Public Colleges and Universities
  • Government
  • Non-governmental Organizations
  • Non-profit organizations
  • International Organizations
  • Research Institutes and Centers

Core Competencies & Skills Needed

  • Read job postings to learn more; varies per sector
  • Subject matter expertise on your area of interest
  • Ability to communicate complex ideas, engage students and facilitate learning
  • Ability to design and conduct rigorous research
  • Communication and interpersonal skills
  • Leadership and administrative skills
  • Technology literacy
  • Desire for continuous learning and professional development

Salary Expectations

Resumes & CVs

CVs are primarily used to apply for academic roles or programs, grants, fellowships, and
research or teaching positions. In the U.S., a resume and CV are two distinctly different types of
documents used for different purposes. In other regions of the world, such as the UK, New
Zealand, and parts of Europe, employers use the term CV to describe both CV and resume-style
documents and don’t use the term “resume” at all. In South Africa, Australia, and India, the
terms CV and resume are often used interchangeably. (Indeed.com)

See our section on Resumes & CVs to learn more on how to prepare your application materials and for samples.

General Advice
Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Your CV documents your academic accomplishments, including your degrees, research, and
teaching. Graduate students’ CV may be 2-3 pages but will get longer as you progress in your
career.

Cover Letters

Special Considerations for Applications

General Advice
Different Parts of Academic Applications
Teaching Statement

A written statement that describes your approach to teaching and your view on education.

Research Statements

A written statement that describes your future research plans and interests.

Letters of Recommendation

Strong letters explain how and why your research will have an impact and the qualities that
will make you an effective teacher and good colleague.

Academic Interview Preparation

Associations & Organizations

Industry Specific Job Boards