The mini-series are open to all PhD students and Postdocs, and are an extension of general programs; where general programs only meet once, for an hour, the mini-series workshops meet across 2 or 3 days, allowing participants to do a ‘deep dive’ into a given topic.

The accountability circles are designed to provide participants with a space (in-person or online), to work in community, with peers who are focused on achieving similar goals. Each series meets once a week, for 75 minutes.

• The Writing accountability circle is open to all PhD students and Postdocs who are currently working on a writing project (prospectus, dissertation, paper, course paper, etc.) Each session begins with a brief goal-setting exercise, followed by which students work independently on their own writing projects. At the end of the session, they meet briefly to reflect on the highlights/challenges of their writing time.

In our cohort programs, a group of students journey through the entire workshop series (generally 5–6 workshops) together. Students enroll through a brief application process so that each cohort includes participants from a wide range of disciplines and colleges. The goal is to foster a tight-knit community of learners who can support and motivate one another while also being exposed to diverse perspectives. Research shows that cohorts enhance students’ learning by providing a sense of belonging, and a space to build and collaborate on shared goals (Barnett & Muse, 1993; Bratlien et al., 1992; Norris & Barnett, 1994; Fakhoury & Peterson, 2024). In our workshops, this means richer discussions, deeper peer learning, and a community that helps you transfer what you learn, to real-world contexts.  

Current cohorts:

• Introduction to Graduate School (I2G) is a cohort-based workshop series that is open to Northeastern PhD students across all departments, who are in their first and second years of graduate school. The program runs for 5 weeks and focuses on teaching skills that are fundamental to doing and being well in grad school (and beyond!). Through peer-driven learning and experiential, research-backed exercises, participants explore topics such as: understanding one’s strengths and values, time management and prioritization, strategies for reading academic texts, writing with clarity and style, and making the most of mentoring relationships. Students are invited to apply for I2G at the beginning of each semester.
• Professional Prep is a 6-part interactive series that helps PhDs and postdocs build essential skills for the job search —from identifying their strengths to interviewing with confidence. During sessions, participants learn practice these skills in a community of peers, getting feedback from each other on different aspects of their professional brand. Between sessions, participants complete various exercises, like revising their LinkedIn profiles or reaching out to contacts in their network, to help them build and sustain momentum during their job searches. Each workshop in the series is about 45 minutes long, and is followed by a focused discussion space for Postdocs, where they can share experiences, concerns, questions around the job search journey.
• Leaders Workshops are open to PhD students and postdocs who have taken PHDL 7600, or are currently enrolled in the program. During these monthly workshops, participants learn key professional development skills, and engage in experiential activities that can help them apply these skills in their careers as researchers.