It seems to me that September, and the start of a new academic year, is a more significant mark of the passage of time and the beginning of the new than January 1st. This academic year also holds to be more significant than my previous years: working on research and writing a dissertation are the end-moves to a long term project like a PhD. I’m thinking that in order to be successful this year, I need to establish some resolutions and deadlines. Here’s what I’m thinking right now I would like to complete for this time next year:
Goals
- Two publications in the pipe-line, one peer-reviewed and one other kind of publication
- Present a paper at an 5th World Environmental Education Congress, one other conference presentation ((even better-turn these papers into publications, see goal #1))
- Dissertation submitted and ready to be defended
- Application in for at least one post-doc ((the 2009 SSHRC post-doc is out of the question because I have to submit evidence of a dissertation exam by April 09–something that will not be happening. It makes more sense to apply for 2010)), one academic job and one non-academic job
Deadlines after the jump.
Deadlines
September, 2008:
- submit abstract for AAG 08 and 5th World Environmental Education Congress
November, 2008:
- Complete & submit York’s University Teaching Practicum
December, 2008:
- All research for dissertation complete
- Interviews transcribed and begin analysis
February, 2009:
- Analysis of work complete, begin writing dissertation
- Look for academic positions ((I know that February isn’t the best time–the fall is the hot time for job postings, but who know what may pop up. Regardless, I would need to be well along in the dissertation writing to be anything resembling a competitive candidate))
May, 2009:
- First draft of dissertation submitted to committee
Summer, 2009
- Apply for appropriate non-academic jobs ((key here is the term appropriate–the kind of job that will let me re-enter academia, if I so wished, in the future))
August, 2009:
- Dissertation completed and ready to defend ((I kind of feel that this is a bit wishful thinking, but with a committee member on sabbatical next year, I need to be close enough to taste being done for August))
- Apply for SSHRC post-doc award for 2010