Changing Academic Lifeon being strategic, the fast track to tenure, and finding his path
50min2020 JAN 27
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Pejman Mirza-Babaei is an Associate Dean Industry Partnerships, and an Associate Professor of User Experience Research, in the Faculty of Business and Information Technology at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. Pejman’s story spans Iran, the UK and Canada as he discusses his path from Masters to working in industry to doing a PhD closely tied with a start-up, and then his experiences moving into a tenure track position immediately post PhD, well in fact before his PhD, and later taking a break to work back in industry before working out that academia is what he wants to. What’s particularly interesting in his story is how strategic he has been in exploring his options and making decisions, leading to him getting tenure in very quick time. And what else is interesting is how he is always seeking feedback and open to learn. There is a Part 2 of this conversation (coming next) where he talks about the uncertainty of life post-tenure and how he has navigated these new choices, as well as what he has learning moving into more faculty leadership roles.
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Pejman Mirza Babaei (part 2) on post-tenure, balance and learning to become a good leader
36minon being strategic, the fast track to tenure, and finding his path
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1h 9minAlex Taylor on research at the boundaries, moving from industry to academia, the labour of academia & the power of the collective
1h 13minTom Erickson on industry research, telecommuting, and practising for retirement
1h 14minJen Mankoff on managing an academic career with a disability & finding good ways forward
1h 2minMoshe Vardi on publication pressures, student stress, mid-career mentoring & societal obligations
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