Careers in Teaching and Education (Panel)

Are you interested in pursuing a career in teaching and education? 

Join us as we hear from panelists who have transitioned into diverse careers in teaching and education, including teaching in a post-secondary environment, coaching and facilitation, and educational leadership. Whether it be strategies or career advice, this panel is intended to be relevant to postdocs and grad students from all disciplines and academic levels. 

This panel aims to explore the following topics: 

• The journey from graduate and postdoctoral work to the many facets of teaching and education 
• Opportunities in the fields of teaching and education 
• Strategies for a successful job search 
• Ways to network and engage for working in this sector 

This panel is jointly hosted by UBC’s Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and UBC Career Centre and Simon Fraser University’s Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. 

Moderator: Ran Xiang, PhD Candidate, Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy, UBC  

Panelists

Dr. Anna Blakney is an Assistant Professor in the Michael Smith Laboratories and School of Biomedical Engineering at UBC. She received her Bachelor of Science in Chemical & Biological Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and her PhD in Bioengineering from the University of Washington. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Imperial College London on the development of molecular and biomaterial engineering strategies for delivery of self-amplifying RNA. Her lab uses bioengineering, molecular biology and immunology approaches to develop the next generation of RNA vaccines and therapies. She is also passionate about science communication and runs a TikTok channel dedicated to education about RNA biotechnology, which now has >250,000 followers and >18M views. 

Dr. Derek Gladwin is an Assistant Professor of Language and Literacy Education in the Faculty of Education and a Wall Catalyst Scholar (2022-23) at the University of British Columbia. He also served as a UBC Sustainability Fellow, environmental fellow at University of Edinburgh, University of Amsterdam, and Trinity College Dublin. His interdisciplinary research and teaching aim to promote social understanding and relational action on environmental, health and well-being, and arts-based approaches through public forms of education and literacy. He is the author or editor of several books, including Ecological exile (2018) and Rewriting our stories (2021), and serves as Senior Editor for Environmental & Sustainability Education in the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Education. He is also a member of the Clean Energy Research Centre at UBC. 

Dr. Isabeau Iqbal enjoys two related career paths: one as an educational consultant at the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology and the other as an independent career coach. At UBC, Isabeau supports faculty members and other instructors to grow professionally in their roles as instructors. She leads several initiatives at the Centre, including the Formative Peer Review of Teaching Program, and Teaching Dossiers. In her private coaching practice, Isabeau works with “ambitious perfectionists” who are ready to move forward in their higher education career. She also facilitates workshops for organizations that are committed to promoting staff well-being. Isabeau has a PhD in Education (with a focus in teaching and learning in higher education) from the University of British Columbia. She is a certified coach with the International Coaching Federation and a Gallup-Certified coach.  In her non-work time, Isabeau enjoys being active outdoors, connecting with family and friends, blogging, and singing. 

Nicole Smith is an archaeologist, founder of Archaeology in Schools, and author of the new book Dig Deep: Connecting Archaeology, Oceans and Us. She is also the Cultural Heritage Initiatives Coordinator for the UN Ocean Decade Collaborative Centre for the Northeast Pacific, and a steering committee member of the Clam Garden Network. She has been involved in archaeological research on the B.C. coast since 2000, collaborating most closely with First Nations communities, the Hakai Institute, Parks Canada, and university colleagues. She has taught undergraduate courses at the University of Victoria, Camosun College, and the Bamfield Marine Sciences Center, and loves working with educators to bring archaeology into elementary and high school classrooms. She believes that archaeological stories can inspire people, empower indigenous youth, and facilitate cross-cultural education and understanding. Nicole holds a BA and MA in Anthropology from UVic. 

https://nicolefsmith.com/
https://www.orcabook.com/Dig-Deep
https://oceandecadenortheastpacific.org
https://clamgarden.com/