Students Talking

I’m a Graduate Student

Embarking on your journey as a graduate student is both an exciting and challenging experience. Our goal is to support you in your teaching and writing by providing a wealth of resources and services designed to help you succeed.  Let us help you achieve your highest potential!

McDougal Graduate Teaching Fellows

The McDougal Graduate Teaching Fellows at the Poorvu Center lead programs on effective and innovative teaching, develop teaching resources, and provide individual observations for graduate student and postdoctoral instructors at Yale.  As a fellow, you will grow and deepen your expertise, while you reflect on and refine your approach to teaching through sustained engagement with interdisciplinary pedagogical scholarship.  To be eligible, applicants must be registered graduate students in good academic standing with at least one semester of Yale teaching experience.

Students Working at a Table

Certificate of College Teaching Preparation

The Certificate of College Teaching Preparation (CCTP) is an opportunity for Yale Graduate Students, Professional Students, and Postdoctoral Scholars to complete a comprehensive training program in effective college teaching.  The goal of this certificate program is to equip Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows with transferable skills that are valuable both on the academic job market and in a wide range of careers involving teaching and mentoring.  The experience culminates in the production of a portfolio showcasing their teaching development.

Members of the 2024 - 2025 McDougal Fellows program take a photo.

Associates in Teaching

Offered in collaboration between the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) and the Poorvu Center, the competitive Associates in Teaching Program allows Ph.D. students the opportunity to expand their range of teaching experiences and responsibilities while receiving mentorship from a faculty co-teacher.  Through the Associates in Teaching program, doctoral students collaborate with a faculty member to conceptualize or redesign, plan, and deliver an undergraduate course.

Instructor leading class discussion.

Graduate Writing Lab

The Graduate Writing Lab supports Yale graduate students with all aspects of written, oral, and visual communication.  Our team helps graduate students communicate the significance of their research to a wide range of audiences.  In addition to helping grad students join the academic conversation and navigate the writing conventions in their field, the Graduate Writing Lab strives to build community and promote a supportive writing culture in which every Yale graduate student can thrive.  

Writing consultation
  • Teaching at Yale Day

    This event introduces graduate and professional school students who are new to teaching at Yale to resources and best practices for engaging with faculty and students.  

  • Fundamentals of Teaching

    This four-part series for graduate and professional students introduces the theory and practice of teaching while promoting deep, discipline-specific conversations.

  • Teaching Courses and Seminars

    Open to graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, these offerings are a foundational introduction to teaching in preparation for future teaching careers.

  • Graduate & Postdoctoral Scholars Learning Communities

    Structured space to share experiences, reflect on teaching practices, and refine ideas with peers and colleagues.

Graduate Resources

Learning Resource Library

A collection of articles to support your journey as a student at Yale.

Visit the Learning Resource Library

“My time at the Center for Teaching and Learning has made me think about always having current and future teaching goals for myself, be they trying out a new form of writing assignment or bringing social media into the curriculum.  I hope that by articulating these goals to myself and to my colleagues, I will continue to develop as a teacher and discover a community of like-minded educators in the process.”

—

Annie Berke, Ph.D. (Film and Media Studies, American Studies)

Upcoming Events

  • Writing a Research Paper from A to Z in the Humanities and Social Sciences Series

    This 5-Part Series will walk you through drafting, refining, and submitting your Fall 2026 research papers in the humanities or qualitative social science. Throughout, you will develop your confidence as a research writer, work on developing a flexible and reflective writing process, and experiment with different ways to contribute to an academic conversation while retaining your voice. The 5-s…

  • Foundational Writing Skills in STEM Series

    Ready to develop critical writing skills that will carry you through all your graduate research projects? Join us to explore and build on the cornerstones of effective scientific writing: Part 1: Write For Your Audience: Introduction to Scientific Writing Genres (10/12) Part 2: Keep up with the Literature: Reading, Evaluating, and Synthesizing Papers (10/19) Part 3: Conquer the Blank Page: …

  • ATW: Preparing the Teaching Statement (10/16/26)

    How can your teaching statement offer a clear and compelling description of you as an instructor to future employers? This hands-on workshop offers strategies and suggestions on how to present your teaching principles and practices on the academic job market. We will review examples of successful teaching statements, explore the expectations of the genre, and discuss how to make the most of thi…

  • 2026 Ivy Plus Writing Consortium Conference

    The 2026 Ivy Plus Writing Consortium is hosting its Conference at Yale University

  • Foundational Writing Skills in STEM Series Part 2

    Ready to develop critical writing skills that will carry you through all your graduate research projects? Join us to explore and build on the cornerstones of effective scientific writing: Part 1: Write For Your Audience: Introduction to Scientific Writing Genres (10/12) Part 2: Keep up with the Literature: Reading, Evaluating, and Synthesizing Papers (10/19) Part 3: Conquer the Blank Page: …

  • Foundational Writing Skills in STEM Series Part 3

    Ready to develop critical writing skills that will carry you through all your graduate research projects? Join us to explore and build on the cornerstones of effective scientific writing: Part 1: Write For Your Audience: Introduction to Scientific Writing Genres (10/12) Part 2: Keep up with the Literature: Reading, Evaluating, and Synthesizing Papers (10/19) Part 3: Conquer the Blank Page: …

  • Dissertation Writing as Practice Series

    This series provides dissertation writers with the structure, resources, and creative outlets to design and maintain a sustainable approach to writing. We will explore effective practices for pacing your dissertation writing while helping you overcome common writing blocks and find balance in your writing life. During each weekly live workshop session, we will engage with a relevant theme, disc…

  • Dissertation Writing as Practice Series (Session 1): 10/27

    This series provides dissertation writers with the structure, resources, and creative outlets to design and maintain a sustainable approach to writing. We will explore effective practices for pacing your dissertation writing while helping you overcome common writing blocks and find balance in your writing life. During each weekly live workshop session, we will engage with a relevant theme, disc…

  • Writing a Research Paper from A to Z in the Humanities and Social Sciences Series Part 3

    This 5-Part Series will walk you through drafting, refining, and submitting your Fall 2026 research papers in the humanities or qualitative social science. Throughout, you will develop your confidence as a research writer, work on developing a flexible and reflective writing process, and experiment with different ways to contribute to an academic conversation while retaining your voice. The 5-s…

  • Writing for a Public Audience: Policy Memos

    Led by Jackson School writing director David Morse, this interactive workshop will teach the principles and conventions of policy writing, with a focus on how to craft a policy memo. We will explore the similarities and differences between policy writing and academic writing, review various types of memos, and collaboratively edit a policy memo to become more familiar with the genre. Intende…

  • Fundamentals of Teaching, Sciences (Online) (4 Sessions - 10/28, 11/4, 11, & 18)

    Are you interested in improving your science teaching skills this year? Join us in this four-part workshop on the Fundamentals of Teaching in the Sciences (online)! In this workshop, we will introduce pedagogical principles and tools you can use to improve student engagement in a variety of science classrooms. Participants will walk away with a comprehensive overview of the skills and tools nee…

  • LC: Disability Justice as Pedagogy (4 sessions - 10/28, 11/4, 11/11 & 11/18)

    This learning community invites instructors from across disciplines to explore how the principles of disability justice can shape our teaching. We will start by introducing concepts and vocabulary from disability justice, drawing on readings from both the scholarly disciplines of critical pedagogy and disability studies, and from grassroots disability justice organizers and culture workers. We …

  • Researching and Writing a Master's Thesis in the Humanities & Social Sciences

    Working on a master’s thesis in the social sciences or humanities? This workshop will prepare participants to begin their projects with practical exercises focused on entering an academic conversation. You’ll develop strategies for gathering resources and streamlining the writing process. We will also discuss the various components of the thesis, including how to choose a topic, conduct a liter…

  • ITW: Mentoring Undergraduates (Online)

    While mentorship is critical to researchers’ personal and professional development, effective mentorship is often a neglected facet of pedagogical training. In this Intermediate Teaching Workshop (ITW), we will discuss how to establish clear mentor-mentee expectations, support mentee career/research goals, and facilitate independent thinking. Finally, we will discuss equity in mentorship and ex…

  • ATW - Preparing the Teaching Statement (Online - 10/29/26)

    How can your teaching statement offer a clear and compelling description of you as an instructor to future employers? This hands-on workshop offers strategies and suggestions on how to present your teaching principles and practices on the academic job market. We will review examples of successful teaching statements, explore the expectations of the genre, and discuss how to make the most of thi…

  • Writing a Prospectus in STEM: Student Panel

    Do you have to write a prospectus or qualifying exam proposal in the sciences in the next year? In this workshop, we will cover the structure and content these project proposals, as well as writing tips and resources. After that, Yale PhD students who have successfully defended their prospectuses will share strategies from their experiences navigating this challenging new genre, and we will con…

  • ATW: Lecturing for Active Engagement

    How can we keep students engaged while delivering content efficiently in a large lecture class? In this ATW, we will explore strategies for enhancing lecture effectiveness that maintain student interest and promote active learning. Participants will develop practical tools and strategies for equitable and effective teaching and time management. We welcome teaching fellows and instructors at all…

  • ITW: Classroom Observation (Online - 11/2)

    Would you like to improve your own pedagogy while supporting fellow instructors through classroom observation? This workshop will equip you with the tools to provide constructive, equitable feedback on the teaching of both your peers and your mentors across a variety of classroom formats. We also will review the observation requirements for the Certificate of College Teaching Preparation (CCTP)…

  • Fundamentals of Teaching, Equitable Pedagogy (Online) (4 Sessions - 10/12, 19, 26, & 11/2)

    Are you aiming to foster an equitable and supportive classroom environment? Are you hoping to design lesson plans, assignments/activities, and student feedback modalities that are accessible and engaging to a wide breadth of students? Reflecting on the historical and structural contexts of the classroom, in this four-part (online) series, we will learn to apply evidence-based teaching strategie…

  • Choosing a Dissertation Topic in the Humanities

    Are you unsure of what to write about, or even how to find a close focus for your topic? Are you wondering how to frame your project? Are you trying to work on an interdisciplinary topic that crosses traditional boundaries? Choosing a dissertation topic in the humanities can be a stressful process, as you ponder numerous issues within your field and try to anticipate all possible factors affect…

  • Foundational Writing Skills in STEM Series Part 4

    Ready to develop critical writing skills that will carry you through all your graduate research projects? Join us to explore and build on the cornerstones of effective scientific writing: Part 1: Write For Your Audience: Introduction to Scientific Writing Genres (10/12) Part 2: Keep up with the Literature: Reading, Evaluating, and Synthesizing Papers (10/19) Part 3: Conquer the Blank Page: …

  • Dissertation Writing as Practice Series (Session 2): 11/3

    This series provides dissertation writers with the structure, resources, and creative outlets to design and maintain a sustainable approach to writing. We will explore effective practices for pacing your dissertation writing while helping you overcome common writing blocks and find balance in your writing life. During each weekly live workshop session, we will engage with a relevant theme, disc…

  • Writing Book Reviews in the Humanities & Social Sciences

    Writing a book review can help you stay current in your field and add to your publication list. This hands-on workshop gives you the tools you need to master this important genre of academic writing. We’ll cover book review basics, compare reviews of the same book for stylistic ideas, and discuss venues for publishing your work. Intended Audience: GSAS and professional school students in the so…

  • ITW: Teaching International Students

    While international students bring valuable perspectives and experiences to the classroom, they may also encounter academic and socio-cultural barriers shaped by unfamiliar institutional norms, language differences, and the hidden curriculum. In this Intermediate Teaching Workshop (ITW), we will examine common challenges international students face, reflect on how cultural and institutional dif…

  • Writing a Research Paper from A to Z in the Humanities and Social Sciences Series Part 4

    This 5-Part Series will walk you through drafting, refining, and submitting your Fall 2026 research papers in the humanities or qualitative social science. Throughout, you will develop your confidence as a research writer, work on developing a flexible and reflective writing process, and experiment with different ways to contribute to an academic conversation while retaining your voice. The 5-s…

  • Yale AI Updates + Community Chat: Teaching & Learning - Featuring Yale's Clarity Platform

    Join us for a live online session focused on how AI is shaping teaching and learning at Yale. We’ll share the latest AI tools and updates, demo helpful features, and talk through classroom policy considerations. This is also your chance to ask questions, explore use cases, and connect with others thinking about AI in education. Agenda: 30 Mins - AI Tools and Updates 10 Mins - Classroom AI…

  • Autumn All Writes: November Edition

    We continue our Autumn All Writes in November to continue to provide you with a place to write in good company and structure! Join your fellow graduate students to set goals, eliminate distractions, and get some focused writing done. We will provide opportunities for connection, a quiet writing space, and sustenance (beverages, snacks, and dinner). You will help us create community, accountabil…

  • DPMP: Autism Discussion Group

    Join us for an informal, student-led discussion on navigating Yale as an autistic student. Whether you want to join the conversation, share your experiences, or just listen in, all are welcome.

  • AI for Research and Writing Series

    Using artificial intelligence for research and writing has emerged as a helpful skillset in any scholar’s toolkit. AI tools can find sources, read and summarize articles, write text and code, manage workflows, and identify impactful research questions. In this workshop series, participants will reflect on their own research to identify opportunities for AI to boost their productivity and impact…

  • ITW: Universal Design for Learning

    Does creating a rigorous classroom necessarily come at the cost of accessibility and equity? In this Intermediate Teaching Workshop (ITW), we’ll investigate the meaning of Universal Design for Learning, use this framework to identify the barriers present in the traditional classroom model, and explore ways to incorporate rigor without sacrificing access. If you have any questions, please contac…

  • Foundational Writing Skills in STEM Series Part 5

    Ready to develop critical writing skills that will carry you through all your graduate research projects? Join us to explore and build on the cornerstones of effective scientific writing: Part 1: Write For Your Audience: Introduction to Scientific Writing Genres (10/12) Part 2: Keep up with the Literature: Reading, Evaluating, and Synthesizing Papers (10/19) Part 3: Conquer the Blank Page: …

  • Dissertation Writing as Practice Series (Session 3): 11/10

    This series provides dissertation writers with the structure, resources, and creative outlets to design and maintain a sustainable approach to writing. We will explore effective practices for pacing your dissertation writing while helping you overcome common writing blocks and find balance in your writing life. During each weekly live workshop session, we will engage with a relevant theme, disc…

  • Writing a Research Paper from A to Z in the Humanities and Social Sciences Series Part 5

    This 5-Part Series will walk you through drafting, refining, and submitting your Fall 2026 research papers in the humanities or qualitative social science. Throughout, you will develop your confidence as a research writer, work on developing a flexible and reflective writing process, and experiment with different ways to contribute to an academic conversation while retaining your voice. The 5-s…

  • Linked ITW-ATW: ITW - Care and Repair (2 Parts - 11/10 & 17)

    As educators, we have an immense responsibility to cultivate student’s intellectual development, yet our position also offers a profound opportunity to foster care and connectedness. Opening learning spaces to authenticity and vulnerability can enrich the classroom community and establish a lasting practice of care in students and educators. This practice of care in turn promotes resiliency, be…

  • Autumn All Writes: November Edition

    We continue our Autumn All Writes in November to continue to provide you with a place to write in good company and structure! Join your fellow graduate students to set goals, eliminate distractions, and get some focused writing done. We will provide opportunities for connection, a quiet writing space, and sustenance (beverages, snacks, and dinner). You will help us create community, accountabil…

  • DPMP: Chronic Illness Discussion Group

    Join us for an informal, student-led discussion on navigating Yale while managing a Chronic Illness. Whether you want to share what’s been working for you, talk through daily hurdles, or just hang out with peers who understand, all are welcome!

  • ITW: AI in the Classroom (Registration Paused)

    Generative AI has arrived in our classrooms, but what’s next? How do we have transparent conversations with our students about what these tools are and how or when to use them (or not use them)? In this workshop, we’ll discuss AI policy statements, Yale’s own AI tools and platforms, and how to center equity and accessibility in our conversations about AI for learning. Finally, participants …

  • ATW: Course Design (2 Parts, Nov 12 & 19)

    Designing your own course but don’t know where to start? Whether it’s your first time leading your own course or you’re just interested in improving your teaching, this two-part Advanced Teaching Workshop will walk you through where to start, what to focus on, and how to build an equitable and engaging curriculum. In this workshop, we will write learning objectives, design assessments, and buil…

  • DPMP: ADHD Discussion Group

    Join us for an informal, student-led discussion on navigating university with ADHD. Whether you want to share what’s working for you, talk through common challenges, or just hang out with peers who understand, all are welcome.

  • ATW: Preparing the Teaching Statement (11/13/26)

    How can your teaching statement offer a clear and compelling description of you as an instructor to future employers? This hands-on workshop offers strategies and suggestions on how to present your teaching principles and practices on the academic job market. We will review examples of successful teaching statements, explore the expectations of the genre, and discuss how to make the most of thi…

  • DPMP: Movie Night Social

    Unwind with us for a campus movie night! Drop in to watch a film, enjoy free snacks, and hang out with fellow students in a relaxed, comfortable environment

  • ITW: Collective Knowledge

    Where do you know from? The goal of the workshop is to reframe our understanding of how knowledge is produced and shared in the classroom to consider ‘knowing’ a collective practice. The workshop will utilize pedagogical scholarship to help participants expand their teaching practice beyond traditional models of knowledge transfer. We will begin with a group reflection of our respective discipl…

  • Dissertation Writing as Practice Series (Session 4): 11/17

    This series provides dissertation writers with the structure, resources, and creative outlets to design and maintain a sustainable approach to writing. We will explore effective practices for pacing your dissertation writing while helping you overcome common writing blocks and find balance in your writing life. During each weekly live workshop session, we will engage with a relevant theme, disc…

  • Linked ITW-ATW: ATW - Care and Repair (2 Parts; 11/10 & 17)

    As educators, we have an immense responsibility to cultivate student’s intellectual development, yet our position also offers a profound opportunity to foster care and connectedness. Opening learning spaces to authenticity and vulnerability can enrich the classroom community and establish a lasting practice of care in students and educators. This practice of care in turn promotes resiliency, be…

  • Autumn All Writes: November Edition

    We continue our Autumn All Writes in November to continue to provide you with a place to write in good company and structure! Join your fellow graduate students to set goals, eliminate distractions, and get some focused writing done. We will provide opportunities for connection, a quiet writing space, and sustenance (beverages, snacks, and dinner). You will help us create community, accountabil…

  • DPMP: Autism Discussion Group

    Join us for an informal, student-led discussion on navigating Yale as an autistic student. Whether you want to join the conversation, share your experiences, or just listen in, all are welcome.

  • ATW: Preparing the Teaching Portfolio

    This workshop will cover the typical components of the teaching portfolio, the evidence of teaching excellence that is often required for academic jobs in the U.S. We will talk about how to gather the components of the portfolio—teaching statement, sample syllabi, course materials, and course evaluations—and how to annotate them so that the reader gets an overall sense of who you are as a teach…

  • Dissertation Writing as Practice Series (Session 5): 12/1

    This series provides dissertation writers with the structure, resources, and creative outlets to design and maintain a sustainable approach to writing. We will explore effective practices for pacing your dissertation writing while helping you overcome common writing blocks and find balance in your writing life. During each weekly live workshop session, we will engage with a relevant theme, disc…

  • Faculty Fellows Event: Facilitating Complex Conversations in the Classroom

    As instructors, how do we help students navigate controversial topics and discussions, especially those deeply intertwined with their lived experiences and identities? How do we know when to lean into hard conversations with our students? Please join us for a discussion about teaching across the disciplines with Tisa Wenger (Professor of American Religious History, Yale Divinity School, America…

  • Yale AI Updates + Community Chat: Teaching & Learning

    Join us for a live online session focused on how AI is shaping teaching and learning at Yale. We’ll share the latest AI tools and updates, demo helpful features, and talk through classroom policy considerations. This is also your chance to ask questions, explore use cases, and connect with others thinking about AI in education. Agenda: 30 Mins - AI Tools and Updates 10 Mins - Classroom AI…

  • ITW: Mental Health in the Classroom (Online)

    How do you respond when a student shares they are struggling with barriers that affect their ability to thrive in your classroom? With anxiety, depression, grief, or other illnesses and hardships? This workshop invites graduate student instructors across the disciplines to develop skills and strategies for supporting students’ mental health. We will learn how to apply principles of accessible d…

  • Dissertation Writing as Practice Series (Session 6): 12/8

    This series provides dissertation writers with the structure, resources, and creative outlets to design and maintain a sustainable approach to writing. We will explore effective practices for pacing your dissertation writing while helping you overcome common writing blocks and find balance in your writing life. During each weekly live workshop session, we will engage with a relevant theme, disc…

  • ITW: Curious Conversations

    What makes a constructive conversation? How can curiosity shape classroom interactions and help us learn? This workshop explores theoretical frameworks for thinking through classroom conversations, analyzes how curiosity can foster meaningful dialogue and learning, and empowers participants with practical strategies for facilitating difficult conversations with confidence and care.

  • Yale AI Updates + Community Chat: Teaching & Learning

    Join us for a live online session focused on how AI is shaping teaching and learning at Yale. We’ll share the latest AI tools and updates, demo helpful features, and talk through classroom policy considerations. This is also your chance to ask questions, explore use cases, and connect with others thinking about AI in education. Agenda: 30 Mins - AI Tools and Updates 10 Mins - Classroom AI…

  • Yale AI Updates + Community Chat: Teaching & Learning

    Join us for a live online session focused on how AI is shaping teaching and learning at Yale. We’ll share the latest AI tools and updates, demo helpful features, and talk through classroom policy considerations. This is also your chance to ask questions, explore use cases, and connect with others thinking about AI in education. Agenda: 30 Mins - AI Tools and Updates 10 Mins - Classroom AI…

  • Yale AI Updates + Community Chat: Teaching & Learning

    Join us for a live online session focused on how AI is shaping teaching and learning at Yale. We’ll share the latest AI tools and updates, demo helpful features, and talk through classroom policy considerations. This is also your chance to ask questions, explore use cases, and connect with others thinking about AI in education. Agenda: 30 Mins - AI Tools and Updates 10 Mins - Classroom AI…

We’re here to help!

Reach out to the Poorvu Center team if you have any questions or to learn more about our programs.

Contact Us