[header] How to become an academic [title] Learn about being an academic. [step] Someone who pursues an academic career often works at a university or research institution in a specific discipline such as biology, history, or political science. During their graduate program, academics generally spend 1 or more years working as teaching assistants at a college or university. 
These are paid positions that feature tuition and fee waivers in addition to a paycheck for teaching 1-2 classes each academic term. You'll also need to conduct research and complete projects, such as a dissertation.