Individual Development Plan (IDP)
We encourage all postdocs to complete an Individual Development Plan (IDP) to help them grow professionally and personally. The IDP will help postdocs to explore and define training goals, professional development needs, and career objectives. Your IDP and annual planning meeting with your sponsor are intended to help you:
Suggested IDP templates:
- STEM Fields: myidp.sciencecareers.org
- Humanities and Social Science Fields: imaginephd.com
National Postdoc Association (NPA) Resources
The NPA has established six core competencies to offer guidance to individual postdoctoral scholars who must seek out relevant training experiences, in collaboration with mentors, institutions, and other advisors who provide this training.
The NPA classifies the six core competencies as:
- Discipline-specific conceptual knowledge
- Research skill development
- Communication skills
- Professionalism
- Leadership and management skills
- Responsible conduct of research
This free resource offers a quick overview of the six core competencies that the NPA has established as critical for development during postdoctoral appointments.
The NPA also provides the Core Competencies Checklist that postdocs can use access status and to track progress:
