Using an Individual Development Plan (IDP): For Students, Postdocs and Faculty

Postdocs who wrote research/career plans at the start of their appointments were 23% more productive than those who did not. They also produced 30% more first-author papers and 25% more grant proposals.

- 2005 Sigma Xi Postdoc Survey

 


What is an Individual Development Plan (IDP)?

An Individual Development Plan is both a product and a process.

As a product: an IDP is a written list of training and career goals mapped to a timeline. It serves as a framework for discussion between PI and the student/postdoc.

As a process: an IDP is a framework with four phases: 1) assessment, 2) career and professional development considerations, 3) goal setting, and 4) implementation

 

Learn more about IDPs

 

Upcoming Events

Tue
18

Lunch and Learn: Starting a Professional Network

Date: March 18, 2025
Time: 12 - 1 p.m. PT
Wed
19

OCPD Office Hours (for Graduate Students and Postdocs)

Date: March 19, 2025
Time: 12 - 1 p.m.
Wed
26

SciPhD Half-day workshop: Get a leg up on landing that first job

Date: March 26, 2025
Time: 12 - 4 p.m. PT
Thu
27

SciPhD VIP Networking Reception

Date: March 27, 2025
Time: 4 - 6 p.m. PT