Welcome to the timeline for engaging with OCPD! On this page you’ll find two timelines: one for PhD graduate students and one for postdoctoral scholars.
The timeline is not a recipe – it’s a menu
We don’t expect you to use all of the resources. Instead, choose from it what you would like. The timing of each resource is a serving suggestion, but there is flexibility to use our resources at the time that feels right for you. Think of the four areas of career and professional development like courses in a meal - we recommend selecting resources from each of them during your time at UCSF. If you’re not sure where to start, we recommend starting at the top and working your way down.
Each timeline is a Gantt-style chart that shows the OCPD programs (shaded rectangles) and resources (open rectangles) that are relevant for PhD students or postdocs. The color of the rectangles corresponds with one of the four aspects of career and professional development, which are named on the left (we’ve used these same categories to organize our website). The horizontal position and length of the rectangles corresponds to when we recommend engaging with these resources over the course of a PhD or postdoc.
What does this timeline do?
- Catalogues all of OCPD's resources in one place, including links to each resource on our webpage
- Indicates when each OCPD resource is relevant and available
- Demonstrates how OCPD programs can be taken in conjunction for maximal benefit
- Suggests structure for students and postdocs making IDPs, yearly plans, or career plans
- Normalizes career and professional development as part of every stage of a PhD or postdoc
How can I use the timeline?
However it would help you! Here are some of our suggestions:
- Check in with the timeline once per year to see what programs or resources you may benefit from
- Download the PDF and click on resources and programs to learn more about them on our website
- Bring it to a planning conversation with your mentor or PI to make sure that career and professional development are part of your training
- Share it with a labmate, classmate, or mentee to demonstrate your support for their career and professional development
- Print it out and post it on a bulletin board in your hallway or gathering space to spread the word about OCPD’s resources
- Learn about the wide range of topics that are part of career and professional development
Text only versions for screen readers
Timeline for engaging with OCPD as a graduate student
Every student gets five free and private appointments per academic year. Come talk to us!
Ray Care, PhD specialties: Choosing rotations and labs, managing your mentorship, planning and applying for faculty careers
Linda Louie, PhD specialties: Exploring careers, Getting experience, networking and informational interviews
Categories of OCPD resources
One-on-one counseling, professional skills, career exploration, career development, inclusive teaching and mentoring
One-on-one counseling, professional skills, and career exploration resources are recommended for all students. Diverse careers, train to teach, train to mentor, and academic careers resources are recommended dependent on your career interests.
How to use this timeline
This timeline is a suggestion for when to use OCPD’s resources for your maximum benefit. Annual programs are listed in all years in which they are appropriate. Post it in your office, lab, or common space!
One-on-one counseling is offered and recommended year-round every year that you are at UCSF and up to one year after you graduate. Other programs are listed in the year and quarter in which they are available and recommended below.
The timeline
Year 1
Navigating Your Time at UCSF
- Conducting rotations - program
- Choosing a thesis lab - program
- Conducting Successful Rotations - resource
Year 2
Navigating Your Time at UCSF
- Starting in a new position - program
- Finding your mentors - program
- Using an Individual Development Plan - resource
Professional Skills
- Evidence-Based Teaching Course - program
- Successful Grants Library - resource
Career Exploration
Finding and Applying for Jobs
Year 3
Navigating Your Time at UCSF
- Managing PI relationship - program
- Managing collaborations - program
- Using an Individual Development Plan - resource
Professional Skills
- Inclusive Research Mentor Course - program
- Transferable Skills for PhD Career Paths: Develop skills valuable in all careers - resource
Career Exploration
- Introduction to Career Exploration: MIND class and Peer Teams - program
- Career Paths - resource
- Career Exploration Roadmap - resource
- Peer Teams: Work towards your career exploration and job goals with others doing the same - program
Finding and Applying for Jobs
- Faculty Career Series: Explore and apply for faculty positions - program
- Academic Career Readiness Assessment - resource
Year 4
Navigating Your Time at UCSF
- Navigating workplace politics - program
- Having a career conversation - program
- Build Your Professional Network - resource
Professional Skills
- Inclusive Research Mentor Course - program
- Transferable Skills for PhD Career Paths: Develop skills valuable in all careers - resource
Career Exploration
- Introduction to Career Exploration: MIND class and Peer Teams - program
- Getting Experience: Support for internships and experiential learning - program
- Employer Information Sessions - programs
- Opportunities Board: Find internships, teaching opportunities, jobs - resource
- Peer Teams: Work towards your career exploration and job goals with others doing the same - program
Finding and Applying for Jobs
- Faculty Career Series: Explore and apply for faculty positions - program
- Search, apply, interview, negotiate: Support for all career paths - program
- Academic Career Readiness Assessment - resource
- Sample application materials - resource
Year 5
Navigating Your Time at UCSF
- Considering a postdoc - program
- Interviewing to avoid a bad fit - program
- Build Your Professional Network - resource
Professional Skills
- Business Concepts for Scientists - program
- Transferable Skills for PhD Career Paths: Develop skills valuable in all careers - resource
Career Exploration
- Getting Experience: Support for internships and experiential learning - program
- Employer Information Sessions - programs
- Opportunities Board: Find internships, teaching opportunities, jobs - resource
- Peer Teams: Work towards your career exploration and job goals with others doing the same - program
Finding and Applying for Jobs
- Search, apply, interview, negotiate: Support for all career paths - program
- Sample application materials - resource
Footer
Revised March 2023. Copyright 2023 The Regents of the University of California, Office of Career and Professional Development, University of California, San Francisco.
Timeline for engaging with OCPD as a postdoctoral scholar
How to use this timeline
This timeline is a suggestion for when to use OCPD’s resources for your maximum benefit. Annual programs are listed in all years in which they are appropriate. Post it in your office, lab, or common space!
One-on-one counseling is offered and recommended year-round every year that you are at UCSF and up to one year after you graduate. Other programs are listed in the year and quarter in which they are available and recommended below.
The timeline
1:1 Counseling
Every postdoc gets five free and private appointments per academic year. Come talk to us!
Ray Care, PhD specialties: Choosing rotations and labs, managing your mentorship, planning and applying for faculty careers
Linda Louie, PhD specialties: Exploring careers, Getting experience, networking and informational interviews
Navigating Your Time at UCSF
Recomended programs for early-stage postdocs:
- Starting in a new position
- Finding your mentors
- Managing PI relationship
Recomended resources for early-stage postdocs:
- Assess Your Working Relationship With Your PI
Recomended programs for mid-stage postdocs:
- Managing collaborations
- Workplace Navigation
- Navigating workplace politics
Recomended resources for mid-stage postdocs:
- Using an Individual Development Plan
Recomended programs for late-stage postdocs:
- Having a career conversation
- Interviewing to avoid a bad fit
Recomended resources for late-stage postdocs:
- Build Your Professional Network
Professional Skills
Recomended programs for early-stage postdocs:
- Evidence-Based Teaching Course
Recomended resources for early-stage postdocs:
- Successful Grants Library
Recomended programs for mid-stage postdocs:
- Inclusive Research Mentor Course
Recomended resources for mid-stage and late-stage postdocs:
- Transferable Skills for PhD Career Paths Recognize and develop skills that are valuable in all careers
Recomended programs for late-stage postdocs:
- Business Concepts for Scientists
Career Exploration
Recomended programs for early-stage postdocs:
- Introduction to Career Exploration MIND class and Peer Teams
Recomended resources for early-stage postdocs:
- Career Exploration Roadmap
Recomended programs for mid-stage postdocs:
- Getting Experience Support for experiential learning
Recomended resources for mid-stage and late-stage postdocs:
- Career paths
- Opportunities Board Find teaching opportunities, jobs, and more
Recomended programs for late-stage postdocs:
- Employer Information Sessions Learn about companies that are hiring
Finding and Applying for Jobs
Recomended resources for early-stage postdocs:
- Academic Career Readiness Assessment Use faculty hiring requirements to shape your training and application materials
Recomended programs for early-stage, mid-stage and late-stage postdocs:
- Peer Teams Work towards your career exploration and job goals with others doing the same
Recomended programs for mid-stage and late-stage postdocs:
- Faculty Career Series: Exploring and preparing for faculty positions, applying, interviewing, and negotiating
- Seach, apply, interview and negotiat for jobs, support for all career paths
Recomended resources for mid-stage and late-stage postdocs:
- Sample application materials; cover letters, resumes, CVs, and statements
Footer
Revised March 2023. Copyright 2023 The Regents of the University of California, Office of Career and Professional Development, University of California, San Francisco.
