TSRI Postdoctoral Services: Individual Development Plans

FOR GRAD STUDENTS:
TSRI gradaute students now have a new career planning and self-assessment tool that can help them stay on track, conduct exceptional research, and know what to expect throughout their Ph.D. experience. Download TSRI's Grad Student IDP template. This document was compiled by Kathryn Applegate, Luc Teyton, and Ryan Wheeler.

FOR POSTDOCS:
The Career & Postdoctoral Services Office is pleased to announce the availability of a career planning tool that identifies professional development needs and career objectives for postdoctoral research associates. The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) has been instrumental in establishing a template for individual development plans. TSRI's current IDP is based on this model. Download TSRI's Postdoc IDP template

The 2005 Sigma Xi postdoc survey suggested that the postdoctoral experience is most successful when expectations and goals are established early. High satisfaction, positive postdoc-advisor relations, reduced incidences of conflict, and increased research output were all correlated with whether or not postdocs and their advisors met early to discuss research goals.¹

Local results from the comprehensive 2005 Sigma Xi survey indicated that 10% of TSRI postdoc respondents set up a formal, written plan of research and training expectations with their P.I. at the beginning of their appointment.² Data from 2005-2006 informal entrance surveys conducted by the Postdoctoral Services Office showed similar findings. Results from exit surveys conducted in 2005-2006 indicate many postdocs did not report “met goals for postdoctoral experience” as a reason for leaving TSRI. Without goals and expectations discussed at the onset of, or during, the postdoctoral appointment, many postdocs may be unable to accurately assess their own progress. Unfocused or unclear career goals and lab expectations could also contribute to unmotivated and unproductive postdocs; the aim of the IDP is to mitigate these troublesome issues.

The National Academies have also addressed the idea of research plans formed between postdocs and P.I.s. In their 2000 report, the Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy stated:

¹Davis, G. (2005). Doctors without orders: Highlights of the sigma xi postdoc survey. Retrieved July 19, 2006, from http://www.postdoc.sigmaxi.org

²Results available from http://www.scripps.edu/services/sof/other/PostdocSurvey/scripps/all/About_You.html

³Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy (2000). Enhancing the postdoctoral experience for scientists and engineers. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.





TSRI HOME TSRI DIRECTORY Contact Us Copyright © 2008 TSRI		For New Grad Students & Postdocs: Individual Development Plans (IDPs) FOR GRAD STUDENTS: TSRI gradaute students now have a new career planning and self-assessment tool that can help them stay on track, conduct exceptional research, and know what to expect throughout their Ph.D. experience. Download TSRI's Grad Student IDP template. This document was compiled by Kathryn Applegate, Luc Teyton, and Ryan Wheeler. AAMC Compact Between Biomedical Graduate Students and Their Research Advisors is intended to initiate discussions at the local and national levels about the grad student-advisor relationship. FOR POSTDOCS: The Career & Postdoctoral Services Office is pleased to announce the availability of a career planning tool that identifies professional development needs and career objectives for postdoctoral research associates. The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) has been instrumental in establishing a template for individual development plans. TSRI's current IDP is based on this model. Download TSRI's Postdoc IDP template AAMC Compact Between Postdoctoral Appointees and Their Mentors is intended to initiate discussions at the local and national levels about the postdoctoral appointee-mentor relationship. For another alternative IDP, see UCSF's Annual Individual Development Plan for Life Sciences Gradaute Students and Postdoctoral Trainees. The term "postdoctoral scholar" was defined by the NIH and NSF in January 2007. This definition emphasizes the importance of mentored training. Benefits of Structured Oversight The 2005 Sigma Xi postdoc survey suggested that the postdoctoral experience is most successful when expectations and goals are established early. High satisfaction, positive postdoc-advisor relations, reduced incidences of conflict, and increased research output were all correlated with whether or not postdocs and their advisors met early to discuss research goals.¹ Local results from the comprehensive 2005 Sigma Xi survey indicated that 10% of TSRI postdoc respondents set up a formal, written plan of research and training expectations with their P.I. at the beginning of their appointment.² Data from 2005-2006 informal entrance surveys conducted by the Postdoctoral Services Office showed similar findings. Results from exit surveys conducted in 2005-2006 indicate many postdocs did not report “met goals for postdoctoral experience” as a reason for leaving TSRI. Without goals and expectations discussed at the onset of, or during, the postdoctoral appointment, many postdocs may be unable to accurately assess their own progress. Unfocused or unclear career goals and lab expectations could also contribute to unmotivated and unproductive postdocs; the aim of the IDP is to mitigate these troublesome issues. The National Academies have also addressed the idea of research plans formed between postdocs and P.I.s. In their 2000 report, the Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy stated: The postdoc and advisor should meet early and write down at least a rough research roadmap, including the extent to which the two will collaborate: What are the postdoc's obligations to the lab? How much support and oversight can the postdoc expect? How long should the project take? What are realistic goals: publication? Other benchmarks? How long is funding guaranteed, and how likely is renewal? This exercise is easy to neglect or avoid in the rush of new beginnings. But clear terms of appointment are essential to prevent later misunderstandings, and they should be established as early as possible.³ ¹Davis, G. (2005). Doctors without orders: Highlights of the sigma xi postdoc survey. Retrieved July 19, 2006, from http://www.postdoc.sigmaxi.org ²Results available from http://www.scripps.edu/services/sof/other/PostdocSurvey/scripps/all/About_You.html ³Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy (2000). Enhancing the postdoctoral experience for scientists and engineers. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.