Department of Biochemistry
Individual Development Plan for Postdoctoral Scholars
A postdoctoral scholar is defined as "an individual who has received a doctoral degree and is
engaged in a temporary and defined period of mentored advanced training to enhance the
professional skills and research independence needed to pursue his or her chosen career path"
(National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation (2007). NIH-NSF Definition of
Postdoctoral Scholar. http://grants1.nih.gov/training/Reed_Letter.pdf).
The purpose of a postdoctoral position is:
1. to develop creativity and independence as a scientific researcher,
2. to work towards a common research endeavor with his/her mentor,
3. to publish high quality research in peer reviewed publications,
4. to receive career development training for future career goals,
5. to obtain new skills and develop new methods, and
6. to network with other researchers within and outside the field.
The Individual Development Plan (IDP) provides a planning process that identifies annual
progress, professional development needs, and career objectives for postdoctoral scholars. The
IDP serves as a communication tool between postdoctoral scholars and their mentors and offers
a platform for broader discussion. Identifying short-term goals will give postdoctoral scholars a
clearer sense of expectations and help identify milestones along the way to achieving specific
objectives. In doing so, postdoctoral scholars will have a process that assists in developing and
achieving long-term career goals.
In summary, the goals of the IDP are to help the postdoctoral scholar identify short-term needs
for improving current performance, and long-term career goals and options and the tools
necessary to meet them.
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Outline of the IDP process
The development, implementation and revision of the IDP requires a series of steps to be
conducted by the postdoctoral scholar and the mentor. These steps are an interactive effort.
Thus, both the postdoctoral scholar and the mentor must participate fully in the process. Best
results are to be expected in a context of honesty and openness. Under these conditions, the IDP
will hopefully function as a catalyst for broader discussion on the future career and goals of the
postdoctoral scholar. Proper use may also reveal or prevent misconceptions about tasks,
responsibilities, and degree of involvement in research group activities and objectives.
How to complete the IDP
Basic Steps
Step 1
…for the postdoctoral scholar



Step 2
Step 3
Complete the IDP within 1
month of appointment for
new postdocs or 1 month
prior to contract renewal for
continuing postdocs
Share IDP with mentor and
revise
Discuss opportunities for
advancement with mentor
…for the mentor



Submit IDP to the main office
and department head
2 months prior to end of
current yearly appointment
or anniversary of your last IDP
(if AP staff) (i.e., If your
appointment ends on
9/1/12, the due date is
7/1/12)


Implement IDP
Communicate with mentor
during the next academic
year with regard to goals and
efforts made to achieve them
Complete mentor portion of
the IDP
Review IDP with postdoctoral
scholar and help revise
Discuss strategies for meeting
outlined goals
Establish regular process for
review


Implement IDP
Communicate with the
postdoctoral scholar regarding
research and career
development during the next
year
Duration and Revision
This IDP should be completed yearly as a collaborative effort between the mentor and
postdoctoral scholar. Postdoctoral scholars should take primary responsibility for completing this
document, scheduling time to review the document with the mentor and for submitting to the
department head prior to reappointment. To ensure that the document and the process it
encourages are being used, reappointment of the postdoctoral scholar will be contingent upon
completion and submission.
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Department of Biochemistry
Individual Development Plan for Postdoctoral Scholars
A. Information/Signatures
Name of Postdoctoral Scholar:
Department:
Signature:
Date:
Name of Principal Investigator:
Department:
Signature:
Date:
Name of Departmental Head:
Department:
Signature:
Date:
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B. Rationale for Postdoctoral Education
Individuals pursue postdoctoral training for different reasons, and these reasons may evolve
over time. In order to be as successful as possible, it is essential that you have a clear sense of
what your career goals are and that you communicate these goals to your mentor.
1. Why are you pursuing postdoctoral training?
2. What are your career goals and what skills do you hope to obtain?
3. Why did you choose a position in this laboratory?
4. How does the training you hope to obtain build upon your current skill set?
5.
What are the intended outcomes for training in this laboratory/department/university?
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C. Research Project(s)
In order to place your goals within the perspective of the laboratory, it is important to reflect
upon your current aims, goals of the laboratory, and how you fit in as an integral component
of this research team.
1. What are the aims of your current project(s)?
2. How do these aims interface with the current goals of the laboratory?
3. What intellectual contribution did you make in designing these aims or methods?
4. What is the significance (broader impact) of your research and your project?
D. Annual Progress Report
The length of time spent in a postdoctoral position can vary greatly depending upon your own
success, availability of funding and potential permanent job opportunities that you identify. In
order to use your time in your current laboratory most effectively, it is important that you
monitor your progress and plan your future work accordingly.
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1. List and briefly describe your research accomplishments this year. Do not include
publications or manuscript submissions but instead focus on progress towards achieving
your experimental aims listed in your previous IDP. If your aims have changed, please
indicate why they changed.
2. List publications submitted or published this year as well as abstracts for meeting
presentations. For each entry, underline your name and briefly describe your
contribution. List any meetings attended and indicate if you presented a poster or gave
a talk.
3. List your funding sources, projected duration of funding, and proposals submitted this
year.
4. List honors/awards received this year.
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5. List intellectual and/or technical collaborations established or continued this year along
with the purpose of these collaborations and projected outcome(s). (Collaborations can
be within the laboratory itself, with other labs at Purdue or outside of the university).
6. Describe your level of satisfaction with your research progress to date.
7. What project have you developed that demonstrates your intellectual independence and
that is available for you to take with you when you leave the laboratory?
E. Career Development and Training
In addition to research experience, many other aspects of career development are integral to
postdoctoral education. These will be considered by many employers in both the public and
private sectors as critical components of your professional development as a postdoctoral
scholar.
1. List teaching experiences that you have had this year. Include both formal lectures as
well as assistantships, preparation of course materials, etc.
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2. Detail organization memberships and services in which you are currently engaged.
Include scientific and university service, as well as memberships, and participation on
other committees.
3. Describe mentoring experiences for this year. Please include mentoring of individuals
within and outside of the laboratory/department/university.
4. Describe your level of satisfaction with your career development to date.
5. Positions in both industry and academia require letters of recommendation from faculty
members other than you mentor that are familiar with your work. Identify three or
more faculty that you would ask for letters of support if you were applying for a position.
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F. Research Goals for the Upcoming Year
In view of your research accomplishments to date it is critical that you build on your successes
and address any issues where your qualifications for your desired next position may be weak.
1. What are your research goals for the upcoming year?
2. List anticipated publication submissions this year (indicate projected titles).
3. List meetings and/or workshops that you hope to attend this year and potential sources
of funding to pay for them.
4. Detail anticipated fellowship or other funding application submissions this year.
5. Describe anticipated collaborations this year that will be newly established or continued
with projected goals.
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6. If you have not done so already, do you plan to develop an independent project that you
can take with you from the laboratory? If so, how?
G. Career Development Training Goals for the Upcoming Year
In view of your career development to date, please note your plans that address potential
areas of weakness in your professional development.
1. What are your plans for improving your scientific writing and oral presentation skills in
the upcoming year?
2. What other professional training will you pursue this year (teaching, course work,
service, mentoring)?
3. How can your mentor help you achieve your goals for the upcoming year?
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4. Are there additional resources that you mentor might provide that may assist you in
your postdoctoral training?
5. Are there additional resources that your department/Purdue University might provide
that may assist you with your postdoctoral training?
H. Mentor section
The postdoctoral scholar’s mentor should complete this section and discuss its contents with
her/him prior to submission of the final document for approval.
1. How can the postdoctoral scholar improve his/her performance and achieve his/her
goals this year?
2. How could your postdoctoral scholar assist you in meeting your research goals?
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3. Is there additional training or other activities that would be beneficial for your
postdoctoral scholar before he/she begins the job search?
4. Are there any other departmental or university resources that might assist this
postdoctoral scholar?
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