Individual Development Plans (IDPs) are designed to help students reflect on what they want to get out of their graduate education, think of short-term and long-term goals, and explore their interests ...

Most people don’t think about their development plan until they hit a wall. A missed promotion, a new role, or a shift in priorities can expose just how unclear the next step really is. Creating an ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Curiosity expert improving engagement, innovation, and productivity. Many leaders say they want more innovation from their teams, ...

A postdoctoral appointment is a training period to prepare you for your future career. Your relationship with your advisor is a key aspect of a successful training period. The Individual Development ...

Obtaining more data on how institutions, faculty and trainees utilize the individual development plan can only increase its usefulness for exploring both academic and non-academic careers. The IDP is ...

Following a path of self-improvement can help a business owner build new skills and improve old ones. When you focus on goal setting and learning more about yourself, it can have positive effects on ...

Find workshops, tools, resources, and advice for grad students and postdoctoral scholars on career planning and professional development. Get the experiential opportunities you need to achieve your ...

Lia Rae Edmunds was annoyed when her department asked for an individual development plan (IDP) after she started her postdoc in developmental biology. “I thought it was an unnecessary hoop to jump ...

Why Complete an Individual Development Plan (IDP)? Taking time to reflect and plan your career path can make your postdoctoral experience more purposeful, productive, and aligned with your long-term ...

Defining clear goals and expectations allows doctoral students to develop disciplinary and professional skills to help them reach their professional and personal goals. At the same time, it helps ...

Graduate school is about training you to ask and address new questions and discover your passion in science. Having honest and open discussions with your advisor is an important part of your training.