Individualized Development Plan (IDP) – Postdoctoral Researchers
The Faculty of Graduate Studies’ IDP is a tool to assist postdoctoral researchers, like you, to identify and develop your goals during your fellowship.
When creating an IDP, with the help of a mentor, you can enhance your professional growth and skills by:
- Setting and communicating goals related to teaching, research, and/or professional development with your supervisor, faculty colleagues, or other mentors
- Identifying ways to learn or improve your competencies to be used during your fellowship and within professional spaces
- Identifying your strengths, talents, and passions, as well as opportunities to use them during your fellowship and in your future professional life while building an effective support network
Self-Assessment/
Reflection
Looking back while planning for the future
Setting Goals
Clarifying the knowledge and skills you need
Exploring Opportunities
Developing a strategy for realizing your plan
Engagement
Acting on your plan to achieve your goals
Check-In
Revisit to update your goals and engagement activities
Download the IDP
Revisit your IDP to update your goals and engagement activities throughout the year, at time intervals you/your mentor deem most appropriate.
Or
Download the IDP (Abridged Version)
This IDP is an abridged version that has been designed for postdoctoral researchers who prefer a more streamlined option compared to the full IDP based on their individual preferences.
Creating an IDP
The IDP includes a self-assessment worksheet for postdoctoral researchers to reflect on their recent activities and future goals.
- An IDP can be used to communicate your professional development and career planning needs and intentions to others, including your supervisor. This can lead to helpful advice, resources and connections.
- In the postdoctoral researcher-supervisory relationship, the IDP can be used to ensure that you and your supervisor both understand and are in agreement with the expectations of the progress of your work. This is especially important near the end of your fellowship.
As you work on your IDP, asking for support from a mentor or your supervisor (who may also be your mentor) is encouraged. We recommend revisiting your IDP at least once a year in order to assess any activities and outcomes and to revise your plans and expectations for the future.
To help you to complete the self-assessment and engagement sections, we encourage you to draw on the information and resources available through the Graduate and Postdoctoral Professional Skills (GPPS) webpage. Your supervisor will also be able to provide further information about professional skills opportunities offered through your department, and may also be able to suggest concrete examples of activities and goals that are relevant to your field.