The Biology graduate program has developed a suite of tools to help you develop Professional Skills that are important in biology-related careers. Professional skills are important during your graduate studies (e.g. improve credentials for scholarship applications, increase publication/conference success) and for your science career after you graduate.
These three documents are meant to be used together. You are encouraged to discuss your skills and goals with a mentor (e.g. supervisor, committee member, postdoc, senior PhD student, collaborator) and record how/when you gained key skills (for later use in job applications/interviews).
Individualized Development Plan (IDP)
Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) has an Individualized Development Plan (IDP) tool to provide students with resources to assess their current level of expertise, identify areas in which they would like to explore or improve, and map out a plan for achieving their goals.
Information about the many graduate professional skills opportunities offered across the university are accessible in a single location on the Graduate & Postdoctoral Professional Skills (GPPS) webpage.
Mitacs Training
Graduate students (and postdocs) currently registered at a Canadian University can enroll in the Mitacs Training Program free of charge. Courses cover one or more of these key professional skills for the workplace:
- Leadership & Management
- Communication & Relationship Building
- Personal & Professional Management
- Entrepreneurialism