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Mentoring Your Postdoc

Before Your Postdoc Arrives

  • Familiarize yourself with the following resources and send them along to your new postdoc:
    • U of Arizona Postdoctoral Affairs website for postdoc-specific and university-wide resources;
    • National Postdoctoral Association (NPA)* website for national resources related to postdoc positions, professional development, careers, and postdoc-relevant events. The University of Arizona is a sustaining member of the NPA. Anyone affiliated with the University of Arizona may join the NPA for free. For example, if you are a University of Arizona Faculty member, check the box "Affiliate Individual Member, Non-Postdoc/Other."
    • Postdoc Academy, a free comprehensive program built on the NPA core competencies to support skill development throughout postdoc training.
    • If your postdoc is international, there are important resources in the UArizona International Faculty and Scholars section of the Global Initiatives website.
  • Consider viewing a Postdoctoral Orientation recording to learn more about Postdoctoral Affairs and postdoc resources at UArizona and beyond (NetID required to access the recording).
  • Keep in touch after hiring your postdoc and before their arrival at UArizona.
  • Think about how to best mentor your new postdoc by reviewing some of the resources on managing mentoring relationships, supporting your postdocs, creating mentoring plans and agreements, and more.

Access Mentoring Resources for Faculty

After Your Postdoc Arrives

Mentoring and Professional Development
  • Create an Individual Development Plan (IDP) and/or Mentoring Plan to establish mutually agreed-upon goals and communicate expectations clearly in writing. Find resources here.
  • Set a regular meeting schedule to be sure the postdoc gets off to a good start and stays on track throughout the postdoc years. 
  • Provide professional development opportunities that are applicable to your discipline and your postdoc’s career goals. Examples include opportunities to write and submit grants, give oral presentations, teach, mentor students, develop an effective CV/resume, and refine interviewing and networking skills. You may want to suggest that your postdoc earn a Postdoctoral Professional Development Certificate, a Postdoctoral Mentoring Certificate, and/or a Postdoctoral Teaching Certificate.
Policies and Guidelines

Outline university, departmental, and/or laboratory rules, policies, and benefits. Different laboratories are overseen by different agencies and have different compliance regulations (see ORP compliance policies). Some may require responsible conduct in research (RCR) training (learn more about the RCR certificate, NetID required to view the page), and some may have their own rules and policies in place. Because postdocs can be hired into different types of job positions, these positions may carry different university benefits (see our Human Resources page). If your postdoc is required to be appointed as a Designated Campus Colleague (that is, not allowed to be a university employee), please contact Postdoctoral Affairs for information on benefits (postdoc@arizona.edu).

Follow the guidelines for Appropriate Treatment of Research Trainees and the U.S. Surgeon General guidelines on Safe Working Environment. A supportive and inclusive training environment is critical to creating an excellent postdoc experience. 

Awards

Consider nominating your postdoc for an award. This could be an award offered through a professional/scientific organization or the Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholar or Postdoc-as-Mentor Award offered through the University of Arizona. You can also sign up to serve on review committees for Postdoctoral Affairs awards and grants.