Individual Development Plans (IDPs)
An individual development plan, also called a postdoctoral mentoring plan, helps you:
- Assess your skills, interests, and values;
- Create a plan for achieving your academic and professional goals;
- Communicate with your mentors about your evolving plan and needs.
Creating an IDP is a process through which you reflect, plan, discuss, and ultimately achieve your academic and professional goals. It is your responsibility to develop and maintain your IDP. You are encouraged to share your IDP with your mentors.
IDP Resources
We suggest using the following IDP, which you can modify according to your needs. There are long and short versions of the IDP:
The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA)* offers resources helpful for postdoc professional development.
- NPA Guide to Using an IDP
- Mentoring Plans for Postdoctoral Scholars
- Core Competencies Toolkit
- Core Competency Checklist
- NPA Smartskills IDP Webinar (Spring 2026)
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 UArizona postdoc, check the box "Affiliate Individual Member, Postdoc."
Discipline-specific IDPs
- MyIDP by Science Careers for STEM
- ImaginePhD for Humanities and Social Sciences
- ChemIDP for Chemical Sciences
- PHaSS-IDP for Public Health and Social Sciences IDP
Other IDP Examples
- Example of IDP from the University of Colorado Boulder.
- IDP best practices from UCLA Postdoctoral Affairs
Professional Development Certificate
Earn a Postdoctoral Professional Development Certificate by attending workshops designed to enhance your professional skills and prepare you for a successful career. To be awarded a certificate, you must be a University of Arizona postdoctoral scholar and meet the following requirements:
- Attend ten approved workshops, with at least one workshop from each of the four areas listed below:
- Research and Funding (*RF)
- Career Preparation (*CP)
- Professional Communication (*PC)
- Health and Well-Being (*HW)
- Complete a short attendance survey within one week of each workshop
- Complete the ten workshops within two years
Approved workshops are marked with an asterisk (*) on our calendar and are categorized as:
Some workshops are listed under two categories. In those cases, select only one category when completing the attendance survey. Up to two sessions from a single conference can count toward the certificate.
If you would like to suggest a workshop not included on our calendar, please contact us before the day of the workshop by emailing Postdoctoral Affairs (postdoc@arizona.edu).
Postdoc Academy
The Postdoc Academy is a comprehensive online and in-person program built on the Core Competencies for postdoctoral scholars from the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) to support skill development throughout postdoc training, from orientation to the next career step.
Graduate Certificate in Science Communication
Science communication is a critical societal need, yet most people have no formal training in how to communicate science to public audiences and non-scientists. This certificate is open to postdoctoral fellows. If you are eligible for Qualified Tuition Reduction (QTR) as a U of A employee, you may take courses at a discounted rate.