The Office of University Postdoctoral Affairs (OUPA) encourages all postdoctoral scholars to develop and maintain an Individual Development Plan (IDP). In some cases, funding agencies require completion of an IDP as a condition of funding.
An IDP is a structured tool that helps you reflect on your training objectives, assess your progress, and set goals for your future career. It supports the creation of a personalized training plan aligned with your professional aspirations and helps you identify the resources and mentorship needed to achieve them. The IDP also provides a framework for meaningful conversations with mentors to clarify expectations and receive guidance.
Through the IDP process, you can:
- Take inventory of your existing professional skills
- Identify areas for growth and development
- Define your career objectives
- Develop short- and long-term plans with realistic timelines
- Initiate and sustain productive conversations with mentors about your professional development
At Brown University, the Division of Biology and Medicine requires all postdoctoral scholars to complete and submit an IDP to both their mentor and BioMed Postdocs and Early Career Programs (PECP) at the time of initial appointment and annually thereafter. Please refer to the PECP website for instructions.
Postdoctoral scholars across the University may also find the following resources helpful:
- myIDP (for scholars in the sciences)
- ImaginePhD (for scholars in the humanities and social sciences)
- American Psychological Association Individual Development Plan resources
These tools guide users through a structured process to evaluate their skills and interests, explore career pathways, set meaningful goals, and develop actionable plans for long-term professional success.
Please note that supervisors are only expected to provide a written performance review if required by the program or department. For additional details, refer to Article 9, Section D of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. In cases where performance concerns arise, supervisors will follow the processes outlined in Article 23: Discipline and Discharge.