Postdoctoral Professional Development

Postdoctoral Professional Development

Postdoctoral Professional Development
Programming for Postdoctoral Scholars
Postdoctoral Professional Development

UCF Programs

The College of Graduate Studies works with partners across campus to provide programming specifically for Postdoctoral Scholars. Postdocs can take advantage of the various opportunities offered through various UCF units.

American Association of University Women (AAUW)

The AAUW offers a free online Work Smart course that teaches negotiating skills and important facts about the status of the gender pay gap. The program aims to empower women across the country to negotiate for a raise, promotion, or new job.

National Postdoctoral Association

UCF is a sustaining member of the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA), which can help you connect with the broader postdoctoral community and provides many excellent resources. UCF encourages your participation through a free membership.

NPA Competencies

The National Postdoctoral Association has identified six core competencies for postdoctoral scholars. These competencies serve as a guide for the scholar through self-assessment and planning of goals for training and skills they wish to enhance or acquire during their postdoctoral experience.

Since competencies often overlap and affect each other, “the most effective use of the NPA Core Competencies may be to identify and focus on development in areas that will lead to growth in more than one competency” (The NPA Postdoctoral Core Competencies, pp. 2-3). For each competency, NPA offers extensive guidance as well as reading lists.

Individual Development Plan

An Individual Development Plan (IDP) is a written proposal of goals for personal and professional development. Creating an IDP helps postdoctoral scholars evaluate current skills, interests and strengths; create a plan for developing skills for meeting academic and professional goals; and communicate these goals with their mentors. Faculty mentors can assist their postdoctoral scholars in refining their goals and creating an action plan to measure their progress.

It is recommended that all postdoctoral scholars complete an IDP with their mentor and revisit it annually. Below you will find helpful resources from professional societies, academic institutions, and UCF.

Postdoctoral scholars who are UCF Preeminent Postdoctoral Program (P3) recipients are required to create an IDP and report annually on their progress to the College of Graduate Studies.

IDP Resources


UCF Services

Postdoctoral scholars can find support through a variety of UCF services and programs.

Office of Research

College of Graduate Studies

UCF Libraries

Environmental Health and Safety

Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning

UCF Global

Career Services