RESOURCES FOR POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLARS
Postdoctoral Scholar Mentoring Plans
Villanova faculty are expected to collaborate with their postdocs to prepare a detailed mentoring plan. Learn more below. Questions? Contact your supervisor or the VIRS Director.
Individual Development Plans
An Individual Development Plan (IDP) is a personalized growth plan that helps postdocs identify their career goals, professional development needs, and short-term performance improvement needs.
What is an IDP?
The postdoctoral training period is typically a relatively brief but intense period in an academic career. An Individual Development Plan (IDP) can help postdocs make the most of the experience in several ways. For instance:
- IDPs provide customized map of career goals based on a structured personal evaluation.
- IDPs help identify professional development needs and short-term performance improvement needs
- IDPs can help structure and guide conversations with supervisors and other career advising mentors.
IDPs supplement (but do not replace) postdoctoral mentoring plans. They are typically updated once a year.
Resources for Creating an IDP
There are several free and publicly available tools online for developing an IDP that lead users through exercises to set goals and develop a plan. Although most tools are framed in discipline-specific language, individuals can readily adapt them to fit their own discipline. Popular IDP tools include:
- MyIDP (life sciences)
- ImaginePhD (humanities and social sciences)
- ChemIDP (chemical sciences)
Additionally, the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) Guide to IDPs is a valuable resource to consult prior to developing an IDP.
National Postdoctoral Association
Villanova is an organizational member of the National Postdoctoral Association. Postdoctoral scholars at Villanova can become affiliate members of the NPA for free.
We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to help you network with other postdocs across the country and gain access to resources that can help further your career.
Benefits for Postodoc Affiliates
- Subscription to NPA e-alerts, a periodic news announcement, and The POSTDOCket, the NPA’s official quarterly newsletter
- Ability to register for the NPA SmartSkills Program, a free, monthly professional development training program for postdocs, began in January. SmartSkills will cover negotiation, self-advocacy, networking, and more on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 3 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT.
- Reduced registration fees to the NPA Annual Meeting & eligibility for the NPA travel award program
- Access to members-only NPA web content, such as career planning resources and policy information
- Access to NPA member groups to connect & network with fellow NPA members
- Opportunities to serve and contribute your expertise on a variety of NPA committees
- National representation on postdoctoral issues
Create Your Account
Create your NPA account and follow the registration process. Once you click Submit the NPA Membership Manager will review your affiliate membership within five working days, and you will receive an email when it has been approved.
Research Career Professional Development
The Villanova Institute for Research and Scholarship offers resources and seminars on topics of concern to early career researchers, including research pipelining, writing research statements, understanding authorship and peer review, and more.
VIRS staff are available to serve as guest speakers as a part of postdoctoral professional development initiatives or to offer standalone seminars. Our staff specialize in topics of common concern to early career researchers, such as:
- Research Pipelining
- Creating a 5-Year Plan
- Understanding Authorship and the Peer Review Process
- Revision Strategies: Making the Best of Critical Feedback
- Academic Job Search Peer Circles
Postdocs or faculty mentors interested in discussing a VIRS-led professional development session, please contact virs@villanova.edu.
Tools for Finding Funding Opportunities
Take advantage of these search tools:
Writing Groups and Consultations
Take advantage of outstanding writing development and support opportunities.