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Office of the Provost

Individual Development Plan (IDP)

 

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:

Additionally, the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) Guide to IDPs is a valuable resource to consult prior to developing an IDP.