Individual Development Plans

New postdoc or new PI: A new PI or postdoc appointment within BU requires a new IDP. Meetings to discuss progress, challenges, and review of goals are also advisable, as these plans are living documents that will evolve over time.

Subsequent years: While the plan for postdoc training for any subsequent years (up to five), can be built upon previous year’s plans, a revised IDP needs to be submitted for every year of postdoc training. We also highly recommend meetings to discuss progress, challenges, and goals.

Step 1: Download the IDP form

The IDP form will be used to gather your self-assessment notes, enter your goals, write your actionable plan for development, and align with your PI. The final form, signed by both you and your supervisor, is what you will eventually submit (via Qualtrics) to Postdoctoral Affairs to fulfill your IDP requirement.

Step 2: Complete a self-assessment

This includes an assessment of skills, strengths, interests, and values using any of the following options:

• Sign up for an IDP session offered by Postdoctoral Affairs, which has time built in to conduct a self-assessment (see below)
• Use online tools such as myIDP or Imagine PhD
• Self reflect using this self-assessment worksheet provided by Postdoctoral Affairs

Step 3: Develop your goals

Goals should be related to research, career, and professional development for the current year of postdoc training. Use your strengths, interests, and values assessment to inform your goals and enter your draft goals into the IDP form (fillable PDF).

Step 4: Meet with your PI/supervisor

Set up an appointment with your PI/supervisor to share your self-assessment, review your proposed goals, and co-create your actionable IDP. You can make use of the prompts in the section below.

Step 5: Meet with PI and finish completing your IDP form

Postdoc and PI/supervisor meet to discuss, finalize, and sign the IDP.

Step 6: Upload and submit your completed IDP

Upload and submit your completed IDP using this Qualtrics form.

Sample prompts for postdoc/PI discussion to prepare an actionable IDP:

• What are the postdoc’s strengths?
• What gaps would the postdoc like to work on?
• What are the key objectives, subtasks, and timeframes for each goal?
• What support, resources, and guidance does the postdoc require to meet these goals?
• What expectations does the mentor bring?
• What activities do postdoc and mentor agree to pursue to support these research, professional, and career development goals?

Postdoc Academy also offers resources and prompts to help postdocs and faculty navigate mentoring conversations.

Resources on Productive Mentoring Conversations, from Postdoc Academy

BU Postdoc Policy