{"id":4564,"date":"2024-09-04T19:49:39","date_gmt":"2024-09-04T23:49:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/postdocs\/?page_id=4564"},"modified":"2025-12-18T14:54:19","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T19:54:19","slug":"idp","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/postdocs\/career-planning\/idp\/","title":{"rendered":"Individual Development Plans"},"content":{"rendered":"

IDPs are a customized roadmap for your professional training and goals that will enable you to make the most of your postdoctoral experience. All BU postdocs are required to develop and submit an individual development plan (IDP) annually for each appointment year.<\/strong> This page contains information for postdocs ready to initiate this process.<\/em><\/p>\n

Essential Information<\/h3>\n

What's Required<\/h4>
<\/span><\/p>\n

New postdoc or new PI:<\/strong> 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Subsequent years:<\/strong> While the plan for postdoc training for any subsequent years (up to five), can be built upon<\/em> previous year\u2019s 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.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Develop and Submit Your Plan (Instructions for Postdocs)<\/h4>
<\/p>\n
Step 1: Download the IDP form<\/h5>\n

The IDP form<\/a> 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 GPS – Postdoctoral Affairs to fulfill your IDP requirement.<\/p>\n

Step 2: Complete a self-assessment<\/h5>\n

This includes an assessment of skills, strengths, interests, and values using any of the following options:<\/p>\n