BU Receives $1.8 Million to Launch Professional Development Program for Postdocs

Today, Boston University is announcing an initiative in partnership with Northwestern University, Michigan State University, and University of Wisconsin-Madison to improve the training experience and career prospects for current and future postdoctoral scholars in an effort to build a diverse biomedical workforce. The four institutions collectively received a $1.8 million dollar grant over five years from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to collaborate with partner organizations such as the National Research Mentor Network (NRMN), the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA), and Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) Network to create a comprehensive and free digital and in-person professional development program called the Postdoc Academy – available to postdocs nationwide.

This opportunity comes at a critical time: despite the postdoctoral community’s core role in furthering global research discovery, postdocs face a series of financial and professional development challenges on their path to a fulfilling role in today’s rapidly changing employment landscape. These challenges are increasingly extending the postdoc experience timeline, and research indicates that if a person remains in a postdoc position for longer than five years, their chances of having a successful career in science diminishes.

The Postdoc Academy will help the postdoc community overcome these transitional and career challenges. Through a blend of interactive online and in-person content focused on the NPA competencies, the Postdoc Academy will support skill development from postdoc orientation to identification and preparation for the next career step. The content will use inclusive, active-learning approaches and will be delivered flexibly to serve as a resource for the postdoc community nationwide. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) will be offered by Boston University on the online learning platform edx.org.

This initiative has four core focus areas, including:

1. Developing a postdoc orientation program that will ensure all postdocs begin their training equipped with skills critical for their long-term success. The Postdoc Academy will help postdocs and their research mentors transition to postdoctoral career planning from a shorter-term Individual Development Plan into a longer-term strategy that defines concrete milestones for research productivity, skill development, and career outcomes mapped to their desired career trajectory.
2. Creating a Postdoc Academy MOOC series delivered in free online and blended formats. Courses will include:

   New Postdoc Orientation which focuses on foundational skills and career planning, establishing the professional habits postdocs will need to strategically prepare for their career and succeed in their postdoc. Scheduled to launch in 2019-2020 on edX.org.

   Preparing for the Workforce which builds on advanced skills that will enable postdocs to transition to independence. Scheduled to launch fall 2019 on edX.org.

   Train-the-trainer which cultivates the capacity within institutions around the nation to adopt and adapt the Postdoc Academy materials to serve the professional development needs of their postdocs. Scheduled to launching April 2020 on edx.org.

3. Ensuring the Postdoc Academy is accessible to a diverse postdoc population. Collaboration with national organizations, scientific societies, and research networks is instrumental in making the Postdoc Academy accessible to a wider population of postdocs nationwide.
4. Disseminating the Postdoc Academy and building the capacity of postdoc professional development programs and resources at other institutions.

“It has been a rewarding experience helping the Boston University postdoc scholars develop leadership and professional skills that translate to fulfilling, impactful careers. Partnering with prestigious universities and national organizations will help make these resources widely available to the postdoc community nationwide.” explains Sarah Hokanson, Director of Professional Development and Postdoctoral Affairs, Boston University, who is leading the Postdoc Academy project. “It has been an incredible joint-effort and we look forward to the Postdoc Academy launch in fall 2019.”

The Postdoc Academy Multi-PI leadership team includes Sarah Hokanson (Boston University) and Bennett Goldberg, (Northwestern University). Co-PI team includes Henry (Rique) Campa III (Michigan State University), Antonio Nunez (Michigan State University), Robin Greenler (University of Wisconsin-Madison), Jessica Maher (University of Wisconsin-Madison), Richard McGee, Jr. (Northwestern University) and Denise Drane (Northwestern University).

To learn more about this initiative visit the NIH grant here: 1R25GM121257-01A1.