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Henry (Rique) Campa, Sarah Chobot Hokanson, Denise Drane, Bennett Goldberg, Robin Greenler, Jessica Maher, Rick McGee, Antonio Nunez, and Anne-Sophie Bohrer

The Postdoc Academy is the first professional development online course built specifically for and created with postdocs. This course provides skill development for postdocs from orientation to their next career step. Using inclusive, active-learning approaches, participants in this course will build skills to (1) find success as a postdoc, (2) draft an actionable career plan, (3) develop resilience, and (4) work effectively in an intercultural environment. This course explores the research related to postdoc success and guides participants in applying it to their environments. Connect to experiences of the postdoc community through the Postdoc Academy!

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The Postdoc Academy is the first professional development online course built specifically for and created with postdocs. This course provides skill development for postdocs from orientation to their next career step. Using inclusive, active-learning approaches, participants in this course will build skills to (1) find success as a postdoc, (2) draft an actionable career plan, (3) develop resilience, and (4) work effectively in an intercultural environment. This course explores the research related to postdoc success and guides participants in applying it to their environments. Connect to experiences of the postdoc community through the Postdoc Academy!

This course was created with funding from the National Institutes of Health grant number R25GM121257.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Explore identities and roles you hold and how they impact your work environment;
  • Identify strategies to transition into your new postdoc community and align your expectations with those of your mentor;
  • Apply career planning tools effectively and create an actionable plan that can both guide and be integrated into day-to-day practice;
  • Develop and implement an action plan to support progress on personal or professional goals that effectively build and sustain resilience;
  • Reflect on your own professional and personal identities and explore how to cultivate and support an inclusive research environment.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Assists in building an action plan that can effectively guide and be integrated into day-to-day practice
Taught by a selection of experienced instructors who actively teach and research this topic
Examines various personal and professional identities to cultivate and support an inclusive research environment
Builds a strong foundation for understanding how to transition into a new postdoc community and align expectations with those of a mentor
Teaches strategies for developing resilience to support progress on personal or professional goals
Introduces effective career planning tools and methods to create an actionable plan

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The Postdoc Academy: Succeeding as a Postdoc with these activities:
Review core science
Refreshes core science concepts, which will be built upon in this course's material.
Browse courses on Chemistry
Show steps
  • Review secondary school notes
  • Retake the AP Science Exam
  • Obtain a current science textbook and complete practice problems
Meet with peers and brainstorm ideas
Brainstorming with peers can foster new ideas and approaches to research.
Show steps
  • Identify peers in the same field of research
  • Schedule a meeting
  • Brainstorm ideas and approaches
  • Summarize and share the results
Explain key concepts to research partner
Explaining key concepts verbalizes and solidifies one's understanding.
Show steps
  • Identify key concepts in the provided material
  • Find a research partner
  • Teach and explain the concept to your partner
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Practice common research methods through simulations
Using simulations allows for a safe environment to practice research methods.
Show steps
  • Identify common research methods used in your field
  • Find an online or offline simulation
  • Practice using the simulation
Create research proposal and present
Creating a research proposal is a common task for postdocs and presenting it hones communication skills.
Show steps
  • Identify a research topic of interest
  • Create a research proposal
  • Prepare a presentation
  • Present the proposal to peers
  • Gather feedback and revise proposal
Contribute to an open-source research project
Contributing to open-source projects allows you to collaborate with others and gain real-world experience.
Show steps
  • Identify open-source research projects relevant to your interests
  • Review the project documentation
  • Identify an area where you can contribute
  • Make a contribution
Mentor an undergraduate or graduate student
Mentoring others helps you develop leadership skills and reinforces your own understanding of the material.
Show steps
  • Identify potential mentees
  • Schedule regular meetings
  • Provide guidance and support
  • Evaluate their progress

Career center

Learners who complete The Postdoc Academy: Succeeding as a Postdoc will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Postdoctoral Researcher
Postdoctoral researchers conduct research under the supervision of a senior scientist. The Postdoc Academy can help you gain the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role. The course covers topics such as research methods, data analysis, and scientific writing. This course is particularly useful for those who want to pursue a career in academia or research.
Faculty Developer
Faculty developers help faculty members improve their teaching and research skills. The Postdoc Academy can help you gain the knowledge and skills you need to be successful in this role. The course covers topics such as understanding and addressing faculty needs, developing and delivering effective faculty development programs, and evaluating faculty development initiatives. This course is designed specifically for those interested in working with postdocs or faculty in higher education.
Professor
Professors teach and conduct research at colleges and universities. The Postdoc Academy can help you gain the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role. The course covers topics such as teaching methods, curriculum development, and research methods. This course is particularly useful for those who want to pursue a career in academia.
Research Scientist
Research scientists conduct research in a variety of settings, including academia, industry, and government. The Postdoc Academy can help you gain the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role. The course covers topics such as research methods, data analysis, and scientific writing. This course is particularly useful for those who want to pursue a career in research.
Diversity and Inclusion Manager
Diversity and inclusion managers play a vital role in creating and maintaining inclusive workplaces. The Postdoc Academy can help you gain the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role. The course covers topics such as understanding and addressing unconscious bias, promoting equity and inclusion, and building inclusive teams. This course would be particularly helpful if you want to work in academia or research institutions where fostering inclusion is essential.
Career Counselor
Career counseling is another excellent career for those wishing to help others succeed. The Postdoc Academy can help you build a strong foundation in career counseling by teaching you how to develop and implement career plans, identify and overcome obstacles, and communicate effectively with clients. This course is particularly useful for those who want to work with postdocs or individuals in academia.
Grant Writer
Grant writers help organizations secure funding for their programs and projects. The Postdoc Academy can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful grant writer. The course covers topics such as identifying funding opportunities, developing competitive proposals, and managing grant projects. This course is particularly useful for those who want to work in academia or research institutions where grant funding is essential.
Manager of Training and Development
Managers of training and development oversee the design, delivery, and evaluation of training programs within an organization. The Postdoc Academy can help you gain the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role. The course covers topics such as needs assessment, program development, and evaluation. This course is particularly useful for those who want to work in academia or corporate training.
Human Resources Manager
Human resources managers oversee all aspects of human resources within an organization. The Postdoc Academy can help you gain the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role. The course covers topics such as talent acquisition, employee relations, and organizational development. This course is particularly relevant for those who want to work in academia or research institutions, as it provides insights into the unique HR challenges that these organizations face.
Learning and Development Manager
Learning and development managers oversee the learning and development programs within an organization. The Postdoc Academy can help you gain the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role. The course covers topics such as needs assessment, program development, and evaluation. This course is particularly useful for those who want to work in academia or corporate training.
Program Manager
Program managers oversee the planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs within an organization. The Postdoc Academy can help you gain the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role. The course covers topics such as project management, budgeting, and stakeholder management. This course is particularly useful for those who want to work in academia or corporate training.
Organizational Development Consultant
Organizational development consultants help organizations improve their performance. The Postdoc Academy can help you gain the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role. The course covers topics such as organizational change, leadership development, and team building. This course is particularly useful for those who want to work in academia or corporate consulting.
Educational Consultant
Educational consultants help individuals and organizations achieve their educational goals. The Postdoc Academy can be an excellent resource for educational consultants who want to work with postdocs or individuals in academia. The course provides insights into the unique challenges and opportunities that postdocs face, as well as strategies for supporting their success. You will also learn how to develop and implement effective educational programs and resources.
Instructional Designer
Instructional designers develop and deliver educational programs and materials. The Postdoc Academy can help you gain the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role. The course covers topics such as learning theory, instructional design models, and evaluation methods. This course is particularly useful for those who want to work in academia or corporate training.
Academic Advisor
Academic advising is a great career path for you if you wish to help individuals succeed in their professional lives. The Postdoc Academy course could be useful for someone early in their career in this field, as it explores topics such as effective communication, managing expectations, and navigating organizational culture. These are all skills that are valuable to an academic advisor as they support students through their academic journeys.

Reading list

We've selected 11 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in The Postdoc Academy: Succeeding as a Postdoc.
Provides timeless principles for personal and professional success. It would be a valuable read for postdocs who want to improve their productivity and effectiveness.
Explores the strengths and challenges of introversion. It would be a helpful read for postdocs who want to learn how to leverage their introverted qualities in their careers.
Provides practical advice for introverted leaders. It would be a valuable read for postdocs who are aspiring to leadership roles.
Provides insights into the cultural differences that can affect workplace interactions. It would be a helpful read for postdocs who are working in international collaborations.
Provides a year-long experiment in happiness. It would be a helpful read for postdocs who are looking for ways to improve their well-being.
Save
Explores the importance of grit in achieving success. It would be a motivating read for postdocs who are facing challenges in their careers.
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Explores the latest research on expertise. It would be a fascinating read for postdocs who are interested in understanding how to achieve peak performance.
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Explores the concept of flow and how to achieve it. It would be a helpful read for postdocs who are looking for ways to improve their focus and productivity.
Save
Explores the science of motivation. It would be a valuable read for postdocs who want to understand what drives them and how to stay motivated in their careers.

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