Postdoctoral Scholars

Postdoctoral scholars (“postdocs”) make vital intellectual and research contributions to the UMass Amherst community!

Professional Development Events and the Postdoc Listserv 

Postdocs are encouraged to attend the 400+ events presented each year by the Office of Professional Development (OPD). These events can help postdocs strengthen their skills in the areas of career preparation, communication, grants and fellowships, personal development, and teaching. To learn more and get involved, join the postdoc listserv by emailing opd [at] grad [dot] umass [dot] edu (OPD). 

Individual Development Plan (IDP)

An Individual Development Plan (IDP) combines personal assessment, career exploration, and skill building within a framework of goal-setting and accountability. Sample models include myIDP (designed for scientists) and ImaginePhD (designed for the humanities and social sciences).

Additional Resources

• Visit the Academic Human Resources Postdoctoral Scholar Resource Page for information about benefits, new employee information, and the Postdoctoral Bargaining Agreement.
• The National Postdoctoral Association offers a variety of useful resources.
• Through a campus subscription sponsored by the Office of the Provost, NCFDD provides faculty, postdocs, and graduate students with free access to a wide range of career development and mentoring resources.
• The UMass Amherst Writing Center offers face-to-face and online consultations to help postdocs clarify ideas, reorganize text, set writing goals and build productive writing practices.

Questions? 

bolson [at] grad [dot] umass [dot] edu (Contact us for more information) on OPD’s offerings for postdocs.