The University of Massachusetts Amherst

Office of Professional Development

Graduate students at an OPD workshop

About

Welcome to the Office of Professional Development (OPD)! Our goal is to support graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in achieving success at UMass and beyond.

We recognize the importance of both technical and academic expertise, which is why we offer professional skills training in career preparation, communication, grants and fellowships, personal development, and teaching. Our programs include virtual and in-person workshops (400+ each year), daylong conferences, weeklong writing retreats, and experiential learning opportunities.

We warmly encourage all current graduate students and postdocs to get involved early in your time at UMass. By checking out the workshops we have coming up, you’ll find there is something for everyone. We are excited to see you at our events and support you in reaching your goals!