Establishing a Mentoring Relationship

When a postdoc begins their position, the postdoc and their faculty mentor/supervisor should meet to discuss their shared expectations. Creating an Individual Development Plan (IDP) helps postdocs and their mentors assess skills, identify short and long term goals, and determine a plan for achieving research, professional, and career goals.

This IDP can be used during meetings with faculty mentors and their trainees as a means to foster communication, to invite the postdoc to articulate their professional development needs, and to ensure the faculty mentor provides feedback on progress and expectations.