Individual Development Plan (IDP) Toolkit

A written roadmap for your career. The IDP helps early-career researchers reflect on their short- and long-term goals and build a concrete action plan for moving forward. This Toolkit includes resources, templates, and further information for graduate students, postdocs, and faculty on how to complete an IDP.

The Process

Reflect

Reflect on your values, interests, skills, and identify areas you would like to strengthen that are relevant to your long-term goals.

Explore

Explore careers at the intersection of your values and skills; identify activities that help build your skills and document experiences for your CV.

Plan

Write down a one-year plan to advance toward your goals with actions that are S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented, Realistic, Time-bound).

Downloadable Templates

At Stony Brook University, there is no single accepted format for an IDP. Students and postdocs are encouraged to find a tool or format that works for the way that they plan. Some graduate programs, training grants, research groups, or fellowships may have a preferred or even required format, so trainees should talk with their advisors about IDP expectations.