Individual Development Plans

An Individual Development Plan, or IDP, is a written plan for goals and actions for the next year. Like a personal strategic plan, an IDP helps early-career researchers set long- and short-term goals and establish an action plan for achieving these goals. Stony Brook strongly encourages the use of the IDP by all early-career researchers to help them maintain progress in their research and career and to foster their transition to independence.

A number of resources for developing an IDP are available in Stony Brook's IDP Toolkit. Postdocs can also join a small group of other postdocs to go "up the ladder" of career development with the Exploring Career Ladders Program (ECLP). These peer-to-peer groups run 1-2 times a year and are led by postdoc peer leaders through seven steps in seven biweekly meetings.