Discipline-Specific Conceptual Knowledge | Research Skills Development | Communication Skills
Professionalism | Leadership and Management Skills | RCR
I. Discipline-Specific Conceptual Knowledge
One of the main goals of postdoctoral training is to expand knowledge of your field and develop your niche. To become a subject matter expert:
- Join professional societies.
- Join interest groups at your local university/department.
- Attend journal clubs.
- Attend national and international meetings. A good source for the sciences is the Nature Events Directory; for the humanities, H-Net Academic Announcements; and for the social sciences, the Consortium of Social Sciences Associations. Networking is key to your career success, regardless of your field. Consider the benefits of attending large conferences where you will obtain a broad picture of the state of your field vs. smaller conferences where you will have more personal interactions.
Please note: Much of what postdoctoral researchers need to learn under this topic is discipline-specific. The following resources are examples:
II. Research Skills Development
Please note: Much of what postdoctoral researchers need to learn under this topic is discipline-specific. The following resources are examples.
III. Communication Skills
Communication in General
Conflict Resolution
General Writing Resources
Grant Writing
Managing News and Social Media
Negotiating
Professional and Career Development
- Scientific/Medical Disciplines: Resources on professional development for both academic careers and careers beyond academia (e.g. CVs, resumes, cover letters, research and teaching statements, job interviews, informational interviewing, networking) are available from the Duke Office of Postdoctoral Services, the University of California at San Francisco Office of Career & Professional Development, and the National Postdoctoral Association (advice suitable for scientific/medical disciplines).
- Humanities/Social Sciences: Resources on professional and career development for both academic careers and careers beyond academia are available from the Duke Graduate School, the Modern Language Association, and Anne Mitchell Whisnant’s “Resources for an Expansive Job Search: Humanities & Social Sciences.”
Scientific Presentations
Scientific Writing
Teaching
Public Speaking Tips
IV. Professionalism
Workplace Professionalism (advice suitable for all academic disciplines)
Diversity Resources
Conflict of Interest
The Scientist as Good Citizen
V. Leadership and Management Skills
Leadership in General
- Leadership: Theory and Practice by Peter Guy Northouse from Sage Publications (advice suitable for all academic disciplines; available from most university libraries)
- Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman from Bantam Books (advice suitable for all academic disciplines; available from most university libraries)
- What Makes a Leader? by Daniel Goleman from the Harvard Business Review (advice suitable for all academic disciplines)
Leadership in the Laboratory
Time/Stress Management
VI. Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)
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