An Individual Development Plan (IDP) is a tool that helps graduate students set career goals and create a structured plan for professional and academic development. It typically includes self-assessment, goal-setting, and steps for skill-building, research progress, and career preparation. The IDP is developed in collaboration with a faculty advisor and is regularly updated to reflect students’ goals and achievements. An IDP is required for graduate students funded by selective federal grants such as those issued by the National Science Foundation.
We encourage graduate students and faculty advisors to work jointly at the start of the student’s program of study to design an IDP that meets students’ needs. IDPs should be reviewed and revised annually. We have compiled some general information and resources useful in creating an IDP for graduate students.
What are the Main Components of an IDP?
Academic Goal Setting – Many IDPs require students to outline their academic goals. This may include expected research milestones such as publications, conference presentations, or competitive grant applications as well as program goals such as completing coursework, qualifying exams, and other degree requirements.
The IDP should indicate specific steps the student will take to acquire skills and competencies needed to achieve their academic goals. At SU, programs such as the Graduate School Academic Skills Program and SU Libraries’ workshop series for grad students provide excellent opportunities for students to articulate a plan for their academic development. In addition, the Graduate School curates a list of external grants and scholarships available to support students’ research and progress to degree.
Career Preparedness – This is a core aspect of any IDP. Students should plan their professional development efforts throughout their program. These may include teaching experiences, internships, workshop participation, or microcredentialing.
SU has structured career development programs ready-made for the IDP. Eligible grad students can earn a Certificate in University Teaching through the Future Professoriate Program, a Certificate in Professional Preparation through the Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) Future Professionals Program, or a Public Scholarship Certificate through the Engaged Humanities Network and Graduate School. All students can benefit from professional and career advising through the Graduate School, as well as free programming and career exploration tools offered by the Center for Graduate Career Success.
General Resources & Assessments
My IDP
My IDP is a free resource geared towards graduate students and postdocs in STEM fields. The platform has values, interests, and skills inventories that help users identify promising scientific career paths. In addition, the site provides goal trackers and other features to help students make steady progress towards their academic goals.
Imagine PhD
ImaginePhD is a free online career exploration and planning tool for doctoral students and postdoctoral scholars in the humanities and social sciences. The site guides users in defining goals and timelines in the categories of degree completion, career development, skill development, personal development, and money/funding.
ACS ChemIDP
ChemIDP is designed specifically for students and postdoctoral scholars in the chemical sciences, but can be more broadly applied to students in STEM. Through structured activities, users explore potential careers, determine specific skills needed for success, and develop plans to achieve professional goals.
IDP Instructional Videos
The Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) organization has provided a one-hour webinar overview of the IDP development process, Planning for Success: Creating an Individual Development Plan 101. In this video, academic and industry professionals share strategies to help students design their IDP.
University of California San Francisco’s Office of Professional and Career Development has created a series of short videos exploring how graduate students, postdocs, and faculty can approach designing an IDP. The four parts are What Is an IDP?, The IDP Is a Process and a Product, Variations of IDPs, and How Do IDPs Help?