A postdoctoral scholar is recognized as an individual who holds a doctoral degree or equivalent terminal degree who is engaged in a temporary and defined period of formally mentored research or scholarly training for the purpose of acquiring the professional skills needed to pursue a career path of their choosing.
Career Planning and Self-Assessment
Postdoctoral life is a continuum of one’s career and is often an opportunity to broaden horizons and explore different regions of the world. Living in Eugene provides an array of opportunities for research and rest.
The University of Oregon Postdoc Association is full of resources for new postdocs who are continuing their careers in Eugene. Their goal as an organization is to assist University of Oregon postdocs by providing resources for:
- Career development
- Work-life integration
- Postdoctoral researchers in transition
- International postdoctoral researchers
International Student and Scholar Services has resources for international postdoc students. You’ll find opportunities for global engagement, resources around campus, and tools to promote equitable engagement.
National Postdoctoral Association provides a variety of career planning resources for postdoc students. These include self-assessment tools, career exploration, and more.
Funding
Postdocs can search for awards from among 625 scholarships, grants, fellowships, and postdoctoral awards through GRAPES, sponsored by UCLA.
External fellowships and awards are administered by governmental agencies, private foundations, and corporations. Graduate students and postdoctoral scholars are encouraged to explore further in order to expand their areas of interest and research.
Assessing Skills and Interests
ImaginePhD is an online career exploration and planning tool for PhD students and postdoctoral scholars in the humanities and social sciences. It’s a free program for all users and provides knowledge on doctoral education and the of opportunities.
Individual Development Plans
An individual development plan (IDP) is a resource generated by graduate students and post docs to help guide their career development. When creating your IDP, take into account your interests and strengths, while considering what skills and qualifications are necessary for your chosen career.
An IDP provides a shared point of reference for conversations with your UO advisor (and other mentors) about how to achieve your goals and/or evolve them.