As the central hub of career development support for postdocs, the Office of Postdoctoral Advancement helps postdocs navigate Rutgers by providing information through monthly Welcome & Information Sessions and referrals to campus representatives and relevant institutional contacts across the university. We host career development workshops and other activities open to all postdocs in partnership with other units and programs across the university. Some previous topics covered include management skills, grant writing, science communication, faculty job, mentoring, and self-advocacy. We encourage postdocs to take advantage of the many professional development opportunities offered within and outside of Rutgers.
While you are here, be sure to:
Check the Upcoming Events Calendar
Be the driver of your career. Get acquainted with what is needed to be successful as a postdoc and career-ready. Engage in activities that not only enrich your research training but also your professional development.
Actively manage your career from day one.
Time management & prioritization are essential to stay on track with your goals and make progress. Stay focused.
Use career management tools to stay on track with your goals, such as Individual Development Plans, and Setting SMART Goals.
Maintain open and clear communication with your mentors and co-workers. Make sure you know what is expected of you. Clear Expectations works both way.
Have a support network for guidance.
Identify areas or skills you need help with or to improve and seek a wider range of support, for example from your peers, colleagues, or other faculty members to develop a Mosaic of Mentors map.
Make the time for professional development. Remember, becoming a subject expert in your field is not enough to succeed in your career.
Get familiarized with the NPA core competencies and seek opportunities to further improve on them.
Find time for self-care and for things you enjoy outside of work. Remember you can not do well if you do not feel well.
Take advantage of Wellness & Mental Health resources available to you.
Check the following resources.
The following is a sample of current teaching resources available at Rutgers for postdocs. In addition to external resources, we include book recommendations as well.
If you have questions about these resources, contact us at opa@oq.rutgers.edu.
In addition to the office's monthly activities and workshops, you should know about the career development programs and resources available within Rutgers.
If you don't know about these resources yet, please take the time to get to know them. They provide important opportunities that help you develop your skills and expand your professional network.
Postdocs can take advantage of the following institutional memberships in order to advance their career and personal development:
