Individual Development Plans for Students in the Sciences
myIDP is a free online career exploration and planning tool that helps graduate students and postdocs in STEM fields leverage their expertise into satisfying and productive careers. This Individual Development Program (IDP) framework was proposed by the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) and expanded by AAAS/Science and experts from several universities.
A similar tool, ImaginePhD, exists for students in the humanities and social sciences.
myIDP’s Content
myIDP provides users with:
- Exercises to help examine their skills, interests, and values
- A list of 20 scientific career paths with a prediction of which ones may provide a best fit
- A tool for setting strategic goals for the coming year, with optional reminders to stay on track
- Articles and resources to guide them through the job search process
Set Up a Free myIDP Account
myIDP is free to use. You can create a free account on their website. To get help creating an Individual Development Plan using myIDP, as well as to learn more about the value of IDPs for scientists, consult the related article series published by Science.