The Case Western Reserve School of Medicine sponsors a Professional Skills Program to address career development. The PSP, supported by the Office of Graduate Education, is led by Dr. Carole Liedtke, Professor of Pediatrics. It is open to postdoctoral trainees throughout the SOM and meets once a month, with lunch provided.

Sessions of the Professional Skills Program have included grant writing skills, issues concerning foreign scientists in labs, intellectual property, writing a development plan, exit strategies for leaving the postdoc, and research in small colleges. A list of current and previous sessions and presenters is available here.

In addition, the Office of Research and Technology Management organizes monthly meetings and workshops open to all researchers on critical issues in the practice of science, including authorship, compliance with IRB/IACUC, conflict of interest and technology transfer. They have an outstanding series with a calendar at http://ora.ra.cwru.edu/research/orc/education/onlinecalendar.cfm.

Individual Development Plan

Postdoctoral positions are a transition to independence. Both the trainee and the mentor need to communicate often about research and career goals. Case has adopted the use of an Individual Development Plan (IDP) as a way to ensure these conversations take place at least annually. The IDP is prepared by the trainee, highlighting research goals, presentations and skills training and then discussed together periodically. We strongly suggest that trainees complete this process within three- six months of appointment and re-visit the IDP at least annually. Please see http://www.case.edu/provost/gradstudies/postdoctorate/index.html for more information and instructions.