Graduate students and postdoctoral researchers need to develop a range of academic and professional skills during their training, as well as to make progress on their research. However, it can be hard for trainees to determine what to prioritize, and mismatched expectations between trainees and their supervisors with respect to research and training plans is one major source of supervisory conflict and dissatisfaction.

The Centre for Graduate Professional Development (CGPD) recommends engaging in a structured planning process with the graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, based on evidence that engaging in a structured research and career planning process is associated with less conflict in the supervisory relationship, higher research productivity, and improved career readiness for trainees. Individual Development Planning (IDP) is one tool to support a structured plan with your trainees, and CGPD offers a workshop for students and postdocs, as well as a session specifically for faculty supervisors who want to learn more about how to incorporate IDP into their supervisory practice to support their trainees. Visit our pages for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to see our recommendations and information for trainees:

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