National Postdoctoral Association

The NPA welcomes the involvement of administrators and faculty in all of its programs and activities. Faculty play a central role in many aspects of the postdoctoral experience, as do administrators at research institutions. To assist administrators and faculty in addressing postdoctoral training issues, the NPA has developed a library of resources:

NPA Toolkits

Career Development Resources

• Career Advising and Counseling
  With the varied levels of interest, experience and career goals that postdocs may have, it is often hard to assess the needs of the individual. A one-on-one career advice and counseling service may be an appropriate idea for an institution to consider.
  
  
• Organizing Career Development Workshops
  Career workshops are an excellent means of getting good career information and advice to postdocs en masse, and work well to complement the one-on-one career advice amd counseling approach.
  
  
• Conducting Career and Job Fairs
  On a somewhat larger scale than a workshop series, a career fair or symposium is a chance for postdocs to interact one-on-one with potential employers, and gather information directly from them as to the requirements for future and currently-available positions. They can also be organised in conjunction with sessions offered in a workshop-style format. Using this format, postdocs get a chance to discuss aspects of their future careers, and gather information about the skills required to succeed.

Mentoring Resources

Policies

• NSF Mentoring Policy for Postdoctoral Scholars
• NIH Policy for Mentoring Postdocs Supported on Research Grants
• AAMC GREAT Group Compact

Articles

• Mentoring for the Postdoctoral Fellow by Jonathan Wiest
  
  
• Producing Results: Effective Management and Mentoring in Academic Labs
  An article by Grace Gray from AWIS Magazine 29 (no. 1 Winter 2000): 14-18. Available to AWIS members only.
  
  
• Does Adviser Mentoring Add Value?
  An article by Paglis, Green, and Bauer published in Research in Higher Education 47 (no. 6, June 2006). Available by subscription or paid order.
  
  
• On the Right Track: A Manual for Research Mentors
  Available for purchase from the Council of Graduate Schools.
  
  
• Nature’s Guide for Mentors
  A guide on mentoring from Nature: Lee, A., Dennis, C., and Campbell, P. (2007) "Nature’s guide for mentors." Nature 447: 791-797.

Other Recommended Resources

• Data on Postdocs
  NPA summary of various data sources currently available on postdocs.
  
  
• Lab Management
  A guide developed by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Read more about it in the POSTDOCket: Summer 2004, Volume 2 Issue 3.
  
  
• Introduction to the Responsible Conduct of Research
  By the Office of Research Integrity. This manual defines responsible conduct of research and it provides an overview of regulations and best practices. To order a hardcopy version of the manual click here.
  
  
• NIH NRSA Guidelines 2011
  Salary and benefits guidelines (the de facto standard)
  
  
• COSEPUP Guide
  "Enhancing the Postdoctoral Experience for Scientists and Engineers: A Guide for Postdoctoral Scholars, Advisers, Institutions, Funding Organizations and Disciplinary Societies.” Committee on Science Engineering and Public Policy, National Academy of Sciences. National Academy Press, Washington DC, 2000. Purchase your own copy or print out the PDF online.
  
  
• American Association of Universities Committee on Postdoctoral Education Report and Recommendatons, March 31, 1998.
  A statement on the situation of postdocs by the organization that represents the nation’s leading universities.
  
  
• Tomorrow's Professor Web site and Listserv
  Searchable archive of postings to the Tomorrow's Professor Listserv. Many useful articles for all stages of the academic career track.