Early in your advanced training, as you orient yourself to the demands of your graduate studies or to the expectations of your new postdoctoral appointment, it is important for you to understand the importance of early career development planning and will get you started on the path for career success and satisfaction.
Resources For You
- Orientation Events
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These orientations are designed to be a call to action for doctoral students and postdoctoral trainees to take ownership of their career planning and professional development in the same way that they are responsible for their scholarly development. Receive a broad overview of career development resources available at the University, as well as start to build a framework for future career planning.
- Postdoctoral Orientation to Career Development Seminar: Postdocs appointed in any of the six schools of the health sciences (dental medicine, health and rehabilitation sciences, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and public health) are required to attend this seminar within the first three months of their appointments. Details are included in your appointment letter, and you will receive a personal email invitation from the Center for Postdoctoral Affairs in the Health Sciences within the first month of your appointment. These 2.5 hour orientations are held monthly from 1-3:30pm.
- Graduate Student Orientation: “An Orientation to Career Development for Doctoral Trainees: A Developmental Approach to Professional Training” sessions are held annually by each school.
- Organizations
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- Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG): GPSG is the student government for all graduate and professional students at the University of Pittsburgh.
- National Postdoctoral Association (NPA): The University of Pittsburgh is an institutional member of the NPA, a national organization whose mission is to improve the overall postdoctoral experience. Pitt postdocs are eligible for a free membership. Select “Affiliate Individual Member, Postdoc” to sign up.
- University of Pittsburgh Postdoctoral Association (UPPDA): The UPPDA’s mission is to facilitate a more constructive and positive experience for postdoctoral professionals that will benefit postdocs at the University of Pittsburgh
- Biomedical Graduate Student Association (BGSA): The BGSA’s goal is to promote professional and social interactions between students and faculty and provide a forum for graduate education issues at the University of Pittsburgh.
How You Will Benefit
Learn critical new perspectives and information
Complementary university-wide and school-specific orientations provide critical perspectives on career planning and inform you of fundamental resources to ensure you get the most out of your training.
Connect with groups that provide diverse experiences and knowledge pools
National, university-wide, and school-specific organizations provide diverse experiences that range from social activities to professional development opportunities. They also provide valuable opportunities for direct professional development through participation as a volunteer or an organization leader.
What's Next
Next ADAPT TM Stage - Foundations >