Create Your Individual Development Plan
For Graduate Students
For Postdoctoral Researchers
For Mentors
Required for Students and Postdocs Funded by NIH
Graduate students and postdoctoral researchers funded by NIH are required to complete
an IDP each year.
NIH Policy on IDPs
According to NOT-OD-14-113, “NIH encourages grantees to develop institutional policies that employ an IDP for every graduate student and postdoctoral researcher supported by NIH awards. Beginning on October 1, 2014, annual progress reports are required to include a description of whether the institution uses IDPs or not and how they are employed to help manage the training and career development of those individuals.”
Who is responsible for ensuring USC NIH-funded researchers comply with this policy?
It is the responsibility of the NIH awardee (Principal Investigator) to include a report on the use of IDPs in the Research Progress Performance Report (RPPR).
Why Create an Individual Development Plan?
The Office of Research and The Graduate School strongly encourage the use of IDPs for all graduate students and postdoctoral researchers for identifying professional development opportunities and to aid in career planning.
Help Setting and Reaching Career Goals
Documenting accomplishments, areas to develop further and attainable professional goals in a comprehensive document can lead to greater professional success as you prepare to start your desired career.
Graduate Students/Postdoctoral Researchers Work Together
Creating an IDP is an opportunity for graduate students and/or postdoctoral researchers and faculty mentors to openly discuss career goals and work together to create a plan to reach those goals.