For MIT postdocs, an individual development plan (IDP) is a personal assessment and planning vehicle to help guide your career objectives. It provides a roadmap and timeline to initiate and maintain good communication, identify expectations, outline specific criteria for success, and highlight and emphasize specific areas for professional development.
Benefits of Completing an IDP
- Identify your strengths and interests
- Narrow down options for a future career path
- Assess areas needing development for your chosen career path
- Focus on specific workshops and talks within MIT’s career planning resources
When to Complete Your IDP
You are strongly encouraged to complete an IDP during the first six months of the postdoc period, then review and update your IDP annually.
Annual review forms for postdocs ask when an IDP was last completed. You may discuss your IDP with your mentor at the annual review meeting, but you are not required to share the IDP results with your mentor.
Format and Templates
MIT does not provide a set format for the IDP. However, IDPs generally include:
- A carefully worded questionnaire
- Summation to decide on future career directions
The IDP should be sufficiently flexible to incorporate new opportunities, should they arise.
Postdocs may find these resources and templates useful:
- myIDP (American Association for the Advancement of Science)
- Individual Development Plans (National Institute of General Medical Sciences)
- "Mentorship Matters for the Biomedical Workforce" (Sally Rockey, Deputy Director for Extramural Research, NIH)
- Career Planning Resources (National Postdoctoral Association)
- Imaginephd.com
- ChemIDP (American Chemical Society)
Sponsor Requirements
- NSF: Requires an IDP for graduate students and postdocs. (PAPPG 24-1, VII.B.7)
- NIH: Annual progress reports must describe how and whether individual development plans (IDPs) are used to identify and promote the career goals of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers associated with the award. However, IDPs are not required. (NOT-OD-14-113)
Updated November 7, 2025