As part of the University of Cambridge, you are entitled to 10 days of professional development time per year. There are three broad categories this covers: formal, social, and experiential learning. Explanations on each of these types can be found on the Professional Development Guidance section of our website, as well as tips on planning your training for the year ahead.
Below are just some examples of how researchers have used their development time, including mentoring, entrepreneurship, professional development, hosting events at the postdoc centres, and student supervisions.
Finding a mentor
The Postdoc Academy offers its own mentoring scheme for postdocs, pairing them with mentors from industry, academia or further afield. Lina found the scheme so beneficial, she decided to become a mentor herself. The next round of the mentoring scheme runs in May, with applications being accepted from February. Find out more information on mentoring.
Trying out entrepreneurship training
How can entrepreneurial tools benefit researchers? A postdoc from the Faculty of Education outlined how learning to use the Research Canvas helped them to write effective grant proposals. Explore our upcoming training on business and entrepreneurial skills.
Attending professional development workshops
We host a variety of training workshops and masterclasses to benefit you in academia and beyond. Manuel planned out the workshops he was going to attend even before his postdoc contract began, making the best use of his time in Cambridge. Start planning which sessions you want to attend this term.
Applying for more intensive courses
Petia found the longer format of the Resilient Leadership in Action great for approaching leadership from several different perspectives and taking more of a deep-dive into the topic. As you’re with the same group for a few sessions, it’s also a great way of making new connections.
Using the Postdoc Centre event spaces
Indra and Irene from the Engineering Biology Interdisciplinary Research Centre (EngBio IRC) used the Mill Lane centre to host some of their Meet, Greet & Talk events. These provide a positive environment for researchers across schools to share research and network. Find out what your local Postdoc Centre has to offer. Our first spotlight, with Amna, explored how she used our centres to conduct student supervisions. The possibilities for using the postdoc centres are broad - think big or small!
Joining a committee or postdoc group
Getting involved in a committee or postdoc group is also a great way to meet new people and enrich the community of postdocs in Cambridge. We often feature calls for various postdoc representatives in the weekly Bulletin. You can also check out EngBio IRC (featured above) to give you an idea of what’s possible and help inspire your own initiative. PdOC has a detailed guide on their website as well.
Over to you
Our professional development programme runs throughout the year, offering participants various ways they can expand their skillset, improve their productivity, and prepare for their future academic and professional careers. Each workshop counts as formal training and is delivered by several higher education institutions and practitioners.
Take a look at our upcoming masterclasses and workshops and book onto anything you find interesting.