OPE offers a variety of workshops to help postdoctoral scholars succeed during their tenure here at UAB and in their chosen career field. Professional development workshops include:
- Individual Development Plan Workshop
- This workshop, designed for postdoctoral scholars in their first semester of their training tenure, introduces postdocs to resources available on campus that are specifically geared towards professional and career development. Postdocs are then guided on how they could use these resources within their own Individual Development Plan to achieve their particular career goals.
- This workshop takes place every two months throughout the year.
- Postdoctoral Grant-Writing Workshop Series
- This workshop series focuses on helping scholars develop a postdoctoral grant such as an NIH F32 grant or American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship. Designed for first- and second-year scholars (though others are welcomed), it meets once-a-month for six months and guides postdocs through the steps of writing and submitting a grant application. Faculty-led sessions cover topics such as identifying your funder, conducting literature searches, crafting specific aims, and preparing a career development plan.
- Scholars will be responsible for writing aspects of the grant outside of the workshop as well as taking part in a peer-review of their fellow cohort members’ applications.
- There are two cohorts a year. The first cohort starts in January and the second cohort starts in July. Contact OPE for more information or to join the waiting list.
- Career Transition Workshop Series
- This workshop series, geared towards third-year scholars and beyond, consists of once-a-month meetings for six months and will guide the postdoc through the process of researching different career options, conducting informational meetings, preparing and applying for positions, and participating in virtual as well as in-person interviews. Scholars will learn tips on how to navigate the everchanging job market, draft application documents, negotiate offers, and handle rejection letters.
- Outside of the workshop, scholars will be responsible for investigating employers and specific job advertisements as well as composing application documents.
- There are two cohorts a year. Contact OPE for more information or to join the waiting list.