Career & Professional Development
Welcome to Career & Professional Development (CPD)!
Our Career & Professional Development team is undergoing some significant changes and is currently being restructured. We’re looking forward to providing our trainees a robust experience in Fall 2022 and beyond!
Until then, feel free to check out our faculty corner episodes for insights into working in academia, reviews about our CPD team from alumni, and a peek at one of our recurring events, Postdoc 180. There are more resources at the bottom of this page.
Our team offers weekly seminars, workshops, and panels to meet trainee needs for academic and professional success
For more statistics on our events, check out the latest annual report from the career team.
About OGPS Career & Professional Development
We embrace the University of Michigan’s vision of developing “leaders who will challenge the present and enrich the future“, and follow an interdisciplinary approach toward our program and resource development. Our model uses a rigorous and tailored approach in our intentionally planned programs to meet the needs of our graduate, postdoctoral, and post-baccalaureate communities. Our programs are intended to empower learners in the eight competency areas using a hands-on approach. Because of the current diversity in interests, opportunities, and outcomes, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows need to be exposed to many different career paths. We ensure that every member of our academic community can develop the necessary professional skills and use the best resources available to enhance their current training outcomes and to smoothly transition into their chosen career paths.
Additional Career Resources
Your Portfolio: CVs, Resumes & Cover Letters
University of Michigan Resources
- UM Career Center Resume Resources
- UM Career Center Cover Letter Resources
- UM Career Center Transferable Skills Resources
- UM Ross Career Center Action Verbs
Articles
- How to Write a Winning Resume – Science Magazine
- Resume Wisdom – Science Magazine
Applying and Interviewing
Interview Etiquette
- Job Talks Quick Guide – Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Career and Professional Development
- How to Prepare for and Conduct a Great Phone Interview – Career Builder
- Ace Your Video Interview – Science Magazine
- The Two Most Critical Elements of Interview Day – Science Magazine
- Interview Resources – UM Career Center
- “Job Hunting in Industry: Searching, Applying, Interviewing, and Negotiating for a Science Position in Biotech and Pharma” – Bill Lindstaedt (UCSF)
Follow-Up Etiquette
- The 6 W’s of Thank-You Notes – Career Builder
- Post Interviewing Tips: How Not to Follow-up – Career Builder
Self-Assessment
- Individual Development Plan (IDP): a free tool to help align your skills, interests, and values with career options.
- Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI): an online assessment to help you identify what motivates you and how you interact with the world around you.
Fellowships and Funding Resources
University of Michigan Resources
Maas Professional Development Award – The Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies supports our graduate trainees in professional development opportunities such as non-scientific conferences and workshops. Eligible applicants will be graduate students in good academic standing who are actively pursuing a degree in one of the 14 degree-granting programs within PIBS. Application deadlines are rolling and will be reviewed at the end of each month. Grants are up to $500.
Rackham Professional Development Grant – Looking for funding for professional development workshops, training, activities, etc? Apply for a Professional Development Grant. Application deadlines are rolling. Grants are up to $400.
Postdoctoral Fellow Travel Award – The Office of Postdoctoral Studies provides $500 travel support to Postdoctoral Fellows whose first author abstracts are selected for oral or poster sessions at a conference or meeting. Each year, 20 travel grants will be awarded. Applications are due January 31 for meetings March 1-June 30. Applications are due May 15 for meetings July 1-December 31.
Michigan Medicine Corporate and Foundation Relations: Curated Source for Discovering Funding Opportunities – The Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations within Michigan Medicine is a centralized office that helps to foster relationships between Michigan Medicine and companies and private professional foundations. Part of the Office of Development, we help faculty and external funding partners connect and collaborate to advance mutual goals that align with the university’s research, teaching, and clinical care mission.
Additional Resources
Michigan Medicine Corporate and Foundation Relations Funding Opportunities – The Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations within Michigan Medicine is a centralized office that helps to foster relationships between Michigan Medicine and companies and private professional foundations. The office helps faculty and external funding partners connect and collaborate to advance mutual goals that align with the university’s research, teaching, and clinical care mission.
Postdoctoral Funding Opportunities compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
Negotiating
Negotiating Salary
Negotiating Offers
- Academic Scientists at Work: Negotiating a Faculty Position – Science Magazine
- Negotiation Tactics and Strategies – Science Magazine
- Negotiating an Academic Position – Drs. Kassandra Ori-Mckenney, Omar Quintero, Raychelle Burks, Mónica Feliú-Mójer – iBiology Professional Development
Communication
OGPS Elevator Pitch Quick Guide
- Broad Institute CommKit
- American Association for the Advancement of Science Communication Toolkit