For Postdocs

Welcome to UMBC and to the postdoctoral experience! As a postdoctoral research associate at UMBC, your research and leadership have opportunities to flourish. All postdoctoral scholars at UMBC are encouraged to participate in the community of scholars through various activities that are sponsored by the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, the Faculty Development Center (postdocs are a faculty rank and are welcome at all FDC events), and the office for Graduate Student and Postdoc Development (GSPD). UMBC is also a CIRTL Campus (Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning), and in addition to workshops offered on our campus, we offer support for you to access a national network of virtual workshops, all of which can lead to free certificates in teaching that demonstrate your competency and commitment to evidence-based practices and inclusion. PROMISE hosts regular workshops on topics such as project management, mentoring undergraduates, developing materials for tenure-track positions, starting and nurturing research collaborations, and public speaking. To keep up with the latest events, you should join the myUMBC page for Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Development: http://my.umbc.edu/groups/gspd.

Resources

Resources available through UMBC’s memberships and partnerships, include the following:

UMBC

Events sponsored by or suggested by the Graduate Student & Postdoctoral Development (GSPD) office

Faculty Development Center

CIRTL: The Center for the Integration of Research Teaching and Learning at UMBC: earn a nationally recognized certificate in STEM teaching for free!

The PROMISE Academy – scholars from minoritized backgrounds are encouraged to inquire about the PROMISE Academy – a program specifically geared toward supporting underrepresented postdocs in STEM as they pursue tenure-track positions.

Maryland & Affiliates

Through our NSF-funded PROMISE Academy Alliance, we are pleased to announce that offerings from the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at the University of Maryland, College Park and The University of Maryland Baltimore’s Office of Research Career Development (RCD) are open to UMBC Postdocs.

National Resources

National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) – Get your Free NPA Affiliate Membership! UMBC is an Institutional member of the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA). You can sign up as an Affiliate NPA member with your institutional (UMBC) email address and once a member attend events hosted by the Association for FREE. Click here to learn the steps!

CIRTL: The Center for the Integration of Research Teaching and Learning

National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (use your university login, we have an institutional account)

 

Mentoring Resources

National Research Mentoring Network – Postdocs

AAAS – Getting the Mentoring You Need 

Mentoring Plans – Postdoctoral Scholars

 

If you would like to read a success story regarding pursuing a postdoc and what it can provide, please check the Profiles tab.

Additional for Success 

The following resources are offered from past events that served postdocs. These resources have been developed by UMBC’s Faculty Development Center, and PROMISE: Maryland’s Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP)

  • Skills Assessment – the AGEP PROMISE Academy Alliance has developed a skills assessment for those hoping to become tenure track faculty. Ranking yourself in these skills can help you identify areas of strength and areas for growth.
  • Here are two template Individualized Development Plans (option1, option2) that can help you with goal setting and provide some structure to conversations with your mentor regarding prioritizing your activities.