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Graduate Professional Skill Development Program

The purpose of the Professional Development Program is to establish an organized and effective framework of professional development for our graduate students that is recognized by the Faculty. This involves developing competencies within our graduate programs that are important to become a successful researcher and to support excellence in health research. It also provides strategies for trainees to achieve academic and career success.

News and Articles


A career in Project Management for Science PhDs

As Ph.D. graduates, we often find ourselves at a cross roads of choosing to either continue in bench research or diversifying away from it...

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Graduate Student Celebration of Excellence

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Stem Cell Talks: How Graduate Students Are Collectively Inspiring the Next Generation of Scientists.

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In the News: Graduate Science Education

Apply now for the Dr. Jon Meddings Graduate Student Leadership Award

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Upcoming GSE events


Professional development resources

Below you will find resources related to competencies, workshops, seminars and other events that will be helpful as you progress through your academic training and into your career.

Larger PD Trainee Calendar of Events includes events being offered by institutes within the CSM.


Individual Development Plan | Science Careers | CIHR

An Individual Development Plan is a tool to aid you in determining how to achieve your career success.  Science Careers has a free tool that can be used to track your goals and steps towards that success.

http://myidp.sciencecareers.org/

CIHR has also developed their own IDP

An IDP is a tool that supports graduate students and PDFs in actively preparing for the career(s) of their choice by exploring career paths, establishing career goals, and identifying skill gaps, culminating in an action plan to achieve their career goal(s). The use of the IDP presents an opportunity for self-evaluation, and also allows graduate students and PDFs to map their progress over time. Finally, IDPs serve as a communication tool between trainees and mentors (supervisor or other mentor(s)) regarding the training outcomes and expectations of both parties.

Networking and Etiquette for Graduate Students

November 29 - Presentation

Communication Boot Camp Pt 1: Written Communication

Tips on written communication in grad school.  From proposal writing strategies to keeping lab notes.

Workshop Slides

What Can You Be With Your Grad Degree? A Symposium

Be inspired, find out what you can be with your graduate degree.  The options are broad and possibly different from what you would expect.

Keynote Address by:

Randall K. Ribaudo, PhD
President CEO, Human Workflows LLC
Co-Founder, SciPhD.com

Dec 12, 2019 Program

Social Media: Tips and Strategies to Give You the Cutting Edge

In this workshop, we will discuss how various social media platforms such as LinkedIn and Twitter can enhance your professional online presence. You will also develop a plan to connect with influential people within your discipline.

Presentation Slides

LinkedIn 201: Leveraging your Profile

Presentation to come

LinkedIn 101: The Basics Slides | March 1, 2019

Tips and tricks for LinkedIn Basics by Tania Jamault

Mind the Gap Boot Camp: Communication - Nov 2018

Seminar on Communication covering Visual, Written & Oral Communication tips

Communication Outline

Visual Communication Resources:

Research Poster Tips

UofC Research Poster Templates

Visual Communication Slides

Written Communication:

Written Communication Slides

Informational Interviews:

This workshop provided knowledge on the benefits of Informational Interviewing.  Tips on how to start performing this type of job search and etiquette rules for ensuring that you are getting the most out of the experience.  Knowing more about what career paths exist will help you plan for the future and relieve the anxiety over what’s next.

Workshop Slides

Mind the Gap: Competency Awareness Featuring Isaiah Hankel, PhD Founder of The Cheeky Scientist

If you enjoyed our speed interviewing gauntlet, please consider the Speed Networking event that Career Services is holding on Dec 7th.

Register on CareerLink.  It's a chance for Master's and PhD students to meet with industry professionals who are using their grad degrees in a variety of non-academic roles.

I personally endorse Career Services. I have been collaborating with them for over 15 years, ever since I started teaching professional development in the Cumming School of Medicine.

Derrick Rancourt

Links to Slides - https://cheekyscientist.com/university-of-calgary-presentation/

Interview Questions

Other Resources & Articles

Article from Nature - Nov 20, 2018 | Why graduate students should get involved in advocacy