UPPSALA UNIVERSITY
Career training for postdoctoral researchers: 3 March 2025
Postdoc Career Success is a programme of practical training and mentoring delivered once a year to support the development of Uppsala's early career researchers. Postdocs in any discipline at the University can register their interest below by 28 February 2025.
The course introduces skills and tools you can apply immediately in your daily work. The aim is to provide motivation and support to help you develop your own career, and make the most of each of your roles and projects.
The resources you explore as part of the course will equip you to make the fullest contribution and accelerate your progress, wherever your career choices take you.
The approach
The programme's core of 15 online modules in English ('eclasses') offers greater flexibility than a workshop series or residential course. It caters for the diverse work preferences of researchers across all different disciplines.
You can complete the eclasses wherever you are, when and how it best suits you (online, downloadable PDF or audio versions). Once an eclass is published, you have unlimited, ongoing access to it and all the other programme resources.
The programme for Uppsala retains the advantages of interactive training by combining online educational material with individual career advice and peer mentoring. Participants get the benefit of engaging directly with the course leaders at PostdocTraining and other Uppsala colleagues taking part in the programme. Read more about the course components below.
Course timing and commitment
The core training material is delivered online, with one new eclass released every two weeks over seven months. The next available Uppsala University programme will start on Monday 3 March 2025.
The pacing and on-demand format of the content are designed to suit researchers working full time. The average time commitment to explore all the programme's elements thoroughly is no more than 2 hours every two weeks.
Additional benefits
Participants will be able to use the detailed career plan they create as part of this course in any appraisal processes and personal development conversations they are involved in.
In addition, Postdoc Career Success complements regular supervision arrangements and any mentoring relationships you may already have. You develop a thorough knowledge of your career options and personal development priorities as part of the programme, so discussions with mentors have a clear structure and can focus on specific actions that will help you achieve your priorities.
Expressions of interest
Uppsala's Career and Leadership in Academia team will ask all participants for post-programme feedback on their experience of the course and the impact it has had, to inform decisions about providing more of this kind of training in future. A certificate of participation in the programme will be available on request after members have completed the course.
What postdocs say about the training
"I find myself more in control of my career prospects. That is I have set goals that I want to achieve - not goals that 'others' or 'the system' have promoted. I now have a firmer vision of what I want which makes it easier to structure work and take proactive decisions."
"This course was really impressive and fulfilling for me as an early career researcher. Not only it was satisfying to upgrade my professional level, but also it helped me in the personal aspect to live a more balanced life."
"The course provides essential skills and career-planning advice that, unfortunately, are not taught as part of PhD programs... [It] gives great advice that balances skills of management and efficiency in a way that is appropriate for the academic without falling into some of the traps of the management/self-help guides that sometimes are advertised toward academia."
"This program is fantastic! It offered structured guidance on a multitude of topics of relevance to postdocs from any discipline and I have personally found it extremely helpful in terms of boosting time management, productivity, and motivation."
"It really helped me to focus on my own career preferences and hopes rather than on the expectations I believe others have on me! (I) will start my position in the biotech company next week [...] I especially liked the fact that the material is not pushing for an academic career only, but rather keeps an open mind about options while addressing some of the common fears, problems and struggles that we as scientists have."
"It applies to so many, regardless of postdoc level and field of expertise! Excellent to learn about yourself and how to shape a career around your own strengths and preferences... I see more options and possibilities as a result of the program. A more positive outlook on the future."
Further information: programme components
Description | UU Programme | |
|---|---|---|
 Eclasses | 15 eclasses delivered fortnightly online in English over 7 months, in text and audio versions to suit researchers' preferences | All UU members will have lifelong access to programme material, as long as they keep their login details. Follow this link for further detail on the content of each eclass |
 Mentoring | Participants have access to one-on-one mentoring on matters of their choice with the course leaders at PostdocTraining via Skype or phone, providing independent, personalised career coaching and confidential professional development advice. Participants will also have the opportunity to take part in a voluntary 'Mastermind' peer mentoring group of Uppsala colleagues also taking part in the programme. | All UU members will be entitled to one hour of private mentoring to address their own choice of issues during the course, in addition to the voluntary peer mentoring opportunity. |
 Email career advice | Individual postdocs can seek advice on career-related matters and issues throughout the programme, via PostdocTraining's email support service. | PostdocTraining will provide a career Q&A service by email for all UU members for the duration of the programme |
 Career database | Ongoing access to the Career Options Masterlist, PostdocTraining's database covering dozens of career paths in academia and beyond for researchers, including case studies. | UU members will have lifelong access to this database, updated regularly, with information and case studies of career pathways for people with research backgrounds |
 News service | A monthly news service distilled from international journals, print media and the internet to give participants the most current material on research-related career issues and pathways. | UU participants will have lifelong access to this news service for as long as they choose to stay subscribed |
 Live webinar | Live online discussion facilitated by PostdocTraining on issues of shared interest to participants. | A live webinar for UU members including advice on setting up mutually supportive peer mentoring arrangements and a career-focused Q&A session |
Contact PostdocTraining direct
If you would like to ask a question of the PostdocTraining team about the program's content, its structure or the way the course material and mentoring is delivered, please use the contact form below. Just include your preferred contact method and details in the comments section so that PostdocTraining can reply to you directly.