A photo from the first session of JILA’s new Research Professional Development Program, taught by Dr. Ellen Keister, Director of Education for STROBE
JILA has officially launched its new Research Professional Development Program, an initiative designed to provide graduate students and postdoctoral researchers with comprehensive skills beyond their core scientific training. Focusing on leadership, mentorship, big-picture thinking, and equity in research environments, this program aims to equip participants with the tools they need to become successful scientific leaders.
“We are proud and excited that in addition to expanding valuable training for JILAns, this program is also facilitating new connections and collaborative relationships within our community,” says JILA Community Engagement Coordinator Christine Jackson.
This program was created, in part, because JILA graduate students and postdocs had previously requested various professional training, as well as National Science Foundation (NSF) and other federal agencies now requiring mentoring training and individual development plans (IDPs) for graduate students and postdocs.
The program's first module was developed and taught by Dr. Ellen Keister, the Director of Education at STROBE.
“I was happy to be invited to contribute to the development of this program,” Keister states. “As the Director of Education at STROBE, I am acutely aware of the skills needed for 21st-century careers in STEM, especially those not addressed by traditional graduate education. I was particularly interested in developing a project management short course that would be relevant to an academic audience. Existing project management instruction is quite rigid and formal and does not always apply to projects in an academic research setting. I was delighted to have the opportunity to develop and pilot this course for JILA postdocs and graduate students.”
Keister worked with a team within JILA to ensure the program was tailored to fit the needs of the researchers and graduate students. The NSF provided further support through its two science centers within JILA: the PFC (JILA Physics Frontier Center) and the STROBE Science & Technology Center.
“The project team includes JILA postdocs, Fellows, and staff, who all worked collaboratively to create this program using best practices and informed feedback so JILAns can cultivate skills needed to succeed in the STEM workforce today,” highlights Lauren Mason, Director of Operations for STROBE.
The program offers a variety of low-commitment, high-impact modules that can be seamlessly integrated into JILA researchers’ busy schedules. The program includes five required professional training modules, or around a minimum 16-hour time commitment over 1-2 years. Each participant who graduates the program will leave with a certificate showing completion.
“The program provides opportunities for postdocs and graduate students to learn skills, besides their training in research, which likely will be important in their career as scientific leaders,” says Andreas Becker, JILA Fellow and professor in the University of Colorado Boulder Physics Department, who helped develop this program.
One key aspect of the program is its focus on developing well-rounded researchers who can balance technical expertise with leadership and mentoring capabilities.
“This program has been developed to give postdocs a well-rounded perspective for doing research.,” Jake Higgins, a JILA postdoc who played an integral role in the program's development, adds. “In this program, postdocs will learn how to mentor younger students, develop a big-picture vision, and build awareness for equity issues in lab environments.”
The initiative reflects JILA's commitment to supporting its researchers in all aspects of their professional development, not just in the laboratory.
The program is also seen as a testament to the support and innovation of JILA’s postdoc community.
“It is great to see how the initiative of the JILA postdoc group, especially its chairs Rachael Merritt and Jake Higgins, and the engagement of the JILA PFC and STROBE came together to develop this program,” Becker adds.
While the program has already garnered over 20 postdoc and senior graduate student registrants, its long-term success and sustainability depend on the wider JILA community's active support and engagement. By encouraging participation and fostering a culture of continuous professional development, JILA Fellows, staff, and students can ensure that this program remains a valuable resource for years to come.
“I wish that JILA Fellows will regularly draw the attention of our students and postdocs to this and other programs, for example, PISEC, by talking in their research groups about the opportunities and importance of gaining leadership skills,” Becker reflects.
With the launch of the JILA Research Professional Development Program, the institute is setting a new standard for holistic research training. As the first module for the program has concluded, its leaders will host a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training later this December that is selected by the JILA community.
Written by Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, JILA Science Communicator
The Physics Frontiers Centers (PFC) program supports university-based centers and institutes where the collective efforts of a larger group of individuals can enable transformational advances in the most promising research areas. The program is designed to foster major breakthroughs at the intellectual frontiers of physics by providing needed resources such as combinations of talents, skills, disciplines, and/or specialized infrastructure, not usually available to individual investigators or small groups, in an environment in which the collective efforts of the larger group can be shown to be seminal to promoting significant progress in the science and the education of students. PFCs also include creative, substantive activities aimed at enhancing education, broadening participation of traditionally underrepresented groups, and outreach to the scientific community and general public.