The Biology graduate program has developed a suite of tools to help you develop Professional Skills that are important in biology-related careers. Professional skills are important during your graduate studies (e.g. improve credentials for scholarship applications, increase publication/conference success) and for your science career after you graduate.
These three documents are meant to be used together. You are encouraged to discuss your skills and goals with a mentor (e.g. supervisor, committee member, postdoc, senior PhD student, collaborator) and record how/when you gained key skills (for later use in job applications/interviews).
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- Professional Skills Requested by Employers (which skills do you need?)
- Individual Development Plan (self-assessment, setting goals)
- Professional Skills Checklist (where to get the skills you need)
Faculty of Graduate Studies – FGS also has an IDP tool (https://www.yorku.ca/gradstudies/idp/) to provide students with resources to assess their current level of expertise, identify areas in which they would like to explore or improve, and map out a plan for achieving their goals. Information about the many graduate professional skills opportunities offered across the university are accessible in a single location on the Graduate & Postdoctoral Professional Skills (GPPS) webpage.
Mitacs Training - Graduate students (and postdocs) currently registered at a Canadian University can enroll in the Mitacs Training Program free of charge. Courses cover one or more of these key professional skills for the workplace:
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- Leadership & Management
- Communication & Relationship Building
- Personal & Professional Management
- Entrepreneurialism
