About the Postdoc Track

The Compass Postdoc Track is open to all postdoctoral researchers across research disciplines in the United States. Building a successful career requires researchers to employ a broader range of skills than traditional scientific training develops. Communication and interpersonal skills are essential to constructive collaboration, managing up, and confidence in job interviews.

Postdocs often train and supervise others and will be expected to continue to do so as their careers move forward. They must understand and be able to implement key practices for effectively mentoring and leading others. Additionally, it is necessary to cultivate a deep understanding of one’s career and personal goals to build a satisfying career and a fulfilling life. Compass offers essential knowledge, skills, and tools to navigate these challenges.

The Compass Postdoc Track is delivered remotely, allowing for flexibility and removing the need for travel. This approach provides time to practice and apply learning. Scholars will learn with peers at institutions across the United States in a manner that is interactive and team-based. Scholars should expect to be in regular communication with peers and Compass leadership. We seek people from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and disciplines to join our collaborative learning community.

We believe that the essential skills and resources needed for career success should be available to all – not left to guesswork.

Eligibility

All postdoctoral researchers in the U.S. are eligible to participate. Researchers within one year of completing their postdoctoral training and planning to become faculty or lead a research team are encouraged to enroll in the Faculty Track.

The Compass curriculum and tools are designed for researchers across disciplines, including basic and translational sciences, public health, and behavioral/social research. Additionally, we welcome Scholars from disciplines such as medicine, engineering, and agriculture.

How the Postdoc Track Works

The Compass Postdoc Track is a remote, collaborative 7-week program focused on practical learning, application, peer mentoring, and coaching. During the program, you will meet regularly with your Peer Mentoring Team (PMT) and participate in live group coaching workshops facilitated by Compass leadership. Postdoc Scholars must submit a Career Development Plan (CDP) at the end, which serves as a tool to assist with setting professional goals, monitoring growth and advancement, and supporting personal accountability.

Scholars should dedicate 3-4 hours weekly to PMT meetings, working on their Career Development Plan, and completing learning activities. This commitment is a valuable investment in your professional development and career.

What Postdocs Learn

Postdocs learn and practice skills for self-leadership, communication, mentoring, and preparing for a career in research. These practices are presented as six units, each one week in duration.

Unit 1: Leading Self focuses on creating the career and life Scholars want through building their self-knowledge, understanding their values, managing stress, and knowing when to seek guidance and self-advocate.

Unit 2: People Skills focuses on managing conflict and challenging personalities, understanding one’s own emotional reactions and coping styles, team conflict style and strategies, and handling setbacks in a constructive manner.

Unit 3: Managing Up focuses on strategies for communicating with one’s current supervisor (e.g., Principal Investigator) and future supervisors in a constructive manner, for instance by clarifying needs and identifying mutually agreeable expectations.

Unit 4: Training and Supervising focuses on essential practices for guiding mentees to learn new skills and develop as researchers, especially how to provide feedback, direction, and re-direction when behavior does not align with expectations.

Unit 5: Networking focuses on building a network of peers and mentors inside and outside one’s current institution and understanding the role of relationship building, collaboration, and reputation in one’s career success.

Unit 6: Job Search focuses on navigating the job search and interview process, including strategies for managing one’s well-being while on the job market and making decisions that fit with career goals and personal values.

What Postdocs Get

  • Our Postdoc Compass Coursebook containing comprehensive learning material and practical advice spanning leading self, people skills, managing up, training and supervising, networking, and job searching. Our Coursebook features an approachable writing style and visually appealing, highly readable design.
  • A customizable Career Development Plan (CDP) Template designed to assist Scholars with creating a guide for their career planning and personal goals. Career and life don’t come with syllabi, but a plan provides a sense of direction while still being adaptable.
  • Live Group Coaching facilitated by Compass leadership. These sessions focus on practicing communication skills, helping Scholars solve real-world challenges, and obtaining feedback and guidance from Compass leaders.
  • A Peer Mentoring Team of other postdocs from throughout the U.S. Teams receive a guidebook offering suggested structured activities and discussions, while also encouraging flexibility so Scholars can get input and support as needed.
  • Access to the online learning platform containing forums to communicate with all other Scholars in the cohort, exercises for practicing skills, learning materials, and additional tools and resources that support communication and a research career.
  • Upon completion of requirements, Scholars receive a Certificate of Completion, digital badge, and suggested language on how to describe Compass on their CV.

After the Training Program

Compass Scholars remain in the Compass community after completing the program. This includes access to online resources, new and updated materials, and our LinkedIn group. Although not required, many peer mentoring teams continue to meet semi-regularly or on an as-needed basis. We believe that by creating a community we can elevate individuals, teams, and contribute to positive cultures in academia.

 

Cost

Enrollment in the Compass Postdoc Track training program provides postdocs with access to all Compass materials: Coursebooks, peer mentoring, live group coaching, the Career Development Plan template, self-reflection workbook, practical lab resources and tools, and continued access to the Compass community after the program concludes.

The cost of the program is $500 and upon admission, payment is due 3 weeks before the start of the program.

Please see the How to Pay for Compass page for advice on potential sources of funds to pay for Compass.