Supporting Early-Career Researchers in Today's Job Market - Lessons from a Career Development Retreat for Postdoctoral Fellows

Being a postdoctoral fellow can be a rewarding, yet stressful time in the life of a researcher. The pressures of establishing a research portfolio while also looking for the next career position can be challenging. Employment opportunities are often not found in academic institutions and postdocs have to branch out and consider opportunities in research labs, private industry or non-profit organizations. The COVID-19 pandemic added new challenges for postdocs including delays of field or lab work, academic hiring freezes, lack of networking, and isolation associated with working from home. The Advanced Study Program at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) has supported the career development of postdoctoral fellows for more than 60 years. To mitigate some of the impacts of the pandemic on postdoctoral experiences, NCAR has emphasized professional development and career support of postdocs. While research skills and technical writing are still seen as essential, other skills are also very important for career advancement. Examples include proposal writing, data science, programming, diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) education, leadership, interpersonal skills, science communication, and project management. NCAR teaches these skills in workshops and seminars specifically developed for postdoctoral fellows and early-career researchers, and in the recently developed Early-Career Leadership Program. A unique workshop focused on career development was held at a retreat for postdoctoral fellows in Breckenridge, Colorado in 2023. At the retreat, postdocs were invited to share their experiences, learn about careers in different sectors, and to do hands-on workshops such as on defining their brand, creating welcoming and inclusive work environments, and building a supportive network. NCAR’s education and training programs are regularly evaluated and evolve to meet the changing needs of students, postdocs and early-career scientists. This presentation will share lessons learned on how to support postdocs to succeed in STEM careers in today’s post-COVID job market. We will share the design, activities, and outcomes of a focused, two-day retreat for postdocs as one way to support networking and career preparedness.