Embedded Files
Innovative Training within an Enduring Community
A program offered through the University of California Observatories (UCO) and the Institute for Scientist & Engineer Educators (ISEE)
The Professional Development Program (PDP) trains early-career STEM professionals to teach, mentor, collaborate, and lead, all within a community that empowers them to shape their fields.
The Professional Development Program (PDP) trains early-career STEM professionals to teach, mentor, collaborate, and lead, all within a community that empowers them to shape their fields.
PDP participants—primarily STEM graduate students and postdoctoral researchers—develop pedagogical skills for teaching and mentoring, along with professional skills in leadership, project management, collaboration, and communication. Working in small teams, they design and teach college-level STEM learning experiences that mirror the research process. Their training includes a multi-day, in-person workshop (the PDP Inquiry Institute), online coaching, and independent team-based work. Participants then put their skills into practice by co-teaching the activity they designed in a PDP-affiliated educational program or course. The PDP combines rigorous training with a flexible structure designed to accommodate participants’ demanding research schedules. Many alumni return for multiple years, taking on leadership roles and guiding teams of new participants.
Applications will open soon for the 2027 PDP.
Important dates for the 2027 PDP:
Application closes: December 10, 2026
Notification of acceptance: mid January 2027
Confirmation of participation from accepted applicants: January 18, 2027
PDP Inquiry Institute: Tuesday March 30 - Saturday April 3, 2027, in Monterey, CA
Teaching experiences take place in late spring-summer 2027
Cost of PDP participation: $7400 plus travel
Full and partial fee waivers and travel awards are available to many participants
PDP alumni report that they gain:
Improved professional skills, including preparation for academic as well as non-academic careers
Belonging within a community that is dynamic, enduring, and rare
Strong pedagogical foundation that supports effective teaching and mentoring
Enhanced qualifications for fellowship, grant, and job applications, awards, and promotions
Access to a large network of experienced leaders in STEM and STEM education
The PDP has over 700 alumni, many of whom have continued to stay involved with the community for over two decades.
The 2027 Professional Development Program is primarily funded by grants from the Heising-Simons Foundation and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
Questions? Email isee@ucsc.edu
Page updated
Report abuse