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Innovative Training within an Enduring Community
A program offered through the University of California Observatories 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 postdocs -- receive training in pedagogy that they apply to teaching and mentoring, as well as training in professional skills such as leadership, project management, collaboration, and communication. They work in small teams to design and teach a college-level STEM learning experiences that mirror the research process. Participants engage in a multi-day in-person workshop (the PDP Inquiry Institute), receive online coaching, and work independently with their team. They then put their skills into practice as they co-teach the activity they designed in a PDP-affiliated educational program or course. The PDP has a rigorous approach that is designed to fit with participants’ demanding research schedules. Many PDP alumni choose to attend more than one year, returning to lead a team of new participants.
Apply now! Application closes December 17
Important dates for the 2026 PDP:
Application closes: December 17, 2025
Notification of acceptance: mid January, 2026
Confirmation of participation from accepted applicants: January 28, 2026
PDP Inquiry Institute: March 30-April 3, 2026, in Monterey, CA
Teaching experiences take place in late spring-summer 2026
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 2026 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
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