Program Description

The Professional Development Program (PDP) Experience

The PDP is a transformative experience that prepares graduate students and postdocs for success in academic, industry, and other STEM careers. Participants design and teach an innovative STEM lab experience for undergraduates or higher-level audiences while building vital professional skills. Accepted participants join a small team, led by a returning participant, and engage in workshops, independent work, and teaching/mentoring practice, all supported by expert coaching in a collaborative environment.

PDP participants spend ~90 hours over 3-6 months engaging in the following program elements:

Preparatory online meetings (early spring)

All participants meet with their teams online to share goals and start early planning for designing and teaching an inquiry lab experience. Returning participants receive online leadership training as they start to lead their small teams. 

The PDP Inquiry Institute (March or April)

During this five-day, intensive in-person training, participants delve into and apply research that supports effective STEM teaching and mentoring. They experience an innovative inquiry lab activity as learners, discuss how the teaching and mentoring strategies they experienced foster belonging in STEM, and then they work with their small team to apply what they learned as they collaboratively design their own STEM inquiry lab.  Past participants may have experienced this training in two separate, in-person events. In 2026, we are combining them for a single in-person training.

Independent design and preparing to teach (late spring)

After the Inquiry Institute, teams work independently and with coaching as they finish designing their activity and prepare a detailed teaching plan. They receive further training in teaching strategies that mirror the mentoring process in a STEM research environment. They meet in person or remotely during this phase of the program. 

Practical teaching/mentoring experience (late spring or summer)

PDP participants co-teach the activity they have designed with their small team in a PDP-affiliated course or program. This is an essential part of the PDP experience, and is often transformative, as PDP participants get to put their training into practice, now with actual learners. 

Reflection and documentation (soon after teaching)

The PDP experience culminates with each PDP team debriefing their experience, reflecting on what they learned and gained, and considering how they might apply these insights to their future work. Participants each complete a post-teaching report, which can be used as a basis for future teaching statements and job application materials.

PDP Approach

The PDP approach is based on the extensive body of research on effective professional development [1] as well as over two decades of our own experience [2] developing and running the program. Key aspects of our approach include:

• PDP participants, alumni, and instructors form an extended community of practice, building knowledge and skills together within a culture of belonging in STEM

• PDP instructors and participants innovate as consumers of research from the social sciences

• PDP instructors model what participants are expected to do

• Participants get practical experience with activity design and teaching/mentoring

• Participants work within a team led by a PDP alum who receives leadership training

• The PDP includes opportunities for grown and leadership roles that are integrated and accessible

• The PDP experience includes cycles of practice, feedback, and reflection

Click here to learn more about the unique aspects of the PDP.

[1] See, e.g., Darling-Hammond et al. 2017

[2] See Hunter, Metevier, et al. 2022