The Career Advancement and Navigation (CAN) program is a 20 hour professional development course designed for postdoctoral scholars early in their tenure to help them make the most of their postdoc experience and establish a foundation for future career success. 

Topics Covered:

• Clarifying and communicating personal and professional narratives
• Managing conflict and professional communication in the workplace
• Recognizing and interrupting implicit bias
• Evaluating work style preferences using Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assessment
• Understanding individual approaches to success using CliftonStrengths
• Assessing abilities and target areas for growth with SkillScan
• Identifying and addressing mentorship, training, and professional development needs
• Utilizing networking strategically for career planning and preparation
• Managing career transitions and navigating through CHAOS
  
• Setting SMART goals for professional success
• Creating and implementing an Individual Development Plan

The curriculum is cumulative, with each session building on the learning from previous sessions and the assigned activities completed outside of the group workshops.  Sessions are designed to facilitate experiential learning and are highly interactive.  To get the most out of this experience, participants are encouraged to be active members of our learning community by engaging in workshop discussions and completing all assigned activities. Please note that attendance at every session for the full duration is required for UCSD postdocs to receive course completion credit in UC Learning.

Session 1: Embracing Your Journey

• Evaluate and integrate lived experiences, identities and purpose
• Set intentions, get unstuck and brainstorm solutions 

Session 2: Identifying Your Stories

• Understand and connect social and professional identities
• Clarify and communicate personal and professional narratives

Session 3: Navigating Communication 

• Share/Describe professional purpose and value with a clear and concise message
• Utilize strategies to manage conflict and communicate effectively in the workplace

Session 4: Understanding Workstyle Preferences 

• Assess personality type and work styles preferences and distinguish those of others
• Leverage understanding of personality and style preference to facilitate individual and team performance

Session 5: Using Your Strengths 

• Understand personal strengths and how to use them effectively
• Develop successful collaborations by considering own and others unique talents

Session 6: Charting Your Path 

• Effectively assess current abilities and clarify values
• Examine career preferences and explore possibilities

Session 7: Supporting Your Success 

• Understand and evaluate current and future support needs
• Strategically develop and nurture mentorship network

Session 8: Developing Your Plan 

• Set, assess and meet structured short term and long term goals
• Create plans and manage change through CHAOS

Session 9: Navigating Your Career 

• Recognize implicit bias and have tools to combat that bias
• Determine a course of action for a successful postdoc and future career

Next event (virtual)

Sept 16 – Oct 4: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays from 2-4:30 pm each day

Registration Required: 

For UCSD Postdocs: Via UC Learning Center (Only UC San Diego postdoctoral scholar title codes are eligible). A UCSD Chart String/COA Project and Task Number will be required to complete your registration.

Register HERE.

Registration Fee:  

The registration fee covers all course instruction, materials, and assessments (including the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and CliftonStrengths).

$75 for UCSD postdocs. Payment for UCSD postdocs only accepted via recharge. A UCSD Chart String/COA Project and Task Number will be required to complete your registration in the UC Learning Center. 

UCSD postdocs who are unable to attend due to limited professional development funds should contact Heather Dillon (hadillon@ucsd.edu) for information about the Postdocs CAN scholarship.

*Participation in the full Myers-Briggs Type Indicator workshop during session 2 is required for receipt of MBTI assessment results. Individuals who do not attend the full MBTI workshop will not receive their assessment results.

Registration Deadline: Thursday, September 12 at 4:30 pm

Cancellation policy: The last day to cancel your registration for a refund is Thursday, September 12 at 4:30 pm. If you cancel your registration after that date, the payment method submitted during registration will still be charged the registration fee. For questions about the cancellation policy, please contact Heather Dillon at hadillon@ucsd.edu.