Are postdocs required to do an Individual Development Plan (IDP)?

Postdocs are highly encouraged to create an Individual Development Plan (IDP) and update the plan at least once per year. The American Association for the Advancement of Science has created a helpful resource for creating an IDP. The National Postdoctoral Association has also created the Guide to Using an Individual Development Plan (My IDP & Me) to help navigate this process. This IDP includes values and self-assessments and is linked to various career outcomes a postdoc might elect.

Please note that many sponsored projects, e.g., those funded by NIH, require faculty to report on the use of IDPs for any graduate trainees or postdocs in their annual progress reports.