Trainee Research and Professional Development Resources

Trainees can use Dartmouth’s Grant Proposal Support Initiative (GrantGPS) to obtain feedback on grant drafts or instruction and training on grant development. A wide range of services are offered, including support for brainstorming ideas, assistance with identifying funding opportunities, help coordinating application processes, editing and external review of applications, and identifying and facilitating connections to internal resources for bolstering research. Trainees are encouraged to attend grant writing and other early career workshops that are offered at scientific conferences.

The Dartmouth College Postdoctoral Association (DCPDA) offers a wealth of resources for both incoming and current postdocs, including a guide to living and working in the Upper Valley, the Post Doc Buddy Program, calendar of relevant eventsfunding opportunities, resources for employment and for career development, information about the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA), and workshops and forums offered by the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity. The purpose of the DCPDA is to give each and every postdoc an opportunity to succeed according to their individual wants and needs, whether it is to increase their network, participate in social activities, or benefit from the training/career enhancement seminars the association will plan and/or sponsor. Equipping postdocs with the tools needed to find and obtain satisfying and fulfilling careers within or outside of academia is one of the goals of the DCPDA. The DCPDA advocates for Dartmouth Postdocs by fostering institutional recognition of 1) postdocs as a group associated with the College and 2) of our individual training and professional development needs. We play a critical role in creating a centralized resource for postdocs to find personal, professional and career resources needed to succeed within and outside of academia.

Predoctoral trainees are linked to Dartmouth’s Professional Development Module program, through the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies, which offers diverse workshops across key areas such as: core competencies (i.e., ethics, writing, mentoring, presenting), research and teaching skills, and career exploration. Trainees can participate in any relevant offerings which occur 3-4 times per month. The Guarini School also offers resources for academic supportteachingcareer servicesexternships, and research grants and funding.

Lastly, TDI offers a three-semester professional development course that is available to all T32 trainees. This course consists of a dedicated 10-week immersive training in NIH grant writing, and two semesters focusing on communicating and disseminating research i.e., publications, lay press, conferences, and presentations. This professional development course is also described on the Didactic Training and Seminar Series section of our T32 website.