Office of Professional Development
About the Office
The Office of Professional Development (OPD) provides biomedical graduate students and postdoctoral trainees with resources and opportunities in career exploration and professional development. Our mission is to support UMN trainees as they develop into skilled scientists and navigate their next career step with confidence.
1-on-1 Appointments
Set up an individual appointment with the OPD to discuss career exploration, finding and transitioning to your next opportunity, and strategies to succeed in graduate and postdoctoral training (such as managing mentoring relationships, time management, assertiveness, and resilience). Fill out the OPD Pre-Meeting Form for appointment scheduling, or fill out a request form for cover letter/resume/CV feedback.
Required Graduate Programming
The BGREAT programs have prioritized professional development by integrating OPD activities into graduate training. Click through to learn more about this required programming!
Events
The OPD facilitates multiple events every month to help you explore your career options and build your skills, including a monthly Career Exploration Panel, an OPD Seminar, and multiple opportunities to connect with the OPD and other colleagues over coffee. Click through to learn more about our upcoming events. We hope to see you soon!
Resources
The OPD has curated lists of resources to help you explore and develop skills in career exploration and readiness, teaching and mentoring, leadership and management, communication, funding and fellowships, and wellbeing.
Wondering what our alumni are up to? Check out our interactive BGREAT Alumni Career Outcomes!
Contact Us
- Sharolyn Kawakami-Schulz, PhD, Director |Â sharolyn@umn.edu
- Phone:Â 612-625-2297
Virtual Resources
OPD newsletter
Recordings of OPD Events (UMN login required)
OPD Blog
Professional Development Seminars archive
Borrow from the OPD Library
Graduate Student and Postdoc Resource Guide
Resource for BGREAT Faculty Mentors