{"id":413,"date":"2025-08-28T16:29:01","date_gmt":"2025-08-28T20:29:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.dev.www.purdue.edu\/academics\/ogsps\/postdoc-affairs\/?page_id=413"},"modified":"2026-02-13T10:26:47","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T15:26:47","slug":"first-steps-to-success","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/academics\/ogsps\/postdoc-affairs\/training-resources\/first-steps-to-success\/","title":{"rendered":"First Steps to Success"},"content":{"rendered":"<div  class=\"purdue-home-cta-banner purdue-home-teritary-hero \">\n        <div class=\"section has-none-background has-padding-top-large has-padding-bottom-large \">\n        <div class=\"container\">\n            <h1 class=\"second-level-page-heading purdue-home-teritary-hero__header\">Take the First Steps to Training Success<\/h1>\n            <div class=\"purdue-home-teritary-hero__content\">\n                \n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">A checklist of the most important steps to take when beginning your Purdue Postdoc position. But it is never too late to take them!<\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div  class=\"section has-black-background has-padding-top-small has-padding-bottom-small \">\n    <div class=\"container\">\n                \n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns page-layout-columns columns is-multiline is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column column is-one-quarter-desktop is-full-tablet is-full-mobile page-layout-sidebar is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"purdue-accordion-wrap  purdue-accordion-wrap--small\">\n    <div class=\"section has-black-background has-padding-top-none has-padding-bottom-none has-no-sidepadding\">\n        <div class=\"container\">\n            <div class=\"purdue-accordion has-no-bottomborder\">\n                <h3 class=\"accordion__heading purdue-accordion__title  purdue-accordion__title--small\" id=\"title-6b71473c-e442-4946-a761-fae56c86aa81\">\n                    <button aria-controls=\"content-6b71473c-e442-4946-a761-fae56c86aa81\" aria-expanded=\"false\">1: Create a Purdue GSMU account<\/button>\n                <\/h3>\n                <div class=\"accordion__content purdue-accordion__content\" id=\"content-6b71473c-e442-4946-a761-fae56c86aa81\" hidden aria-hidden=\n                \"true\">\n                    \n\n<p>Access Purdue-led training workshops and opportunities via Go Sign Me Up (GSMU).<br>Step by step instructions for creating an account are at the top of the homepage.<\/p>\n\n\n<div  class=\"purdue-home-buttons purdue-home-buttons--left leftbtn\">\n    <div class=\"purdue-home-button-list\">\n                    <div class=\"\"><a class=\"purdue-home-button \" href=\"https:\/\/gspd.gosignmeup.com\/public\/course\/browse\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"GSMU Account Sign-up (Opens in a new tab)\">GSMU Account Sign-up<\/a><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"purdue-accordion-wrap  purdue-accordion-wrap--small\">\n    <div class=\"section has-black-background has-padding-top-none has-padding-bottom-none has-no-sidepadding\">\n        <div class=\"container\">\n            <div class=\"purdue-accordion has-no-bottomborder\">\n                <h3 class=\"accordion__heading purdue-accordion__title  purdue-accordion__title--small\" id=\"title-7de04086-ec48-49ae-9d44-13be8c202a4f\">\n                    <button aria-controls=\"content-7de04086-ec48-49ae-9d44-13be8c202a4f\" aria-expanded=\"false\">2: Sign up for your free NPA membership<\/button>\n                <\/h3>\n                <div class=\"accordion__content purdue-accordion__content\" id=\"content-7de04086-ec48-49ae-9d44-13be8c202a4f\" hidden aria-hidden=\n                \"true\">\n                    \n\n<p>Access resources and membership benefits from the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA).<br>Sign up as an \u201cAffiliate Individual Member, Postdoc.\u201d Once you click Submit, the NPA Membership Director will review your affiliate membership within 10 working days, and you will receive an email when it has been approved.<\/p>\n\n\n<div  class=\"purdue-home-buttons purdue-home-buttons--left leftbtn\">\n    <div class=\"purdue-home-button-list\">\n                    <div class=\"\"><a class=\"purdue-home-button \" href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalpostdoc.org\/general\/register_member_type.asp?\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"NPA Membership Sign-up (Opens in a new tab)\">NPA Membership Sign-up<\/a><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"purdue-accordion-wrap  purdue-accordion-wrap--small\">\n    <div class=\"section has-black-background has-padding-top-none has-padding-bottom-none has-no-sidepadding\">\n        <div class=\"container\">\n            <div class=\"purdue-accordion has-no-bottomborder\">\n                <h3 class=\"accordion__heading purdue-accordion__title  purdue-accordion__title--small\" id=\"title-8e74e542-8be4-4d36-82f9-d370f4ed3ea0\">\n                    <button aria-controls=\"content-8e74e542-8be4-4d36-82f9-d370f4ed3ea0\" aria-expanded=\"false\">3: Watch Videos Created by The Postdoc Academy<\/button>\n                <\/h3>\n                <div class=\"accordion__content purdue-accordion__content\" id=\"content-8e74e542-8be4-4d36-82f9-d370f4ed3ea0\" hidden aria-hidden=\n                \"true\">\n                    \n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>Succeeding as a Postdoc<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The first online course,\u00a0<em>Succeeding as a Postdoc<\/em>, addresses\u00a0<em>foundational skills<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0<em>career planning<\/em>,\u00a0establishing the <em>professional habits<\/em>\u00a0postdocs will need to strategically prepare for their career and succeed in their postdoc. <strong>Click on the module title below to watch!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postdocacademy.org\/courses\/succeeding-as-a-postdoc\/finding-success-as-a-postdoc\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.postdocacademy.org\/courses\/succeeding-as-a-postdoc\/finding-success-as-a-postdoc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Finding Success as a Postdoc<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postdocacademy.org\/courses\/succeeding-as-a-postdoc\/building-an-actionable-career-plan\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.postdocacademy.org\/courses\/succeeding-as-a-postdoc\/building-an-actionable-career-plan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Building an Actionable Career Plan<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postdocacademy.org\/courses\/succeeding-as-a-postdoc\/developing-resilience\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.postdocacademy.org\/courses\/succeeding-as-a-postdoc\/developing-resilience\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Developing Resilience<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postdocacademy.org\/courses\/succeeding-as-a-postdoc\/working-effectively-in-an-intercultural-environment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Working Effectively in an Intercultural Environment<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong><em>Building Skills for a Successful Career<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The second online course,\u00a0<em>Building Skills for a Successful Career<\/em>, focuses on\u00a0<em>developing advanced skills<\/em>\u00a0to help postdocs transition to their chosen career path. <strong>Click on the module title below to watch!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postdocacademy.org\/courses\/building-skills-for-a-successful-career\/exploring-leadership\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.postdocacademy.org\/courses\/building-skills-for-a-successful-career\/exploring-leadership\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Exploring Leadership<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postdocacademy.org\/courses\/building-skills-for-a-successful-career\/building-and-supervising-a-team\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.postdocacademy.org\/courses\/building-skills-for-a-successful-career\/building-and-supervising-a-team\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Building and Supervising a Team<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postdocacademy.org\/courses\/building-skills-for-a-successful-career\/project-management\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.postdocacademy.org\/courses\/building-skills-for-a-successful-career\/project-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Project Management<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postdocacademy.org\/courses\/building-skills-for-a-successful-career\/applying-teaching-skills-beyond-the-classroom\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.postdocacademy.org\/courses\/building-skills-for-a-successful-career\/applying-teaching-skills-beyond-the-classroom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Applying Teaching Skills beyond the Classroom<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postdocacademy.org\/courses\/building-skills-for-a-successful-career\/strategic-communications\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.postdocacademy.org\/courses\/building-skills-for-a-successful-career\/strategic-communications\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Strategic Communications<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postdocacademy.org\/courses\/building-skills-for-a-successful-career\/finding-and-landing-the-job\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.postdocacademy.org\/courses\/building-skills-for-a-successful-career\/finding-and-landing-the-job\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Finding and Landing the Job<\/a><\/p>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"purdue-accordion-wrap  purdue-accordion-wrap--small\">\n    <div class=\"section has-black-background has-padding-top-none has-padding-bottom-none has-no-sidepadding\">\n        <div class=\"container\">\n            <div class=\"purdue-accordion has-no-bottomborder\">\n                <h3 class=\"accordion__heading purdue-accordion__title  purdue-accordion__title--small\" id=\"title-017e6ad4-35ce-4774-9a1e-f38ecd6f3df7\">\n                    <button aria-controls=\"content-017e6ad4-35ce-4774-9a1e-f38ecd6f3df7\" aria-expanded=\"false\">4: Schedule Recurring Training Events in Your Calendar<\/button>\n                <\/h3>\n                <div class=\"accordion__content purdue-accordion__content\" id=\"content-017e6ad4-35ce-4774-9a1e-f38ecd6f3df7\" hidden aria-hidden=\n                \"true\">\n                    \n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/gspd.gosignmeup.com\/public\/course\/browse\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/gspd.gosignmeup.com\/public\/course\/browse\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Purdue Postdoc Power Session (In-Person, W. Lafayette)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>(Usually) second Fridays of the month, 11:30 am to 1:30 pm ET. <\/strong>The title link takes you to the registration site; search for &#8220;postdoc&#8221; or look at the left +Postdoc menu under &#8220;Career Building.&#8221; This is open-house style&#8211;come and go as you can for the different activities. You are welcome to attend without registering, but if you register, you will have a personalized name tag and be entered in a drawing to win a Grant Writer&#8217;s Seminars and Workshop workbook ($90 retail value). And if you register, you will receive an automatic message with a calendar invitation (check your Spam filter!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalpostdoc.org\/events\/EventDetails.aspx?id=1885042\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nationalpostdoc.org\/events\/EventDetails.aspx?id=1885042\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NPA SmartSkills Webinar Series<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Fourth Tuesdays of the month, 3-4 PM ET<\/strong>. <em>SmartSkills<\/em>&nbsp;is a free, virtual course for Purdue Postdocs. Monthly classes are taught by experts and focus on building skills critical to career and personal success. Postdocs who attend 10 out of 12 live sessions will receive a certificate of completion.<\/p>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"purdue-accordion-wrap  purdue-accordion-wrap--small\">\n    <div class=\"section has-black-background has-padding-top-none has-padding-bottom-none has-no-sidepadding\">\n        <div class=\"container\">\n            <div class=\"purdue-accordion has-no-bottomborder\">\n                <h3 class=\"accordion__heading purdue-accordion__title  purdue-accordion__title--small\" id=\"title-7f620684-5b10-4f15-9f56-9286e9fba5c0\">\n                    <button aria-controls=\"content-7f620684-5b10-4f15-9f56-9286e9fba5c0\" aria-expanded=\"false\">5: Draft your Independent Development Plan (IDP)<\/button>\n                <\/h3>\n                <div class=\"accordion__content purdue-accordion__content\" id=\"content-7f620684-5b10-4f15-9f56-9286e9fba5c0\" hidden aria-hidden=\n                \"true\">\n                    \n\n<p>Determine your training needs and map them along a timeline to leverage your time at Purdue. Learn about IDPs on our Career Development page under &#8220;Postdoc Training Phase.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/academics\/ogsps\/postdoc-affairs\/training-resources\/career-development\/resources-by-career-phase\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Learn more<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div  class=\"section has-gray-background has-padding-top-none  page-layout-wide\">\n    <div class=\"container\">\n                \n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns page-layout-columns columns is-multiline is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column column is-one-quarter-desktop is-full-tablet is-full-mobile page-layout-sidebar is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Contact Information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Postdoctoral Affairs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Young Hall, Room 160. 155 Grant Street\u2028West Lafayette, IN 47907-21147<br>Email address:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:postdoc-affairs@purdue.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">postdoc-affairs@purdue.edu<\/a><br>Phone number: (765) 494-2600&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div  class=\"purdue-home-buttons purdue-home-buttons--left leftbtn\">\n    <div class=\"purdue-home-button-list\">\n                    <div class=\"\"><a class=\"purdue-home-button \" href=\"mailto:postdoc-affairs@purdue.edu?subject=Postdoc%20Affairs%20Inquiry\" target=\"_self\" >email postdoctoral affairs<\/a><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":504,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-413","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/academics\/ogsps\/postdoc-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/413","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/academics\/ogsps\/postdoc-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/academics\/ogsps\/postdoc-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/academics\/ogsps\/postdoc-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/academics\/ogsps\/postdoc-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=413"}],"version-history":[{"count":35,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/academics\/ogsps\/postdoc-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/413\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2768,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/academics\/ogsps\/postdoc-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/413\/revisions\/2768"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/academics\/ogsps\/postdoc-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/504"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/academics\/ogsps\/postdoc-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=413"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}