ISEE
Professional Development Program (PDP)

Immersive training within an enduring community for STEM professionals

The PDP trains early career STEM professionals–primarily graduate students and postdocs–to effectively teach, mentor, collaborate and lead throughout their careers, within a community that empowers participants to create the kind of field they want to be part of.

Info for future PDP programs coming soon

Led by ISEE at the University of California Observatories

PDP experience cycle

The PDP is a transformative, cyclical journey of workshops, teamwork, teaching, and continued growth within a lasting community.
More

Practical Experience

Participants work on a team to teach/mentor a STEM experience for an undergraduate or higher-level audience, while gaining collaboration and leadership skills. 

More

Amplifying impact

PDP alumni amplify the program’s reach—embedding its practices in their work, leading new initiatives, sharing insights, and sustaining a vibrant professional community.

More

Community and culture are simultaneously strategies and outcomes of the PDP. The PDP is intentionally designed to create a safe space where participants can try out new ideas, voice different opinions, and feel comfortable in being themselves.

 

“There is no other community like this”

The PDP is “a place where I can see the type of scientist I want to be”

Impact from more than two decades of work

$

700+ Alumni

PDP alumni describe the experience as career-shaping—boosting their confidence, expanding their professional skillset, and preparing them to lead in a wide range of STEM roles.
$

1000's of undergraduates impacted

STEM undergraduates mentored by PDP participants learn and stay in STEM

$

80+ Papers published

Two volumes of articles on the PDP have been published, in addition to peer reviewed publications and technical reports
$

Enduring & influential community

The PDP community has developed effective STEM programs, courses, workshops, and other innovative training. The U.S. astronomy community is infused with PDP alumni.

READ MORE ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE PDP

Here

PDP Home & Funding

The PDP is led by the Institute for Scientist & Engineer Educators at University of California Observatories. 

The primary funding source since the program’s inception in 2001 is the National Science Foundation Astronomy Division. A full list of all funding sources is available by request.

PDP Leaders

Candice Brown Pacheco

PDP Director 2023-25

Anne Metevier

PDP Associate Director 2024-25

Lisa Hunter

PDP Director 2001-2020

ISEE

The Institute for Scientist & Engineer Educators (ISEE) is part of University of California Observatories
https://uc-isee.org

​Contact Us

Lisa Hunter,
ISEE Director

lhunter@ucsc.edu