The PDP Description
The ISEE Professional Development Program (PDP) is a transformative experience that prepares graduate students and postdocs for success in academic, industry, and other STEM careers.
Participants design and teach a STEM experience for undergraduates or higher-level audiences while building vital skills in leadership, mentoring, teamwork, and project management. Accepted participants join a small, diverse team and engage in approximately 90 hours of workshops, independent work, and teaching practice—supported by expert coaching and an inclusive, collaborative environment. PDP participants may return, and many join the lasting PDP community
What PDP participants do
4-Day In-Person Workshop
- Explore and compare hands-on STEM learning approaches
- Apply research on how people learn, equity, leadership, and inclusion
- Experience authentic STEM learning environments
- Begin collaborative, assessment-driven instructional design
2-Day In-Person Workshop
- Begin designing an inclusive STEM experience
- Practice teamwork and communication skills
- Apply inclusive leadership strategies (team leaders)
Independent Work with Team
- Co-develop a detailed, co-teachable plan for a STEM experience
- Apply inclusive leadership strategies and manage project (team leaders)
- Learn strategies for interacting with learners as a mentor in a remote session
Practical Teaching/Mentoring Experience
- Teach/mentor a STEM experience to an undergraduate or higher-level audience
- Integrate workshop into programs & courses aimed at inclusive, effective STEM
- Reflect on the experience and how to apply insights to future work
Grow within and beyond PDP Community
- Return as a team leader to mentor new participants and practice leadership skills (additional workshop offered for team leaders)
- Apply PDP frameworks and strategies to diverse professional paths
- Influence people, programs, and communities beyond the PDP
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