Prospective, Current and New Medical College of Wisconsin Postdocs

A Career Development Plan (CDP) is a tool to explore and define training goals, professional development needs, and career objectives. A complete CDP consists of an assessment, formal document, and a discussion with the postdoc’s supervisor. These discussions should be initiated by the postdoc and take place several times per year.

As outlined in the MCW Postdoctoral Researcher Handbook, postdocs must prepare their CDP and file it with the Office of Postdoctoral Education within 60 days of joining MCW. An updated CDP must also be on file with the Office of Postdoctoral Education to be eligible to progress to the next annual contract, each year.

CDP Instructions

• The Compact is a document that outlines important aspects of the postdoc-PI relationship. It should be read by both the postdoc and his/her PI, and they should discuss it together.
• View Compact Between Postdoctoral Appointees and Their Mentors (PDF)

Any alleged violation of the standards of appropriate behavior should be handled in the following manner:

• First, every attempt should be made to resolve the matter directly with the other party.
• Second, if further action is required, the Postdoctoral Fellow may file a formal report with the Associate Dean for Postdoctoral Education or contact the Ombuds Office.
• For current Postdoctoral Fellows, an additional resource for navigating concerns is available on MCW’s intranet. Please note, access requires a username and password.

Immigration website/resources at MCW are available on InfoScope. (network access required)

Immigration questions? Email careers@mcw.edu.

Mental Health Resources for Postdocs (PDF)

• International Travel Guidelines from Immigration Office / Office of Equal Access
• International Scholar Pre-Arrival Handbook (PDF)
• National Postdoctoral Association Onboarding Guide (PDF)
• United States Post Office Movers Guide
• Utilities and Other Services Links (PDF)
• Voter Registration Information
• Wisconsin Driver License Information

Responsible Conduct of research training is mandatory for all MCW trainees (postdocs and graduate students). Please ensure you have had the proper training and that it is documented.

Responsible Conduct of Research Training is an Institutional requirement enforced by the NIH. RCR is a requirement of your employment at MCW to complete training in the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR). RCR offers instruction on the basics of conducting scientific research with integrity. You must complete this online course within 6 months of your MCW start date. Your employment is contingent upon this completion.

To Access The Course:

• Go to D2L
• Enter your unique Username and Password
• Click the drop down menu “Select a course” (upper left corner of the page)
• Select “Post-Doc Training in Responsible Conduct of Research – PostDoc_RCR”

Refresher RCR Training Requirement:

After initial training, ALL students, ALL postdoctoral researchers, and SELECT faculty (those receiving support from an NIH training/career development grant) are required to participate in periodic RCR refresher training. The Office of Postdoctoral Education hosts an identified RCR Refresher Training twice annually in late Fall and late Spring. These seminars consist of 1 hour of didactic content followed by 1 hour of roundtable discussion, equating to 2 contact hours of training per seminar. Attendance is required at four seminars over four years, or one seminar per year, to satisfy the eight contact hours mandated by MCW & NIH requirements.

For more information on the RCR Policies and Procedures, please visit the Responsible Conduct of Research Training