“Sharing is caring” – Development’s Pathway to Independence Programme

I’m excited to announce that we have now opened applications for the second round of Development’s Pathway to Indpendence Programme. This programme is aimed at supporting postdocs who will be going on the job market next year – providing mentorship, training and networking opportunities. Having piloted this programme with our first talented cohort of PI fellows through the course of 2023, I’m looking forward to working with a new group of postdocs over the course of next year.

You can find out more about the aims this programme, and the application and selection process, in this editorial and on the journal webpage. We encourage applications from all corners of the globe and all areas of developmental and stem cell biology. Those interested in applying can do so via the Company of Biologists’ grants portal, and you are welcome to reach out to me for more information. The deadline for application is 31 January 2024.

One of the main elements of the programme is an in-person meeting of all the PI fellows. In late October, the first cohort of Development’s Pathway to Independence (PI) fellows got together here at The Company of Biologists’ office on the outskirts of Cambridge for a two-day gathering. Having been in contact with these eight outstanding postdocs over the course of this year, it was great finally to meet them all in person and find out a bit more about them, their research and their career plans.

Navigating the job market and setting up a lab are huge challenges for which many postdocs feel underprepared, and the PI programme aims to help in some small way by providing training, mentorship and peer support – and by helping to raise the profile of our group of PI fellows. At the meeting in Cambridge, our fellows took part in an intense and interactive leadership training course organised by hfp consulting – many thanks to Franck and Dana for facilitating this event. As one of the fellows commented, the course was “extremely informative and gave me real actionable ideas on how to organise my group”; another noted that they “learned a lot about myself as a trainee and a future PI”.

As well as the training course, each of the PI fellows gave a short talk about their future research plans, and received feedback on their presentation from some of the journal’s editors and directors of the Company of Biologists. Personally, I was hugely impressed by the research directions presented by all eight fellows, and I left the meeting feeling energised and excited about the diverse and innovative programmes they all hope to initiate in their independent labs.

As a fledgling programme, it was important to us to find out how well the various elements of the scheme have worked for our PI fellows, so that we can ensure we provide the best support we can going forwards. We’ve received some really valuable feedback from this year’s group that will help us tweak the programme for next year. But overall, it was really great to hear how useful our PI fellows have found the programme. Here’s what some of them had to say:

This programmed has been a game changer for me as I search for an independent position, giving me unprecedented visibility in the community as well as amazing training that will help me in my transition to being a PI .

Through their multiple networking and training opportunities, the PI program empowered me with tools to help launch my independent group and connect with peers at the same career stage, creating a supportive environment.

This programme made me feel part of a community of talented future group leaders and provided me with great opportunities to promote my applications. Sharing is caring!

I wish all our current cohort of PI fellows luck in finding their first independent position – and congratulate those who have already done so! – and I’m very much looking forward to reviewing the next set of applications, and to working with what I’m sure will be an equally talented group of postdocs next year! Please do get in touch if you have any questions about the programme.

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