Core Professional Skills for PhD Students
UCLA has defined the Core Professional Skills that each PhD student should develop during their training and divided them into the categories below. When you explore the categories, you will find some skills you have already developed and others that will grow out of your training program. For the professional skills you would like to develop further, check out the campus resources associated with each and watch your inbox and the calendar of events for training opportunities. You can use this Worksheet to self-identify the core skills you need to develop during your training and create your own professional development plan for your time at UCLA.
See the key below to identify which UCLA offices and units provide training in these skills. 
For graduate students in the biosciences we recommend the bioscience version of this page.
Your
Department
or Division
Graduate
Writing
Center
Teaching
Centers:
TLC & CIRTL
Other
Campus
Resources
- TEMP FOR REFERENCE:
- Assessing knowledge, values, and interests to identify potential career paths
- Developing an online professional presence
- Building professional relationships and networks
- Researching and locating appropriate jobs and internships
- Preparing job application documents
- Developing a competitive application for academic jobs
- Translating academic skills to different careers and communicating them to potential employers
- Understanding and navigating interview preparation and process
- Learning to negotiate a job offer
- Transitioning from training to a professional career and understanding professional culture
- Understanding the visa and work requirements for a career path
Career Path Preparation Resources
UCLA Career Center – Graduate Career Services
The Graduate Career Services team at the UCLA Career Center provides one-on-one coaching, workshops, online resources, and networking events for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars around topics of career exploration, career path preparation, job search, networking, interviewing skills, and negotiating offers, in preparation for academic jobs and careers beyond academia. Log in to their online professional development platform, Handshake, to access upcoming events, schedule coaching sessions, AND check out their resources below.
Your Department or Program
Check with your department or training program for opportunities to network with alumni, speakers and visiting scientists. Research common funding opportunities for those in your area. Speak with visitors and alumni about their experiences in their career path and jobs and for advice on preparation and application. Seek out additional mentors with expertise in the types of careers, training, and network you want to cultivate.
Graduate Writing Center
The GWC provides FREE individual writing appointments to all registered UCLA graduate and professional school students, who may bring job application documents to writing appointments.
TLC: The Teaching and Learning Center
The Teaching & Learning Center’s Graduate Student & Postdoctoral Scholar Engagement unit (GSPSE) offers consultations, workshops, and learning communities that help graduate students and postdocs prepare for teaching-oriented careers. In particular, TLC helps job applicants develop a reflective teaching practice, create syllabi, and prepare for teaching demonstrations. Learn more on the TLC website.
CIRTL
The CIRTL@UCLA program supports the professional and career development of graduate students who are considering academic careers, through a CIRTL@UCLA Certification Pathway, Courses and Workshops, Resource Guides and a robust learning community. Much of their training involves skills development in preparation for future faculty positions, including preparing faculty applications and teaching philosophy statements.
Graduate Student Resource Center
The GSRC….
Graduate Programs in Bioscience
GPB hosts several career training opportunities for PhD students, including:
- Grad School Hacks: interactive workshops and roundtables designed to help participants select a thesis mentor and research group
- Leadership Training Retreats: 1-day training retreats on the topics of Emotional Intelligence and Communication, Project Management and Teamwork, and Fostering Advocacy and Belonging
- Entering Mentoring Course: Nationally-vetted training to improve your mentoring relationships
- Workshops on: Professional Development Planning and Individual Development Plans
Other Campus Resources
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- TEMP FOR REFERENCE:
- Scholarly and professional writing in one’s field
- Managing complex writing projects
- Public speaking
- Making formal presentations in one’s field
- Employing effective visual communication
- Communicating with diverse audiences
- Communicating on multiple platforms and in different contexts
Communication Resources
UCLA Career Center – Graduate Career Services
The Graduate Career Services team at the UCLA Career Center provides one-on-one coaching, workshops, online resources, and networking events for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars around topics of career exploration, career path preparation, job search, networking, interviewing skills, and negotiating offers, in preparation for academic jobs and careers beyond academia. Log in to their online professional development platform, Handshake, to access upcoming events, schedule coaching sessions, AND check out their resources below.
Your Department or Program
Check with your Home Area, department, research theme, institute, or training program and mentors for opportunities to practice presenting your work inside your research groups, disciplinary area and at conferences and symposia. Look for guidance with significant writing projects within your research group or department, by seeking feedback, offering to provide feedback, and utilizing workshops or other training opportunities.
Graduate Writing Center
The Graduate Writing Center offers a variety of workshops and dissertation support programs. The GWC also provides FREE individual writing appointments to all registered UCLA graduate and professional school students. The GWC has public online videos of workshops on a variety of topics, including conference proposals and presentations, literature reviews, grant writing, grammar review, and writing for broader audiences. They also have an extensive collection of the online resources on writing and related topics, and a fellowship archive resource.
TLC: The Teaching and Learning Center
By attending workshops and events hosted by the Teaching & Learning Center, presenting flash talks on teaching-related topics at gatherings such as the annual TA & Postdoc Teaching Conference, and gaining classroom teaching experience, graduate students can develop skills for communicating with diverse audiences orally and in writing. Learn more on the TLC website.
CIRTL
The CIRTL@UCLA program supports the professional and career development of graduate students who are considering academic careers, through a CIRTL@UCLA Certification Pathway, Courses and Workshops, Resource Guides and a robust learning community. Much of their training involves skills development in preparation for future faculty positions, including preparing faculty applications and teaching philosophy statements.
Graduate Student Resource Center
The GSRC….
Graduate Programs in Bioscience
GPB hosts Leadership Training Retreats: 1-day training retreats on a variety of topics, including Emotional Intelligence and Communication
Other Campus Resources
Grad Slam
Grad Slam is a campus and UC-wide competition that showcases and awards the best 3-minute research presentations by graduate students. Think TED Talks on steroids. The competition aims to strengthen the important career development skill of articulating graduate research concisely and effectively to a non-specialist audience. It also highlights the excellence, importance and relevance of UCLA graduate students and their research.
- TEMP FOR REFERENCE:
- Time management
- Setting realistic goals
- Maintaining progress towards goals
- Understanding and navigating requirements and expectations of my program
- Balancing academic and research responsibilities with other aspects of my life
- Physical and mental health and wellness
- Managing personal finances and planning for the future
- Developing community and social relationships
- Actively engaging with different identities and opinions
- Developing healthy boundaries and self-advocacy skills
Wellness and Self-Development Resources
UCLA Career Center – Graduate Career Services
The Graduate Career Services team at the UCLA Career Center provides one-on-one coaching, workshops, online resources, and networking events for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars around topics of career exploration, career path preparation, job search, networking, interviewing skills, and negotiating offers, in preparation for academic jobs and careers beyond academia. Log in to their online professional development platform, Handshake, to access upcoming events, schedule coaching sessions, AND check out their resources below.
These popular assessment tools – designed specifically for graduate students – offer planning tools and tips on how to manage your time while in graduate school:
Your Department or Program
Your mentor, Home Area, department or training program should be able to help you with realistic goal-setting, maintaining progress, and navigating program requirements. Programs and disciplinary areas offer many avenues to practice engaging with different identities and opinions and developing self-advocacy skills.
Graduate Writing Center
The Graduate Writing Center offers a variety of workshops, including workshops that address time management, project organization, and goal setting. The GWC also provides individual writing appointments to all registered UCLA graduate and professional school students. The GWC has public online videos of workshops on a variety of topics, including conference proposals and presentations, literature reviews, grant writing, grammar review, and writing for broader audiences. They also have an extensive collection of the online resources on writing and related topics.
TLC: The Teaching and Learning Center
The Teaching & Learning Center hosts an instructor wellbeing initiative as well as other skill-building workshops and programs to help graduate students thrive as members of the UCLA community. Learn more on the TLC website.
CIRTL
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Graduate Student Resource Center
The GSRC….
Graduate Programs in Bioscience
GPB hosts workshops related to time management and achieving balance, goal-setting, mentoring relationships, successfully navigating your training, personal wellness, and diversity and inclusion.
- Leadership Series
- Entering Mentoring Course
- Mentoring Up Series
- Individual Development Plans
Division of Graduate Education
Graduate Division oversees graduate student appointments and services and provides a number of centralized resources. In particular, graduate students facing challenges to their training progress for any reason, should reach out to the Graduate and Postdoctoral Academic Case Managers for assistance and guidance to available resources. Graduate Division also provides workshops for graduate students related to navigating your training, obtaining fellowship funding, financial wellness, diversity and inclusion and other topics.
Graduate Student Resource Center
The Graduate Student Resource Center (GSRC) offers workshops year-round on topics related to wellness, self development, funding, success in your program and more. You can visit their office for drop-ins, free printing services, and more. Join their newsletter for more information about upcoming events and to stay connected.
- Use the GSRC Resources Flow Chart to quickly identify campus resources for a variety of needs.
- GSRC Weekly Virtual Drop-In Hours on:
- Financial Wellness Coaching
- Graduate Student Support
- First-Gen Graduate Student
UCLA Wellness and Self Development Resources
UCLA offers a number of wellness and self development resources for graduate students.
Wellness:
- Arthur Ashe Student Health & Wellness Center
- GPB Wellness and Reporting Resources Page
- Free Counseling for Graduate Students:
Behavioral Wellness Center (BWC)
Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)
Mindful Awareness Research Center (MARC)
Resilience in Your Student Experience (RISE) - Case Managers
- Center for Accessible Education
Financial Wellness:
- UCLA Financial Wellness Program
- GPB Short-Term Emergency Loan Program
- UCLA Economic Crisis Response Team
- Basic Needs Center
Finding Community:
- Dashew Events for International Scholars
- First To Go Office
- Veterans Resource Center: Serving Veterans and Military Connected Students
- Bruin Resource Center
Bruin Guardian Scholars: Current & former foster youth
Bruin Underground Scholars Program
Collegiate Recovery Program
Students with Dependents
Undocumented Student Program - Networking and Affinity Groups
Engage Across Difference:
- TEMP FOR REFERENCE:
- Managing projects
- Obtaining funding in a research or professional setting
- Managing a budget in a research or professional setting
- Developing entrepreneurial skills
- Leading the planning of an event or initiative
- Leading a team
- Working in a diverse team
- Collaborating across different working styles
- Resolving interpersonal conflict
- Managing mentor and mentee relationships
- Identifying opportunities for service and community engagement
Leadership, Collaboration, and Project Management Resources
UCLA Career Center – Graduate Career Services
The Graduate Career Services team at the UCLA Career Center provides one-on-one coaching, workshops, online resources, and networking events for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars around topics of career exploration, career path preparation, job search, networking, interviewing skills, and negotiating offers, in preparation for academic jobs and careers beyond academia. Log in to their online professional development platform, Handshake, to access upcoming events, schedule coaching sessions, AND check out their resources below.
Your Department or Program
Your mentor, department or training program should be able to help you with developing skills around managing projects, obtaining funding, working in teams and with people with different working styles, managing mentoring relationships and with opportunities for service and engagement. Look to identify mentors in these areas beyond your faculty mentor, including other faculty, senior trainees, advisors and administrators.
Graduate Writing Center
The Graduate Writing Center offers a variety of fellowship and grant application writing workshops. The GWC offers one-on-one writing consultant appointments for fellowship writing support and provides access to an archive of fellowship applications. They provide online videos of workshops on a variety of topics, including fellowship and grant writing.
TLC: The Teaching and Learning Center
By attending workshops and events hosted by the Teaching & Learning Center and gaining classroom teaching experience, graduate students can develop skills that support leading and collaborating in diverse teams. Graduate students interested in gaining additional leadership experience related to teaching may be interested in serving as a Teaching Assistant Consultant. Learn more on the TLC website.
CIRTL
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Graduate Student Resource Center
The GSRC….
Graduate Programs in Bioscience (GPB)
GPB hosts workshops related to leadership, grant and fellowship applications, mentorship training, managing conflict, working in teams, etc.
- Leadership Training Retreats: 1-day training retreats on the topics of Project Management and Teamwork, Emotional Intelligence and Communication, and Fostering Advocacy and Belonging
- Entering Mentoring Course: Nationally-vetted training to improve your mentoring relationships
- Workshops on: Professional Development Planning and Individual Development Plans
UCLA Leadership, Project Management and Collaboration Resources
Finding and Obtaining Funding:
- The Division of Graduate Education hosts a searchable graduate student funding database and holds several workshops per year on fellowship funding and financial aid.
Entrepreneurial:
- Advanced Degree Consulting Club (ADCC)
- BioTech Connection Los Angeles (BCLA)
- Startup UCLA
- Nucleate LA
Leading a group or planning events:
Opportunities for Service and Community Engagement:
- TEMP FOR REFERENCE:
- Creating an inclusive environment for all learners
- Applying evidence-based pedagogical methods
- Designing learning objectives for courses and lessons
- Aligning assessments and activities with learning objectives
- Training learners in research skills and techniques
- Advising, role modeling, and mentoring
- Using instructional technology effectively
- Developing a teaching statement/philosophy
- Interpreting and applying feedback on teaching effectiveness
Teaching and Mentorship Resources
UCLA Career Center – Graduate Career Services
The Graduate Career Services team at the UCLA Career Center provides one-on-one coaching, workshops, online resources, and networking events for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars around topics of career exploration, career path preparation, job search, networking, interviewing skills, and negotiating offers, in preparation for academic jobs and careers beyond academia. Log in to their online professional development platform, Handshake, to access upcoming events, schedule coaching sessions, AND check out their resources below.
Your Department or Program
Check with your department, Home Area, training program, and mentors for opportunities to mentor more junior research trainees, including undergraduates, new graduate students, summer researchers, etc.
Graduate Writing Center
Graduate and professional students may bring teaching philosophies and teaching statements to Graduate Writing Center appointments.
TLC: The Teaching and Learning Center
Doctoral students can develop core teaching skills by completing UCLA’s TA Training Requirements; those looking to take their training to the next level may be interested in serving as a Teaching Assistant Consultant or applying for the Collegium of University Teaching Fellows. The TLC also offers tailored support for graduate students through the annual TA & Postdoc Teaching conference and quarterly workshops and other events, and offers self-paced online resources and teaching consultations. Learn more on the TLC website.
CIRTL
UCLA is part of the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) nation-wide online network of 40+ universities seeking to enhance excellence in undergraduate education through development of a national faculty committed to implementing and advancing evidence-based teaching practices for diverse learners. The CIRTL@UCLA program supports the professional and career development of graduate students who are engaged in teaching now, or who are considering academic careers, through a CIRTL@UCLA Certification Pathway, Courses and Workshops, Resource Guides and a robust learning community. Much of their training involves skills development in evidence-based pedagogy, creating inclusive classrooms, designing courses, learning goals and assessments, using instructional technology, and developing a teaching philosophy.
Graduate Student Resource Center
The GSRC….
Graduate Programs in Bioscience
GPB hosts several mentorship training opportunities for PhD students, including:
- Entering Mentoring Course: Nationally-vetted training to improve your mentoring relationships
- Grad School Hacks: interactive workshops and roundtables designed to help participants establish a strong mentoring relationship
- Leadership Training Retreats: 1-day training retreats on the topics of Emotional Intelligence and Communication, Project Management and Teamwork, and Fostering Advocacy and Belonging
Other Campus Resources
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- TEMP FOR REFERENCE:
- Understanding how to access and assess literature and research in your discipline
- Developing command of the existing knowledge in your discipline
- Developing familiarity with interdisciplinary knowledge and research approaches
- Developing critical AI literacy
- Designing research to address important questions in your field
- Mastering research methods in your field and relevant adjoining fields
- Collaborating effectively in research
- Upholding ethical norms and practicing responsible conduct and dissemination of research
- Practicing civility in scholarly exchange and the research environment
Scholarly Expertise and Integrity
Your Department or Program
Your mentor, department and training program should be your primary resources for developing your research, scholarship and academic skills. There may be questions or issues around your research and the way your research group/mentor operates that you do not even know to ask. Check out our Research Training Cheat Sheet that includes questions every research trainee should ask. Consider including the questions you do not know the answers to in your meetings with your mentor, more senior trainees, and research group. Understanding how faculty mentors/research groups respond to each of these questions can help graduate students compare research environments when choosing a dissertation or postdoctoral lab.
Graduate Writing Center
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TLC: The Teaching and Learning Center
The Teaching & Learning Center offers workshops and resources to help graduate students teach with integrity and employ critical AI literacy. Doctoral students who are selected for the competitive Collegium of University Teaching Fellows program have the opportunity to design and teach courses that contribute to expanding undergraduate access to course-based research and creative activities in their fields of study. Learn more on the TLC website.
CIRTL
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Graduate Student Resource Center
The GSRC….
Graduate Programs in Bioscience (GPB)
Graduate Programs in Bioscience and Bioscience Postdoc Affairs host courses in Responsible Conduct of Research and Rigor and Reproducibility that meet NIH and NSF Fellowship and Traineeship requirements. Also, many workshops provided by GPB touch on effective collaboration, mentoring relationships, and other best practices in research settings.
- Leadership Training Retreats: 1-day training retreats on the topics of Project Management and Teamwork, Emotional Intelligence and Communication, and Fostering Advocacy and Belonging
- Entering Mentoring Course: Nationally-vetted training to improve your mentoring relationships
Other Campus Resources
Add text here or remove this section if your offerings are not relevant to this category