News & Events

The McDonald Institute is excited to relaunch the Professional Development Opportunities (PDO) program. This program is designed to support the national Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) community in building their skills, confidence, and connections needed for impactful careers in and beyond academia. We encourage new and existing HQP to join us, and for faculty to promote these opportunities within their research groups. 

Join us for the first session on Wednesday, December 10, at 3 pm EST, where we’ll spark your professional development journey with interactive discussions for charting a roadmap for your skills development during your degrees (or employment if you’re a postdoc!). Mapping Your Skills is a strategic session that helps you build a growth mindset for your career. Whether you’re looking to strengthen leadership, communication, or research translation skills, this series will help you chart your next steps. Stay tuned for more sessions coming in 2026!

Register for the Mapping Your Skills session on December 10 here. 

If you have any questions regarding registration or accommodation, please feel free to reach out to Nikhil Arora (Education & Outreach Officer) at arora@mcdonaldinstitute.ca