Professional and Career Development (PCD) Program: 2025 Cohort onward

Science Writing

① Attend the Scientific Writing Session #1 (In-Person, Scheduled 3× a year/once a term)

② Take the Scientific Writing Pre-Assessment.
(Has two components: pre-session task and in-session assessment).
[Date to be announced each term by gscareer@oist.jp]

③ Enroll in one of the following Scientific Writing pathways: 
(As discerned through the Pre-Assessment)

→ Pathway 1:
Take one of the following Science Writing Fundamentals courses through (Nature Online Masterclasses) and submit a Certificate of Completion to gscareer@oist.jp by the end of the second term of your 1st year.

• Pick one of the 3 courses from the Nature Masterclasses platform:

  • Writing a Research Paper: 2nd Edition 
  • Narrative Tools for Researchers 
  • Persuasive Grant Writing
     
  • → Please use this form to upload your Certificate of Completion.
     

→ Pathway 2:

Take the In-Person Science Writing Session #2—focuses on working towards the Mastery of fundamental Scientific Writing skills.

[Date of session to be announced each term by gscareer@oist.jp]

 

Scientific Computing

① Take the Scientific Computing Pre-Assessment. (during Orientation)

② Enroll in one of the Science Computing course pathways described below (as discerned through the pre-assessment).

③ All students—regardless of Scientific Computing course pathway taken—will take a Final Assessment with the Instructor at the end of each Term.

→ This assessment is project-based and done independently - but must be submitted by the requested deadline/within the defined timeframe. 
→ Depending on the results of the Final Assessment, it may be advised that the student re-enroll in Scientific Computing courses in the following term.
 

→ Pathway 1: Python Fundamentals
*Highly Recommended* 
Take a sequence of Sessions taught In-Person [4 sessions × 2 hours each] = 8 HOURS total   

• These classes are taught in-person. The Instructor will use a combination of lectures, online resources, and group work.
• Benefit of in-person guidance, instruction, and feedback.
• Classes are always on Friday afternoons during the reserved PCD time slot.
• Example Sequence
  1. Class ① : June 13 (Fri.) 
  2. Class ② : June 20 (Fri.)
  3. Class ③ : July 4 (Fri.)
  4. Class ④ : July 11 (Fri.)
      

→ Pathway 2: Python Fundamentals
Enroll in the following 4 courses on DataCamp.  = 16 HOURS total

• Intro. to Python [4 hrs.]
• Intermediate Python [4 hrs.]
• Intro. to Importing Data into Python [4 hrs.]
• Intro. to Statistics in Python [4 hrs.]
  
  → Submit Certificate of Completion to gscareer@oist.jp by the end of the second term of your first year. 
  → Registration: DataCamp OIST Academic Group Signup | OIST Groups
  → Please use this form to upload your Certificate of Completion. 

→ Pathway 3
As determined by the Pre-Assessment, some students may be eligible to elect the following sequence.
* Please consult with the course Instructor and/or PCD Team member before choosing this pathway.

Enroll in a minimum of 8 HOURs of DataCamp online coursework.​

• → Submit Certificate of Completion to gscareer@oist.jp by the end of the second term of your first year. 
• → Registration: DataCamp OIST Academic Group Signup | OIST Groups
  → Please use this form to upload your Certificate of Completion. 
  ​

 

Responsible Conduct in Research (RCR)

• Part I: Online self-study (OIST eFront "FAO: Responsible Conduct of Research" and "The Lab")
• Part II: Responsible Conduct in Research Workshop (scheduled 3× a year/once a term)
• Part III: Responsible Conduct in Research Open Forum (scheduled twice per academic year)

Group Project

Group Projects are a mandatory component of PCD1 and are conducted during Years 1-2. Through group projects, students will develop skills in presenting scientific information to a wide range of audiences. Students will collaboratively plan and execute their group project and develop effective team communication skills by working in teams. Students will also have the opportunity to engage with the local Okinawan community and think about the impact of research on society.

The Group Project is comprised of the following 3 components:

1. Mandatory Pre-Session: Science Communication 101
2. Mandatory Pre-Session: Effective Team Dynamics/Teamwork 
3. Group Project Activity

Individual Development Planning (IDP)

• Part I: Attend an "Introduction to PCD/IDP" session and create your own IDP plan for skill development in the session. (scheduled 3x per academic year) 
   
• Part II: Individual Career Session: Meet with the PCD coordinator to discuss 1) your plan for career trajectories and 2) the individual developmental plan (IDP) you have created.
  → For an appointment: Click HERE!

 

PCD1 Completion Form

At the end of their second year, students must fill out the PCD1 completion webform and submit it to the PCD team. In the webform, the students must provide Summary Reports of what they have learned in PCD1 and a Self-Assessment of their skill levels for each PCD1 outcome.
Failure to do so must be reported to the Curriculum and Examinations Committee (CEC) as an Academic Progress Delay.