Author Archives: National Postdoctoral Association

Six Postdocs Selected for NPA IMPACT Fellowship Program Class of 2027

New cohort of exceptional early-career researchers hails from institutions across the U.S.

BETHESDA, Md., Sept. 14, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — In advance of National Postdoc Appreciation Week, the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) introduced the six members of its Class of 2027 IMPACT Fellowship Program (IMPACT). The sixth IMPACT cohort consists of postdoctoral scholars from a diverse range of backgrounds and research disciplines who will engage in a 16-month program designed to provide comprehensive personal and professional development.

Image caption: National Postdoctoral Association (NPA).

Founded in 2021, IMPACT offers postdoctoral scholars from underrepresented communities a variety of resources to leverage their existing strengths, acquire new skills, build and maintain meaningful networks and connections, identify opportunities, and navigate their career trajectories with confidence. Scholars are selected both for their expressions of needs for resources and exceptional promise to further blossom as leaders in an intensive, peer-driven environment.

As a key component of the program, Fellows develop individual IMPACT projects using skills and resources developed or enhanced during their time in the program. The projects target specific communities of importance to the Fellows with creative initiatives – from innovative science programs in urban K-12 schools to academic partnerships with native American communities to advance understanding of disease – that yield sustainable, positive, replicable benefits for years to come.

“Each year, I’m amazed at the caliber of scholars joining our IMPACT program to learn, connect, and give back to us all through their leadership,” commented Thomas P. Kimbis, J.D., executive director and chief executive officer of the NPA. “This cohort is no exception. I’m thrilled to welcome them to the growing ranks of IMPACT fellows and alumni.”

“The IMPACT program is an outstanding vehicle to build critical skills and instill confidence that helps create a new generation of exceptional leaders– not only in science and research but across our whole society,” said Andrea Pereyra, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the NPA board of directors.

NPA IMPACT Fellows, class of 2027:

Jyotsna Godavarthi, PhD, UTHealth Houston
Alexandra Kuvaeva, PhD, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Jaya Nepal, PhD, The Pennsylvania State University
Shefali Rai, PhD, University of California San Diego
Shruti Tophkhane, PhD, University of Minnesota
Yabo Vidogbena, PhD, University of Pennsylvania

The NPA thanks its generous IMPACT sponsors, including NYU Langone Health, Gallagher Insurance, and the Dana Foundation. The NPA is actively seeking additional sponsors to support advancement in underrepresented scholarly communities through programs such as IMPACT. Academic institutions, companies, and nonprofit funders interested in engaging with the NPA can learn more about current sponsorship opportunities at: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/store/ListProducts.aspx?catid=839646.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATION:

The NPA is a national charitable and educational nonprofit association headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, that seeks to improve the postdoctoral experience by supporting a culture of inclusive connection. Learn more at https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/.

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National Postdoctoral Association Announces Inaugural Institutional Policy Awards, Releases Policy Report

New program celebrates 12 institutions advancing the postdoctoral experience; national report tracks progress, concerns

BETHESDA, Md., July 7, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) today announced the recipients of its inaugural Institutional Policy Awards, recognizing twelve institutions that have demonstrated outstanding commitment to advancing the postdoctoral experience, along with its 2026 Institutional Policy Report, tracking national trends affecting the postdoc community.

Image caption: National Postdoctoral Association Announces Inaugural Institutional Policy Awards.

The 2026-2027 NPA Institutional Policy Award recipients are:

Boston Children’s Hospital
Cleveland Clinic Research
Gladstone Institutes
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Temple University
University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Texas Medical Branch
Van Andel Institute
Virginia Commonwealth University

“Today, for the first time, we make a record of who stands out in their alignment with accepted recommendations for postdoctoral excellence – ultimately not to separate them from other outstanding institutions, but to bind our whole community through shared knowledge,” said Thomas P. Kimbis, executive director and chief executive officer of the NPA.

The inaugural awardees represent approximately five percent of NPA member institutions and were selected for their outstanding overall alignment with the revised Recommended Postdoctoral Policies and Practices (RPPP). Their recognition reflects sustained institutional commitment across the broad range of policies that shape the postdoctoral experience – from appointment and compensation practices to mentoring, professional development, career preparation, and institutional support.

“At its core, these awards reflect a simple idea: if we want to improve the postdoctoral experience nationally, we need to recognize and learn from institutions that are helping lead the way,” said Andrea Pereyra, M.D., Ph.D., chair, NPA board of directors. “By doing so, we not only celebrate their commitment, but also help elevate practices that can inform and inspire progress across the broader postdoctoral community.”

The awards represent the culmination of four years of work by NPA staff and volunteers to develop the first known national initiative at this scale, recognizing institutional excellence in the postdoctoral community. The inaugural dozen awardees comprise a remarkably diverse group: large and small; universities, national laboratories, and institutes; ranging from east and west, north and south.

The institutions honored today for their work have significant alignment with NPA policy recommendations when viewed across the full set within the RPPP, although none have completed their work. “We’re not here to celebrate the perfect,” said Kimbis. “No organization is perfect. But we do see some making important, translatable progress in critical areas – and that’s worth celebrating.”

Complementing the awards, the 2026 NPA Institutional Policy Report analyzes institutional policy data available nowhere else from more than 100 organizations nationwide and provides trends, findings and recommendations. This broad view shows important gains, but also reveals a postdoctoral community at a critical juncture, facing intensifying economic pressures, persistent inequities in benefit distribution, and a structural gap in career outcome tracking that threatens the U.S. research pipeline.

Together, the RPPP, Institutional Policy Report, and Institutional Policy Awards create an integrated framework of recommendations, benchmarking, and recognition designed to help institutions understand emerging needs, measure progress, identify opportunities for improvement, and share successful approaches across the postdoctoral community.

“We celebrate leading institutions today in the context of national trends we have been tracking for more than a decade. Where we see excellence and accomplishment, we also recognize the hard work ahead to elevate the postdoctoral experience where it belongs,” said Kimbis.

In the coming months, the NPA will recognize additional institutions demonstrating exceptional achievement in specific areas of postdoctoral policy and practice. The association will also develop practical resources – including best practices, implementation guides, and lessons learned – to help institutions support postdoctoral scholars nationwide.

“Improving the postdoctoral experience is a community effort,” said Erin Heckler, Ph.D., vice chair, NPA board of directors. “The NPA, recognizing the work of these institutions as examples of policies and practices, shares what progress is possible for everyone.”

About the National Postdoctoral Association:

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Gold, Fuhrmann, Cook Win 2026 Top Individual NPA Awards

The NPA names the winners of its 2026 Gallagher Mentor Award, Distinguished Service Award, and Postdoc of the Year Award

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., March 13, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — As it celebrated 150 years of postdoctoral scholars in the U.S., the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) announced at its annual conference that Michael S. Gold, Ph.D., Cynthia Furhmann, Ph.D., and Olivia K. Cook, Ph.D., are the 2026 winners of the organization’s three most prestigious individual awards.

Image caption: National Postdoctoral Association.

“This year’s award recipients reflect the strength, generosity, and leadership that sustain the postdoctoral community at its best. Their contributions remind us that improving the postdoctoral experience requires more than individual excellence—it calls for mentorship, advocacy, service, and a genuine commitment to helping others thrive,” said Andrea Pereyra, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the NPA board. “Together, these honorees represent the values the NPA strives to advance and the kind of impact that strengthens both our community and the broader research enterprise.”

The NPA Gallagher Mentor Award recognizes the very best of mentors across the nation who advocate for postdoctoral scholars, make themselves available to their researchers, and empower their postdocs to succeed. Award winners demonstrate a sustained commitment to creating a productive working environment that enhances the overall postdoctoral experience. The award is made possible by the support of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

This year’s award was presented to Michael S. Gold, Ph.D., professor of neurobiology at the University of Pittsburgh. Those supporting Gold for the award noted that he values both professional excellence and personal well-being while promoting an inclusive, psychologically safe culture. Gold commented, “There are so many truly outstanding mentors across the country, it is a true honor to not only to have been nominated for the Gallagher Mentor Award, but selected as recipient.”

The NPA Distinguished Service Award (DSA) recognizes the highest appreciation for an individual who has demonstrated a profound, sustained, or leadership contribution to improving the postdoctoral experience. Today, that honor was bestowed on Cynthia Fuhrmann, Ph.D., associate professor of the RNA Therapeutics Institute, biochemistry and molecular biotechnology, UMass Chan Medical School. Additional finalists for the award were Sara Dann-Grice, Ph.D., director of the postdoctoral certificate program, The University of Texas Medical Branch, and Paolo Mangahas, Ph.D., director, division of education and training, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Fuhrmann received the DSA today to an audience of peers in San Francisco who recognized her years of supporting the national postdoctoral community. She was lauded in her nomination for her work as an innovator, helping to develop groundbreaking educational and training instruments, including myIDP and pdHub. “She has an unwavering commitment to building coalitions that have the potential to actually effect national systemic change,” noted her nominators.

Upon being notified of the award, Fuhrmann commented: “Postdocs play a vital role in research and innovation, yet too often their own professional development and career goals are forgotten by the very systems that reap those benefits. The NPA’s twenty-year leadership on this issue makes this award an especially touching honor. To me, this award symbolizes the value of working together as a community, across disciplines and institutions, to effect change.”

Lastly, the NPA presented its annual NPA Postdoc of the Year Award, bestowing that honor on Olivia K. Cook, Ph.D., Dean’s Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Psychology & Learning Systems Institute, Florida State University. The award recognizes a postdoc who has advanced the postdoctoral community in an exceptional manner beyond their work duties and in alignment with the NPA mission and core values. The NPA announced additional finalists for the award as Saul Huerta de la Cruz, Ph.D., postdoctoral associate, University of Vermont, and Courtney Matson, Ph.D., postdoctoral researcher, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota.

In nominating Cook for this prestigious award, faculty members noted she “exemplifies this award through leadership, exceptional service, and a profound commitment to the advancement of the postdoctoral community.” Cook stated, “this award speaks to the collective efforts of concurrent and former postdoctoral leaders at my institution – I am hopeful that this platform can bring attention to causes in need of additional advocacy, such as postdocs’ access to healthcare, childcare, and paid parental leave.”

“It’s an honor to work alongside these three individuals and all our exceptional nominees,” said Thomas P. Kimbis, J.D., executive director and chief executive officer of the NPA. “Drs. Cook, Fuhrmann, and Gold set the standard for excellence in their institutions and beyond. They demonstrate the irreplaceable role of postdocs in promoting American leadership in the sciences and beyond.”

The awards are part of the NPA’s Excellence Recognition Program, highlighting the exceptional work of individuals and organizations in the postdoctoral space. Follow the work of Cook, Fuhrmann, Gold, and other exceptional leaders by collaborating with the NPA, committed to advancing the skills and careers of our nation’s postdoctoral scholars, who have been working for 150 years to benefit Americans across all fifty states.

About the National Postdoctoral Association:

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) charitable and educational association headquartered in Bethesda, MD. Founded in 2003, the NPA envisions an inclusive community where all postdocs are empowered, valued, recognized, and supported in their current and future endeavors. The NPA serves the entire postdoctoral community, including its 24,000 individual and 250 organizational members.

Learn more: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

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Six Postdocs Selected for NPA IMPACT Fellowship Program

Fifth cohort offers enriching personal and professional pathways for early-career researchers

BETHESDA, Md., Sept. 15, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) kicked off National Postdoc Appreciation Week by introducing the six members of its fifth class of the IMPACT Fellowship Program (“IMPACT”). This newly selected cohort comprises a diverse range of backgrounds and research disciplines, and will engage in a 16-month program designed to provide comprehensive personal and professional development for early-career researchers.

Image caption: The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA).

Founded in 2021, IMPACT offers postdoctoral scholars a variety of resources, including strengths assessments, peer networking circles, engagement with community experts, and opportunities for mentorship. The program is designed to empower IMPACT Fellows to leverage their existing strengths, acquire new skills, build and maintain meaningful networks and connections, identify opportunities, and navigate their career trajectories with confidence.

As a key component of the program, Fellows will develop Individual IMPACT Projects (IIPs) that utilize the skills and resources gained during their time in the program. These IIPs allow Fellows to benefit others in their home institutions and communities by applying the enhanced skills they have acquired through IMPACT.

“These six outstanding early-career scholars represent the best of the best from the postdoctoral community,” commented Thomas P. Kimbis, J.D., executive director and chief executive officer of the NPA. “They have the courage to share their own challenges and the strength to lift up those around them.”

“The IMPACT program is helping postdocs build critical skills and confidence to lead projects and programs that positively affect the postdoc and research communities at their institutions and beyond,” said Chris Smith, Ph.D., chair of the NPA board of directors.

“The 2025 cohort’s early accomplishments with support from the program were recently highlighted in our POSTDOCket newsletter, and I look forward to seeing the amazing things the 2026 IMPACT Fellows accomplish in the coming year and beyond! The NPA is proud of this program and those affiliated with it!”

NPA IMPACT FELLOWS, CLASS OF 2026:

Damilola Caleb Akintayo, Ph.D., Metro State University
Rajat Kumar, Ph.D., Penn State University
Brea Manuel, Ph.D., University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Mariacristina Mazzitelli, Ph.D., Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Jason Sanchez, Ph.D., University of Texas at El Paso
Emma Wilson-Lemoine, Ph.D., University of Virginia

IMPACT is made possible through the generosity of its sponsors, who have included the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Charles River Laboratories, Columbia University, Gallagher Insurance, LS-PAC MODELS Center, New York University, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, the University of Illinois Chicago, the University of Chicago, the University of Pennsylvania, and the National Science Foundation.

The NPA is actively seeking additional sponsors to support advancement in underrepresented scholarly communities through programs such as IMPACT.

Academic institutions, companies, and nonprofit funders interested in engaging with the NPA can learn more about available sponsorship opportunities at: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/store/ListProducts.aspx?catid=839646.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATION:

Newsletter link: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/page/POSTDOCketLibrary_25#0825_2

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Gonzales, Holmes & Muhoza Win 2025 Top Postdoctoral Awards

The NPA names in Boston the winners of its NPA Gallagher Mentor Award, NPA Distinguished Service Award, and NPA SCRI Postdoc of the Year Award

BOSTON, Mass., March 21, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — During its annual conference, the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) announced that Albert L. Gonzales, Ph.D., Christine Holmes, MBA, and Sixbert P. Muhoza, Ph.D., are the 2025 winners of the organization’s three most prestigious awards.

Image caption: National Postdoctoral Association (NPA).

“The NPA is committed to improving the postdoctoral experience and these three awards acknowledge the critical role postdocs and those who support them play in advancing knowledge and improving the human condition,” said Christopher T. Smith, Ph.D., chair of the NPA board. “Congratulations to this year’s well-deserved winners.”

The NPA Gallagher Mentor Award recognizes the very best of mentors across the nation who advocate for postdoctoral scholars, celebrate diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) values, and empower their postdoc scholars to succeed. The NPA is dedicated to both recognizing champions and serving as a model for greater DEIB across the postdoctoral community.

This year’s award was presented to Albert. L. Gonzales, assistant professor, department of physiology and cellular biology, at the University of Nevada, Reno. In the words of those supporting Gonzales for the Gallagher Mentor Award, “his philosophy is rooted in the belief that diversity of thought enhances scientific inquiry and innovation.” Another noted: “His mentorship has enriched the postdoctoral experience at our institution by setting a standard of excellence that inspires all who work with him.”

The NPA Distinguished Service Award recognizes the highest appreciation for an individual who has demonstrated a profound, sustained, or leadership contribution to improving the postdoctoral experience. Today, that honor was bestowed on Christine Holmes, MBA, director for postdoctoral studies at Cornell University.

Holmes received the award today to a field of applauding peers who celebrated her decades of support for the postdoctoral community. Holmes founded the Office of Postdoctoral Studies at Cornell when she became its first director in 1995. “She created important new structures to uplift and support postdoctoral scholars on a shoestring budget,” according to her peers who nominated her. “She has had a uniquely profound and sustained impact … on the lives of thousands of early-career scholars.”

This year, the NPA and Seattle Children’s Research Institute (SCRI) presented its second annual Postdoc of the Year Award, bestowing that honor on Sixbert P. Muhoza, Ph.D., a Walter Massey Fellow at the Argonne National Laboratory. The NPA SCRI award recognizes a postdoc who has advanced the postdoctoral community in an exceptional manner beyond their work duties and in alignment with the NPA mission and core values.

In nominating Muhoza for this prestigious award, faculty members applauded his innovation and dedication, noting that he “has made substantial contributions to the scientific community and beyond during his fellowship, setting a new standard for postdoctoral excellence.”

“It’s an honor simply to work alongside these three individuals in the postdoctoral community,” said Tom Kimbis, executive director and chief executive officer of the NPA. “Holmes, Gonzales, and Muhoza are among the best of the best. Their excellence demonstrates the irreplaceable role of postdocs in the greater research environment. Postdocs are essential for maintaining American leadership in the sciences and beyond.”

Individuals and organizations can follow the work of Holmes, Gonzales, and Muhoza online by collaborating with the NPA, which is committed to advancing the skills and careers of our nation’s hard-working postdoctoral scholars, whose work in all disciplines benefits Americans across all fifty states.

About the National Postdoctoral Association:

Learn more: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

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NPA Announces New Cohort of IMPACT Fellows: Six remarkable postdocs hailing from underrepresented communities form fourth IMPACT class

BETHESDA, Md. /ScoopCloud/ -- The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) today announced the members of its fourth class of scholars in its signature program designed to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the postdoctoral community and beyond. The six fellows in the NPA's 2024-2025 IMPACT Fellowship Program ("IMPACT") are postdoctoral researchers representing diverse backgrounds, disciplines, and geographies.

"We are thrilled to welcome this new cohort of remarkable individuals who are not only striving to reach their full potential but committed to lift up one another along the way," commented Thomas P. Kimbis, J.D., executive director and chief executive officer of the NPA. "By strengthening themselves through the IMPACT Fellowship, they position themselves as leaders within their fields, their communities, and society."

IMPACT was launched in 2021 to empower postdoctoral scholars from underrepresented backgrounds to build skills, understand strengths, and develop networks. Competition for seats in the fourth year of the program stayed consistently strong with last year, with nearly one hundred applicants from across the country for only six positions. This year's selectees are early-career professionals in fields ranging from evolutionary biology and mechanical engineering to climate science and organizational leadership.

Fellows begin this month with a 16-month program that allows them to recognize and build upon their strengths, learn from their peers, network with experts, connect with IMPACT alums who have already completed the program, and gain additional mentors, allowing them to advance confidently in their careers. IMPACT Fellows also use the knowledge, tools, and resources they gain from the program to implement innovative activities or initiatives at their institutions that amplify the impact of the fellowship as they contribute back to home communities.

"We are just beginning to grasp the full reach and impact this program has on both IMPACT Fellows and their communities," said Caleb McKinney, Ph.D., MPS, chair of the NPA board of directors. "In the right environment, a small cohort of diverse leaders like this one builds capacity to positively affect thousands."

* NPA IMPACT Fellows, Class of 2025:

* Kati Kish Bar-On, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology

* Helen Wagner Coello, Ph.D., Florida International University

* Ramisa Fariha, Ph.D., Brown University

* Hager Kowash, Ph.D., University of Nebraska Medical Center

* Tracie McCargo, Ph.D., The Chicago School / Harvard Extension School

* Colette Ngana, Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University

IMPACT is made possible through the generosity of its sponsors, who have included the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Charles River Laboratories, Columbia University, Gallagher Insurance, LS-PAC MODELS Center, the University of Illinois Chicago, the University of Chicago, and the National Science Foundation. The NPA is seeking additional sponsors to support underrepresented communities of scholars, promote their own diversity goals, and advance discussion and action in areas needing critical attention.

Learn more: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/page/IMPACTProgram.

Academic institutions, companies, and nonprofit funders wishing to engage with the NPA can read more about available sponsorship opportunities - https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/store/ListProducts.aspx?catid=839646.

About National Postdoctoral Association:

The NPA is a national charitable and educational nonprofit association headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, that seeks to improve the postdoctoral experience by supporting a culture of inclusive connection. Individuals seeking to support NPA and its charitable mission, please visit https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/page/donate.

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) today announced the members of its fourth class of scholars in its signature program designed to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the postdoctoral community and beyond. The six fellows in the NPA's 2024-2025 IMPACT Fellowship Program ("IMPACT") are postdoctoral researchers representing diverse backgrounds, disciplines, and geographies.

Related link: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

Hokanson, Peterson & Williams Clayton Win 2024 Top Postdoctoral Awards

SEATTLE, Wash. /ScoopCloud/ -- During its annual conference, the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) announced that Sarah Hokanson, Ph.D., Karen Peterson, Ph.D., and Sade Williams Clayton, Ph.D., are the 2024 winners of the organization's three most prestigious awards.

"These three awards represent the top honors that the NPA can bestow on individuals," said Caleb M. McKinney, Ph.D., M.P.S., chair of the NPA board. "We should all pause to reflect on this trio of excellence in mentorship, distinguished service to the postdoctoral community, and impeccable leadership while in one's postdoc position."

The NPA Gallagher Mentor Award recognizes the very best of mentors across the nation who advocate for postdoctoral scholars, celebrate diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) values, and empower their postdoc scholars to succeed. The NPA is dedicated to both recognizing champions and serving as a model for greater DEIB across the postdoctoral community.

Dr. Sarah Hokanson was selected as the 2024 Gallagher Mentor of the Year today to a field of applauding peers. "Mentoring is my most important, fulfilling, and joyful responsibility," she explained. "I am so grateful to be in collaborative learning relationships with such outstanding postdoctoral scholars and to have the opportunity to support them to make an impact through our work." Hokanson is assistant vice president and assistant provost of research development for Ph.D. and postdoctoral affairs at Boston University.

The NPA Distinguished Service Award recognizes the highest appreciation for an individual who has demonstrated a profound, sustained, or leadership contribution to improving the postdoctoral experience. Today, that honor was bestowed on Dr. Karen Peterson, an early advocate and former board member of the NPA.

"I'm very honored to receive this award from the NPA," commented Peterson, "which is leading the way to improve the lives of postdoctoral fellows and has been instrumental to my own career development over the past two decades." Peterson is the scientific ombudsman and director of the Office of Scientific Career Development at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

This year, the NPA presented its first Postdoc of the Year Award, bestowing that honor on Sade Williams Clayton, Ph.D., a postdoctoral research fellow at Washington University in St. Louis. The award recognizes a postdoc who has advanced the postdoctoral community in an exceptional manner beyond their work duties and in alignment with the NPA mission and core values.

"I am so humbled by this recognition," said Williams Clayton. "I applaud the National Postdoctoral Association for providing this award as a platform to uplift the hard work that postdocs provide at and away from the bench to better the academic community."

"I'm thrilled that we are able to celebrate the incredible achievements of Dr. Williams Clayton beyond those of her day job," said Tom Kimbis, executive director and chief executive officer of the NPA. "The launch of the NPA Postdoc of the Year Award sends another strong signal that the NPA recognizes the irreplaceable role of postdocs in the greater research environment."

Individuals and organizations can follow the work of Drs. Hokanson, Peterson, and Williams Clayton online while also collaborating with the NPA, which is committed to advancing the skills and careers of our nation's hard-working postdoctoral scholars.

About the National Postdoctoral Association:

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) charitable and educational association headquartered in Bethesda, MD. Founded in 2003, the NPA envisions an inclusive community where all postdocs are empowered, valued, recognized, and supported in their current and future endeavors. The NPA serves the entire postdoctoral community, including its 20,000 individual and 250 organizational members.

Learn more: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

NPA Annual Conference 2024:

Learn more: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/events/eventdetails.aspx?id=1779542

During its annual conference, the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) announced that Sarah Hokanson, Ph.D., Karen Peterson, Ph.D., and Sade Williams Clayton, Ph.D., are the 2024 winners of the organization's three most prestigious awards.

Related link: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

National Postdoctoral Association Announces Free Membership for HBCU Students

ROCKVILLE, Md. /ScoopCloud/ -- The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) today announced that it would provide free membership to any undergraduate or graduate student enrolled at any Historically Black Colleges and University (HBCU). The same is true for any postdoctoral scholar ("postdoc") working at such an institution.

"Black History Month provides time for both reflection and action," said NPA executive director and chief executive officer, Thomas P. Kimbis. "We want to do our small part at pushing back against the tide that has historically disadvantaged certain Black students from attaining their desired jobs through first obtaining postdoc positions."

Data show that Black researchers are underrepresented in postdoctoral and university faculty positions. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, "6 percent of faculty were Black, specifically 4 percent Black female and 3 percent Black male" in 2021. Meanwhile, the U.S. Census Bureau finds that Black students make up 15.7 percent of all enrollments in higher education during the same time period, creating a significant disconnect between student and faculty positions.

According to a White House initiative, "HBCUs offer all students, regardless of race, an opportunity to develop their skills and talents. These institutions train young people who go on to serve domestically and internationally in the professions as entrepreneurs and in the public and private sectors."

"Building an inclusive community of support is foundational to the mission and the vision of NPA," said NPA chair of the board of directors, Caleb C. McKinney. Starting immediately, the NPA will offer free access to all of its resources to individuals at HBCU institutions to broaden understanding in the Black community of the pathways opened through postdoc positions.

As the national voice of the postdoctoral community, the NPA provides professional development, networking, skills education, and leadership opportunities to postdocs following a path to top academic, industry, entrepreneurial, nonprofit organization, and government positions.

About National Postdoctoral Association:

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) educational association headquartered in Rockville, MD. Founded in 2003, the NPA envisions an inclusive community where all postdocs are empowered, valued, recognized, and supported in their current and future endeavors. The NPA serves the entire postdoctoral community, including its 20,000 individual and 230 organizational members.

Learn more: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/page/Join

RELATED LINKS:

https://nces.ed.gov/

https://jbhe.com/2023/01/black-enrollments-in-post-pandemic-higher-education/

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) today announced that it would provide free membership to any undergraduate or graduate student enrolled at any Historically Black Colleges and University (HBCU). The same is true for any postdoctoral scholar ("postdoc") working at such an institution.

Related link: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

Gains and Challenges Seen in New Study of U.S. Postdoc Programs

ROCKVILLE, Md. /ScoopCloud/ -- A new report released today from the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) published in partnership with Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society, highlights both progress over the last decade in institutional support for postdoctoral fellows ("postdocs") as well as significant areas requiring attention. The report, Pressing Forward in Supporting Postdocs: 2023 National Postdoctoral Association Institutional Policy Report, makes specific recommendations to institutions hosting the nation's 72,000 postdocs.

"The NPA Institutional Policy Report is invaluable in showing how far we have come in supporting postdoctoral scholars, in helping us dig deeper into the issues that impact scholars and our offices, and in advocating for greater support for the scholars that are working hard to change the world," commented Sofie R. Kleppner, Ph.D., associate vice provost and associate dean, Stanford University.

The new release provides four critical recommendations for improving the postdoctoral environment: pay postdocs a competitive wage with comprehensive benefits; provide proper institutional support for postdoc offices and associations; collect data on postdoc demographics and outcomes; and provide a postdoc handbook transparently outlining institutional policies.

"This report provides clear direction for any institution with a postdoc program," commented Thomas P. Kimbis, J.D., executive director and chief executive officer of the NPA. "The data tell a tale of hard work and major successes in some areas- and the need to redouble efforts in others."

With data collected from more than 100 institutions, the NPA looked at key factors of postdoctoral programs, including policies, benefits, and training programs. With longitudinal data covering a span of nine years, originating with the first such report in 2014, this report provides a unique data set identifying specific areas of strength and weakness aggregated across U.S. postdoctoral policies and practices.

For the first time, the survey also collected information on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts at institutions, with support from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. In regard to the total number of postdocs in the U.S., the data did not show any indication of a decrease over the last three years, although there has been a decline when looking across the last decade.

"This data gives us critical insight into key areas of need when it comes to institutional support and fair pay for postdoctoral scholars," said Jamie Vernon, Sigma Xi executive director and chief executive officer. "The inclusion of DEI information in this year's report represents a key area of importance for both Sigma Xi and the NPA and can produce a valuable barometer for institutions."

The report is tied to the NPA Recommendations for Postdoc Policies and Practices, which provides comprehensive guidelines for institutions hosting postdocs. A new version of the recommendations is scheduled to be released in 2024, providing additional direction to institutions seeking to improve their postdoctoral environments.

Pressing Forward in Supporting Postdocs is being released in conjunction with the September/October issue of Sigma Xi's publication, American Scientist, and is also available online at the Sigma Xi and NPA websites. The report is the fourth in a series of triennial reports on this topic. Past reports and aggregate survey data are available to NPA members online.

More information: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/page/policy_report_databa

About National Postdoctoral Association:

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) educational association headquartered in Rockville, MD. Founded in 2003, the NPA envisions an inclusive community where all postdocs are empowered, valued, recognized, and supported in their current and future endeavors. The NPA serves the entire postdoctoral community, including its 20,000 individual and 230 organizational members.

Learn more: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/page/Join

A new report released today from the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) published in partnership with Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society, highlights both progress over the last decade in institutional support for postdoctoral fellows ("postdocs") as well as significant areas requiring attention. The report, 'Pressing Forward in Supporting Postdocs: 2023 National Postdoctoral Association Institutional Policy Report,' makes specific recommendations to institutions hosting the nation's 72,000 postdocs.

Related link: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

New Class of NPA IMPACT Fellows Announced: Six outstanding postdocs hailing from underrepresented communities form third IMPACT class

ROCKVILLE, Md. /ScoopCloud/ -- The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) today announced the members of its third class of scholars in its signature program designed to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in the postdoctoral community and beyond. The six fellows in the NPA's 2023-2024 IMPACT Fellowship Program ("IMPACT") are postdoctoral researchers representing diverse backgrounds, disciplines, and geographies.

"We are thrilled to welcome this cohort of remarkable individuals who are not only striving to reach their full potential but committed to lift up one another along the way," commented Thomas P. Kimbis, J.D., executive director and chief executive officer of the NPA. "By strengthening themselves through the IMPACT program, they position themselves as leaders within their fields, their communities, and our society."

IMPACT was launched in 2021 to empower postdoctoral scholars from underrepresented backgrounds to build skills, understand strengths and develop networks. Competition for seats in the third year of the program grew dramatically, with nearly one hundred applicants from across the globe for only six positions. This year's selectees are early-career professionals in fields ranging from molecular biology and neuroscience to chemical engineering and education.

Fellows begin today on a 16-month program that allows them to recognize and build upon their own strengths, learn from their peers, network with experts, connect with IMPACT alums who have already completed the program, and gain additional mentors, allowing them to advance confidently in their careers. IMPACT Fellows also use the knowledge, tools and resources they gain from the program to implement innovative activities or initiatives at their institutions that amplify the impact of the fellowship as they contribute back to home communities.

"We are just beginning to grasp the full reach and impact this program has on both IMPACT Fellows and their communities," said Caleb McKinney, Ph.D., MPS, chair of the NPA board of directors. "In the right environment, a small cohort of diverse leaders like this one builds capacity to positively affect thousands."

NPA IMPACT Fellows, Class of 2023-24:

* Angela Crumdy, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania

* Lisa Eshun-Wilson, Ph.D., The Scripps Research Institute

* Pierre Kawak, Ph.D., University of South Florida

* Nicole Maphis, Ph.D., University of New Mexico

* Islamiat Raji, Ph.D., Queen's University

* Henkel Valentine, Ph.D., Fox Chase Cancer Center

IMPACT is made possible through the generosity of its sponsors, who have included the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Charles River Laboratories, Columbia University, Gallagher Insurance, LS-PAC MODELS Center, the University of Illinois Chicago, the University of Chicago, and the National Science Foundation.

Learn more: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/page/IMPACTProgram

The NPA is seeking additional sponsors to support underrepresented communities of scholars, promote their own diversity goals, and advance discussion and action in areas needing critical attention.

Academic institutions, companies, and nonprofit funders wishing to engage with the NPA can read more about available sponsorship opportunities: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/store/ListProducts.aspx?catid=839646.

About National Postdoctoral Association:

The NPA is a national charitable and educational nonprofit association headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, that seeks to improve the postdoctoral experience by supporting a culture of inclusive connection. Individuals seeking to support NPA and its charitable mission, please visit https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/page/donate.

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The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) today announced the members of its third class of scholars in its signature program designed to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in the postdoctoral community and beyond. The six fellows in the NPA's 2023-2024 IMPACT Fellowship Program ("IMPACT") are postdoctoral researchers representing diverse backgrounds, disciplines, and geographies.

Related link: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

NPA Names Kozlowski, Meissner as 2023 Winners of Annual Awards

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. /ScoopCloud/ -- As it celebrates its twentieth anniversary, the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) today announced that Lisa Kozlowski, Ph.D., and Christian Meissner, Ph.D., are the 2023 winners of two of the most prestigious awards in the national postdoctoral scholar community.

The NPA Distinguished Service Award recognizes the highest appreciation for an individual that has demonstrated a profound, sustained, or leadership contribution to improving the postdoctoral experience. Today, that honor was bestowed on Dr. Lisa Kozlowski, who has worked and advocated on behalf of postdocs and the postdoctoral community through the NPA and in her own career continuously for the past two decades.

"I'm so very honored to have been nominated and selected for the NPA's Distinguished Service Award," said Kozlowski. "I look forward to continuing my work with and for postdoctoral fellows, who make such great contributions to the research enterprise." Kozlowski serves as Associate Dean for Student and Postdoctoral Affairs at Thomas Jefferson University. She started as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Johns Hopkins University in 1997, where she helped lead one of the first postdoctoral associations in the nation.

The NPA Gallagher Mentor Award recognizes the very best of mentors across the nation who advocate for postdoctoral scholars, celebrate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) values, and empower their postdoc scholars to succeed. The NPA is dedicated to both recognizing champions and serving as a model for greater DEI in the postdoctoral community.

Dr. Christian Meissner was named the winner of the 2023 NPA Gallagher Mentor Award of the Year today in recognition of his fifteen years of outstanding mentoring of postdoctoral scholars. Meissner, a professor in the department of psychology at Iowa State University, completed his Ph.D. in cognitive & behavioral sciences at Florida State University. He is recognized for his approach to mentoring, characterized by his peers as empathetic and empowering.

"I'm incredibly humbled by this recognition," said Meissner. "Mentorship has been the most enjoyable aspect of my career and I am grateful to have collaborated with such outstanding early career scholars."

"Drs. Kozlowski and Meissner demonstrate the highest levels of leadership in promoting both individual postdocs and the entire postdoctoral community and are most deserving of our highest awards," stated NPA board chair Caleb McKinney, Ph.D., MPS in recognizing the winners. "All of us can learn from their dedication to promote a culture of belonging and understanding."

In addition, in honor of the NPA's twentieth anniversary, Dr. McKinney presented a special NPA Chair's Recognition to the seven postdoctoral scholars whose inspiration and persistence were instrumental in founding the association in 2003: Drs. Orfeu Buxton, Karen Christopherson, Raymond Clark, Carol Manahan, Avi Spier, Claudina Stevenson, and Arti Varanasi.

About the National Postdoctoral Association:

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) charitable and educational association headquartered in Rockville, MD. Founded in 2003, the NPA envisions an inclusive community where all postdocs are empowered, valued, recognized, and supported in their current and future endeavors. The NPA serves the entire postdoctoral community, including its 22,000 individual and 230 organizational members.

Learn more at: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

As it celebrates its twentieth anniversary, the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) today announced that Lisa Kozlowski, Ph.D., and Christian Meissner, Ph.D., are the 2023 winners of two of the most prestigious awards in the national postdoctoral scholar community.

Related link: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

2023 NPA Gallagher Mentor Award Finalists Announced

ROCKVILLE, Md. /ScoopCloud/ -- The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA), in partnership with Gallagher, today announced the finalists for the 2023 NPA Gallagher Mentor Award. The award recognizes a faculty member or advisor who engages in exceptional mentoring of postdoctoral scholars.

The prestigious NPA Gallagher Mentor Award recognizes those who advocate for postdoctoral scholars; exhibit outstanding communication skills; embed diversity, equity and inclusion values in mentoring; demonstrate respect for the work and career paths of postdoctoral scholars; create productive working environments to enhance the postdoctoral experience; and show resilience and creativity as mentors in navigating change.

"Recognition as a mentor in the academic community is an exceptional achievement, as it demonstrates great dedication to those whose professional careers are just beginning," said Caleb McKinney, Ph.D., MPS, chair of the NPA board of directors and interim assistant vice president at Georgetown University Medical Center.

The 2023 finalists for the NPA Gallagher Mentor Award are:

* Ya-Ting T. Liao, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Case Western Reserve University

* Christian A. Meissner, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Psychology, Iowa State University

* Lakesh Sharma, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Soil Fertility and Sustainable Agriculture, Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences Department, University of Florida

"The NPA recognizes the selfless actions of each of these impressive individuals in mentoring postdoctoral scholars," stated NPA executive director and chief executive officer, Thomas P. Kimbis. "It is hard to understate their contributions to those scientists and researchers fortunate enough to interact with them every day."

The winner of this year's award will be announced at the 2023 NPA Annual Conference, taking place in Philadelphia on April 21-22, 2023 and through a virtual event May 11-12, 2023. This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the founding of the NPA, which will be celebrated during these events.

Registration remains open for this event and is accessible to anyone around the world. Learn more: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/page/2023AC

About the National Postdoctoral Association:

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) educational association headquartered in Rockville, MD and celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2023. Founded in 2003, the NPA envisions an inclusive community where all postdocs are empowered, valued, recognized, and supported in their current and future endeavors. The NPA serves the entire postdoctoral community, including its nearly 25,000 individual and 250 organizational members.

Learn more: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

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The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA), in partnership with Gallagher, today announced the finalists for the 2023 NPA Gallagher Mentor Award. The award recognizes a faculty member or advisor who engages in exceptional mentoring of postdoctoral scholars. The prestigious NPA Gallagher Mentor Award recognizes those who advocate for postdoctoral scholars.

Related link: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

New Survey Finds Broad Dissatisfaction Among Postdoctoral Researchers

ROCKVILLE, Md. /ScoopCloud/ -- A survey released today by the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA), 2023 Postdoctoral Barriers to Success, shows warning signs from a critical component of the nation's science and research workforce. Today, more than 70,000 postdoctoral researchers ("postdocs") who have completed their Ph.D. or other terminal degree work in senior positions in academia, government, and industry.

The new study indicates widespread stressors across all fundamental components of the postdoc position detract from a satisfactory professional and life experience. The negative effects could be contributing to decreased interest among graduate students in entering the postdoc position and difficulty in institutions in attracting and retaining such researchers.

Salary shortcomings are key, with approximately 19 out of 20 postdocs surveyed indicating that their salaries have a negative impact on their professional and/or personal lives. Salaries for first-year postdocs funded at a widely-used benchmark by the National Institutes of Health are less than $55,000 for our most highly-educated workforce, a figure lower than frequently-cited salaries for those entering private sector work with only an undergraduate degree.

"Salaries are only the beginning of the issue," commented Thomas P. Kimbis, executive director and chief executive officer of the NPA. "We need to dig deeper across all factors influencing this population to ensure that postdoctoral researchers and their institutions succeed, while our nation's scientific enterprise remains robust."

The NPA survey asked about twenty-four factors with possible implications for postdocs and found that, in every case, at least half of respondents were negatively impacted in some manner. Other than salary, top concerns included the lack of clarity of pathway to next position, unclear definition of their time as a postdoc, and job security and position guarantees.

International postdocs working in the U.S. face additional setbacks. Nearly three-quarters of international postdocs indicated that additional vulnerabilities associated with their foreign status have a high-level, negative impact on their professional and/or personal lives. Today, international researchers comprise more than half of the postdoc workforce in the U.S.

Despite these challenges, postdocs across all fields continue to accomplish a significant amount of critical research to the benefit of their disciplines, to science, and to the nation. Postdocs are not alone in seeking change: academic institutions, foundations and government entities are also interested in solutions. Addressing needs identified in this survey may multiply the positive impact of postdocs, expand the interest and retention in the postdoc position, and create a more personally and professionally satisfied research workforce.

"The NPA encourages institutions hosting postdocs as well as funding agencies to review these findings and to work with the NPA to implement appropriate actions to address them," said Kimbis.

Learn more (PDF): https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.nationalpostdoc.org/resource/resmgr/docs/2023_postdoctoral_barriers_t.pdf

About National Postdoctoral Association:

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) educational association headquartered in Rockville, MD. Founded in 2003, the NPA envisions an inclusive community where all postdocs are empowered, valued, recognized, and supported in their current and future endeavors. The NPA serves the entire postdoctoral community, including its more than 21,000 individual and 230 organizational members.

Find out more at https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/.

A survey released today by the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA), 2023 Postdoctoral Barriers to Success, shows warning signs from a critical component of the nation's science and research workforce. Today, more than 70,000 postdoctoral researchers ("postdocs") who have completed their Ph.D. or other terminal degree work in senior positions in academia, government, and industry.

Related link: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

NPA Announces Exciting DEIB Efforts During National Postdoc Appreciation Week

ROCKVILLE, Md. /ScoopCloud/ -- The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) announced two marquee programs designed to advance diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) in the postdoctoral community and beyond. During the highly successful National Postdoc Appreciation Week, the NPA shared details on both the finalists in its 2022-2023 IMPACT Fellowship Program, as well as the first NPA Race & Ethnicity Equity Summit, a free global event taking place November 17, 2022.

"Promoting diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging is not only at the heart of our strategic planning, it is one of our core values," explained Thomas P. Kimbis, J.D., executive director and chief executive officer of the NPA. "These ground-breaking activities not only help those directly engaged in the programs, but they push hard in difficult areas across the whole scientific and research communities."

The IMPACT Fellowship Program (IMPACT) was launched last year to empower postdoctoral scholars from underrepresented backgrounds to build skills, understand strengths and develop networks. Competition for program seats in the second year of the program was intense with more than fifty applicants from across the globe for only six positions.

IMPACT Fellows will interact with experts from a range of disciplines as well as learn from one another as they strategically build upon existing skills, recognize opportunities, and advance more confidently in their careers. Fellows will also use the knowledge, tools and resources they gain from the program to implement innovative activities or initiatives at their institutions that amplify the impact of the fellowship as they contribute back to home communities.

NPA IMPACT Fellows, Class of 2022-23:

* Camilo A. Duarte-Cordon, Ph.D., Columbia University

* Phyllis Kyei Mensah, Ph.D., Utah State University

* Caleb Muefong, Ph.D., Washington University in St Louis

* Kathryn Sanchez, Ph.D., University of New Mexico

* Ricardo Velasco Trujillo, Ph.D., University of Minnesota Twin Cities

* Liisa Veerus, D.Phil., Rutgers University

The first NPA Race & Ethnicity Equity Summit was created in recognition that scientists and researchers from underrepresented communities face additional challenges and barriers that are too often disregarded. Through a series of interactive online race and ethnicity discussions featuring more than twenty expert speakers from industry, academia, government, and nonprofits, the summit seeks to identify barriers - and find paths forward - in the greater postdoctoral community on the path to greater racial and ethnic equity. Hundreds of participating scientists, researchers, and academic professionals are expected to attend.

The NPA's DEIB activities are made possible through the generosity of its sponsors, including Gallagher Insurance and the University of Chicago. The NPA is seeking additional sponsors to support underrepresented communities of scholars, promote their own diversity goals, and advance discussion and action in areas needing critical attention. Academic institutions, companies, and nonprofit funders wishing to engage with the NPA can read more about available sponsorship opportunities.

The NPA is a national charitable and educational nonprofit association headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, that seeks to improve the postdoctoral experience by supporting a culture of inclusive connection. At the individual, organizational, and national levels, the NPA facilitates enhanced professional growth, raises awareness, and collaborates with stakeholders in the postdoctoral community. Membership in the NPA is open to all organizations and individuals interested in advancing the interests of postdocs in the United States. Affiliate membership in the NPA for most postdocs is free and available at https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/.

To support NPA and its charitable mission, please visit https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/page/donate or text 20FORNPA to 44-321.

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The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) announced two marquee programs designed to advance diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) in the postdoctoral community and beyond. During the highly successful National Postdoc Appreciation Week, the NPA shared details on both the finalists in its 2022-2023 IMPACT Fellowship Program, as well as the first NPA Race & Ethnicity Equity Summit, a free global event taking place November 17, 2022.

Related link: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

Tens of Thousands of Researchers Celebrated During 13th National Postdoc Appreciation Week

ROCKVILLE, Md. /ScoopCloud/ -- The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) today kicked off the 13th annual National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW), taking place today through Friday. NPAW is the nation's largest celebration of postdoctoral scholars who serve at more than 300 institutions, acknowledging the significant contributions "postdocs" make to research, innovation and scientific discovery. This year's NPAW theme, "Finding Your Balance," recognizes the challenges postdocs face in balancing the rigors of their research positions with maintaining their health and wellness.

Postdocs are individuals holding doctoral degrees engaged in a temporary period of mentored research or scholarly training to gain needed skills to excel in their careers. These scholars conduct a large share of critical, cutting-edge research across all disciplines at universities, research institutions and industry members across the United States.

"Postdocs require exemplary discipline, focus, and balance to succeed in their challenging positions," said Tom Kimbis, J.D., executive director and chief executive officer of the NPA. "They are the backbone of science and research leadership in our country and deserve recognition throughout the year. Carving out a week to celebrate their remarkable work ethic and achievements is the least we can do."

The contribution of the roughly 70,000 U.S. postdocs, whose numbers are concentrated in the STEM fields and are instrumental to much of the early-stage research that occurs throughout the country, is often overlooked, as the academic postdoc is neither a student nor a faculty member. Yet, postdocs represent the highest-educated individuals in our society and drive innovation daily.

"Many don't realize that thousands of postdocs work in the social sciences - from economics to psychology - and go onto leadership positions in government, industry, and non-profit organizations," commented Stephanie Eberle, M.Ed., executive director of BioSci Careers at Stanford University. "Like those in the physical sciences, their roles are critical to societal growth and innovation."

Since its founding by the NPA in 2009, NPAW has grown into a truly national event, with universities, medical centers, industry members, and others hosting events this week to acknowledge the contributions of postdocs. Popular events during NPAW include professional and career development workshops, networking activities, and social events celebrating the immense contribution of postdocs to our nation's thought leadership. This year, roughly 40 free national events are open to all postdocs, in addition to local events happening on campuses across the nation.

NPAW 2022 is anchored by a kickoff event with opening remarks by Sharon Milgram, Ph.D., director of the Office of Intramural Training & Education (OITE) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and a panel discussion, featuring Robert Hable, Ph.D., innovation and product commercialization coordinator at BASF; Inge Hansen, Psy.D., clinical psychologist and director of well-being at Stanford University; and Yen Teng Tai, Ph.D., postdoctoral researcher at Penn State University College of Medicine. The discussion will focus on challenges early career researchers face, lessons learned from their own struggles, and a framework for postdocs to build better balance in their professional lives as they navigate their career progression.

A calendar of 2022 NPAW events can be found at https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/page/2022NPAW

This year, NPAW is made possible by NPA Distinguished Partner, Gallagher Insurance, and NPA Gold Partner, Proteintech.

The NPA is a national charitable and educational non-profit association headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, that seeks to improve the postdoctoral experience by supporting a culture of inclusive connection. At the individual, organizational, and national levels, the NPA facilitates enhanced professional growth, raises awareness, and collaborates with stakeholders in the postdoctoral community. Membership in the NPA is open to all organizations and individuals interested in advancing the interests of postdocs in the United States.

Affiliate membership in the NPA for most postdocs is free and available at https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/.

To support NPA and its charitable mission to assist postdocs, please visit https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/page/donate or text NPAW2022 to 44-321.

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) today kicked off the 13th annual National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW), taking place today through Friday. NPAW is the nation's largest celebration of postdoctoral scholars who serve at more than 300 institutions, acknowledging the significant contributions "postdocs" make to research, innovation and scientific discovery.

Related link: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

NPA Names Davis, Jurado as 2022 Winners of Distinguished Awards

CHICAGO, Ill. /ScoopCloud/ -- During its historic twentieth annual conference, the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) today announced that Geoff Davis, Ph.D., and Kellie Ann Jurado, Ph.D., are the 2022 winners of the organization's two most prestigious awards in the postdoctoral scholar community.

The NPA Distinguished Service Award recognizes the highest appreciation for an individual that has demonstrated a profound, sustained, or leadership contribution to improving the postdoctoral experience. Today, that honor was bestowed on Dr. Geoff Davis, one of the earliest advocates for the NPA.

"It is inspiring to see how much the NPA has accomplished for postdocs," commented Davis. "I am honored to be recognized for the work we did together." Davis is a Staff Data Scientist in the Applied Science group at Google Research, having previously served as a postdoc and later an assistant professor of mathematics at Dartmouth College.

The NPA Gallagher Mentor Award recognizes the very best of mentors across the nation who advocate for postdoctoral scholars, celebrate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) values, and empower their postdoc scholars to succeed. The NPA is dedicated to both recognizing champions and serving as a model for greater DEI in the postdoctoral community.

Dr. Kellie Ann Jurado was named the 2022 Gallagher Mentor of the Year today in Chicago to a field of applauding researchers. Jurado, a Presidential Assistant Professor in the microbiology department at University of Pennsylvania, completed her postdoctoral training at Yale University and earned her Ph.D. at Harvard University.

"I am just so honored," said Jurado. "The absolute best part of this position is to be able to learn and deliberate with my team. They are the light- I am just grateful that I get to help them shine."

"Drs. Davis and Jurado are exemplars in their field," stated NPA Board chair Stephanie Eberle, M.Ed., who announced today's highly-coveted and respected awards. "Beyond academic contributions, they role model commitment to the holistic development of postdoctoral scholars and the advancement of a culture of belonging in training and beyond. These, our highest NPA awards, honor such dedication."

Individuals and organizations can continue the celebration of Drs. Davis and Jurado by following their work while also seeking opportunities to collaborate with the NPA, which is committed to a course of work that advances the careers of our nation's brightest and most educated scholars.

Learn more: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/page/2022AC

About the National Postdoctoral Association:

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) charitable and educational association headquartered in Rockville, MD. Founded in 2003, the NPA envisions an inclusive community where all postdocs are empowered, valued, recognized, and supported in their current and future endeavors. The NPA serves the entire postdoctoral community, including its 22,000 individual and 230 organizational members. Learn more: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

During its historic twentieth annual conference, the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) today announced that Geoff Davis, Ph.D., and Kellie Ann Jurado, Ph.D., are the 2022 winners of the organization's two most prestigious awards in the postdoctoral scholar community.

Related link: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

2022 Mentor of the Year Finalists Announced: Four academic leaders nominated for strong commitment to mentorship

ROCKVILLE, Md. /ScoopCloud/ -- The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA), in partnership with Gallagher, today announced during National Mentoring Month the finalists for the 2022 NPA Gallagher Mentor Award. The award recognizes a faculty member or advisor who engages in exceptional mentoring of postdoctoral scholars.

The prestigious award recognizes those who advocate for postdoctoral scholars; exhibit outstanding communication skills; embed diversity, equity and inclusion values in mentoring; demonstrate respect for the work and career paths of postdoctoral scholars; create productive working environments to enhance the postdoctoral experience; and show resilience and creativity as mentors during the pandemic.

"Recognition as a mentor is without a doubt the highest achievement one can receive, because it represents one's positive impact on those that will help shape the future," said Ed Krug, Ph.D., former recipient of the NPA Gallagher Mentor Award and professor emeritus at the Medical University of South Carolina.

The 2022 finalists for the NPA Gallagher Mentor Award are:

* Kellie Ann Jurado, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine

* Kalmia E. Kniel, Ph.D., University of Delaware

* Eben Kenah, Ph.D. & Grzegorz A. Rempala, Ph.D., The Ohio State University

"The NPA recognizes the accomplishments of all four of these impressive individuals and their unfailing commitment to mentorship for postdocs," stated NPA executive director and chief executive officer, Thomas P. Kimbis. "Each of these finalists is already a winner for how they give back to others every day and is a model for others to follow."

The winner of this year's award will be announced at the 2022 NPA Annual Conference, taking place live for the first time in three years in Chicago at the Palmer House Hilton on April 1-2, 2022 and through a virtual event April 28-29, 2022. Registration remains open for this event and is accessible to anyone around the world. Early bird registration ends on January 28, 2022.

About National Postdoctoral Association:

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) educational association headquartered in Rockville, MD. Founded in 2003, the NPA envisions an inclusive community where all postdocs are empowered, valued, recognized, and supported in their current and future endeavors. The NPA serves the entire postdoctoral community, including its more than 21,000 individual and 230 organizational members.

LEARN MORE: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

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https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/page/2022AC

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA), in partnership with Gallagher, today announced during National Mentoring Month the finalists for the 2022 NPA Gallagher Mentor Award. The award recognizes a faculty member or advisor who engages in exceptional mentoring of postdoctoral scholars.

Related link: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

NPA Announces Six Scholars Selected for IMPACT Fellowship Program

ROCKVILLE, Md. /ScoopCloud/ -- The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) today announced the six finalists in the inaugural class of its IMPACT Fellowship Program, an esteemed initiative designed to empower postdoctoral scholars from underrepresented backgrounds to build skills, understand strengths and develop networks. Competition for program seats was intense with more than seventy applicants from across the globe for six positions.

"We are thrilled at the tremendous enthusiasm for learning and potential for leadership in the Fellows of our incoming class," said Stephanie Eberle, M.Ed., chair of the NPA. "Fellows will gain mentors from outside their current discipline, greater self-awareness to identify key strengths, and newfound confidence heading into the next steps of their careers."

IMPACT Fellows will engage in a six-month, interactive fellowship that uses a variety of tools to empower participants to strategically build upon existing skills, recognize opportunities, and advance more confidently in their careers. Fellows are expected not only to benefit from their own growth but also to use the knowledge, tools and resources they gain from the program to implement activities or initiatives at their institutions and to contribute back to their communities.

"An exciting aspect of the IMPACT program is that Fellows from across institutions will be able to build a strong cohort of peers, and learn from each others' experiences and unique perspectives," stated Caleb McKinney, Ph.D., MPS, treasurer of the NPA and board liaison for diversity affairs.

The inaugural Fellowship class will engage in a peer mentoring program, a dedicated speaker series featuring luminaries from a range of disciplines, and ultimately a live educational and networking event at the NPA Annual Conference in Chicago, Illinois, in April 2022.

The NPA is proud to present the IMPACT Fellows for 2021-22:

* Brienna Anderson-Coughlin, Ph.D., University of Delaware

* Kimiko Krieger, Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine

* Tanya Paes, Ph.D., Purdue University

* Raul Rodriguez, Ph.D., University of California - Berkeley

* Anaïs Tallon, Ph.D., Virginia Tech

* Z Yan Wang, Ph.D., Princeton University

The IMPACT Fellowship is made possible through its institutional sponsors, Gallagher Insurance, the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), and Columbia University's Zuckerman Institute, as well as the contributions of individual donors.

Additional sponsorship opportunities remain available at https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/mpage/IMPACT.

The NPA is a national charitable and educational non-profit association headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, that seeks to improve the postdoctoral experience by supporting a culture of inclusive connection. At the individual, organizational, and national levels, the NPA facilitates enhanced professional growth, raises awareness, and collaborates with stakeholders in the postdoctoral community. Membership in the NPA is open to all organizations and individuals interested in advancing the interests of postdocs in the United States. Affiliate membership in the NPA for most postdocs is free and available at https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/.

To support NPA and its charitable mission, please visit https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/page/donate or text 20FORNPA to 44-321.

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The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) today announced the six finalists in the inaugural class of its IMPACT Fellowship Program, an esteemed initiative designed to empower postdoctoral scholars from underrepresented backgrounds to build skills, understand strengths and develop networks. Competition for program seats was intense with more than seventy applicants from across the globe for six positions.

Related link: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

Virtues and Skills of Researchers Across the U.S. Celebrated During 12th National Postdoc Appreciation Week

ROCKVILLE, Md. /ScoopCloud/ -- The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) today kicked off the 12th annual National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW), taking place through Friday. NPAW is the nation's largest celebration of postdoctoral scholars who serve at more than 300 institutions, acknowledging the significant contributions "postdocs" make to research, innovation and scientific discovery. This year's NPA theme, "I Am a Postdoc," celebrates the fact that postdocs not only achieve greatness in their work, but also come from diverse backgrounds, possess valuable professional skills, and embrace fundamental virtues.

Postdocs are individuals holding doctoral degrees engaged in a temporary period of mentored research or scholarly training to gain needed skills to excel in their careers. These scholars conduct a large share of critical, cutting-edge research across all disciplines at universities, research institutions and industry members across the United States.

"The NPA founded NPAW as a platform to celebrate postdocs and their contributions at and outside of the workplace," said William Mahoney, Jr., Ph.D., vice chair of the NPA. "We're thrilled to join our partners, members, and sponsors in providing postdocs with more of the recognition they so richly deserve."

Since its founding by the NPA in 2009, NPAW has grown into a truly national event, with universities, medical centers, industry members, and others hosting events this week to acknowledge the contributions of postdocs. Popular events during NPAW include professional and career development workshops, networking activities, and social events celebrating the immense contribution of postdocs to our nation's thought leadership.

"NPAW celebrates the inspiration and perspiration of the more than 70,000 postdocs working in the U.S. across all disciplines - from immunology to psychology - to make a better world for us all." said Tom Kimbis, NPA executive director and CEO. "Although more Americans learn every day who postdocs are and what they do, postdocs remain a largely unseen force in the U.S. economy. Through NPAW and beyond, the NPA is dedicated to changing this culture of invisibility."

In addition to the dozens of events occurring locally, national NPAW activities following on the theme of "I Am a Postdoc" include remarks by the Honorable Sethuraman Panchanathan, director of the National Science Foundation; Robert T. Pennock, Ph.D., University Distinguished Professor, Michigan State University, and president of Sigma Xi; and, Keith Micoli, Ph.D., assistant dean of postdoctoral affairs at New York University School of Medicine. These will be complemented by a career connection opportunity for postdocs to network with former postdocs now in permanent positions, as well as a hands-on workshop led by NPA partner Postdoc Academy providing training on finding preferred career paths.

A calendar of 2021 NPAW events can be found at https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/2021NPAW.

Many local events are being conducted virtually and are open to participation by researchers at other institutions in a spirit of collaboration and cross-fertilization of ideas. This year, NPAW is made possible by NPA Distinguished Partner, Gallagher Insurance, and NPA Gold Partner, Proteintech.

The NPA is a national charitable and educational non-profit association headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, that seeks to improve the postdoctoral experience by supporting a culture of inclusive connection. At the individual, organizational, and national levels, the NPA facilitates enhanced professional growth, raises awareness, and collaborates with stakeholders in the postdoctoral community. Membership in the NPA is open to all organizations and individuals interested in advancing the interests of postdocs in the United States. Affiliate membership in the NPA for most postdocs is free and available at https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/.

To support NPA and its charitable mission to assist postdocs, please visit https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/page/donate or text 20FORNPA to 44-321.

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The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) today kicked off the 12th annual National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW), taking place through Friday. NPAW is the nation's largest celebration of postdoctoral scholars who serve at more than 300 institutions, acknowledging the significant contributions "postdocs" make to research, innovation and scientific discovery.

Related link: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

NPA Launches IMPACT Fellowship Program

ROCKVILLE, Md. /ScoopCloud/ -- The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) today announced a fellowship program designed to help researchers from marginalized communities advance their careers. Using tools to improve skills, better understand strengths, provide exposure to new fields, and develop new networks, the IMPACT Fellowship Program is a groundbreaking effort assisting postdoctoral scholars of all disciplines.

There are approximately 70,000 postdoctoral scholars across the United States who conduct the bulk of the nation's early-stage research. In addition to their important work within their fields, ranging from economics to life sciences, these scholars serve as mentors and instructors for graduate students while preparing to enter the full-time workforce in leadership positions. As members of minority racial, ethnic, gender, geographic, and other communities, some postdoctoral scholars face high barriers to career and personal success others do not.

"Unfortunately, all postdoctoral scholars do not share equal access to critical resources, especially those from marginalized communities or from historically underfunded institutions," said NPA executive director and chief executive officer, Thomas P. Kimbis. "A year after the height of protests in the wake of the death of George Floyd and just before the celebration of Juneteenth, we are proud to announce this intentional step in the right direction."

"As the national association of postdoctoral scholars, we are very aware of this inequity within our own membership," commented NPA Board chair, Stephanie Eberle. "By taking a hands-on, peer-driven approach, IMPACT provides new tools to help program fellows succeed while encouraging them to bring lessons learned back to their communities."

IMPACT is set to run its first program of fellows for six months starting this summer, to be followed by another class in 2022. IMPACT program graduates will comprise a growing and supportive community to scholars looking to strategically build upon existing skills, recognize opportunities, and advance in their careers. The program will also feature engagement with leaders from areas such as business, communications, finance, and policy that are outside the fellows' disciplines, providing them new career insights and connections.

NPA diversity officer, Matthew Aguirre, noted "The IMPACT fellowship program has taken a team of leaders to establish, and we cannot express our excitement to be a part of it. This will be the program's pilot year, but will only grow to serve the postdoctoral community, specifically those from marginalized and under-resourced communities."

"Leadership and inclusion skill sets are increasingly recognized as essential competencies for postdoctoral scholars," added Vipul Sharma, who serves as a diversity officer alongside Aguirre. "IMPACT is a small step on a national scale to initiate an equitable and inclusive culture in research."

The NPA is currently seeking applicants for fellows as well as corporate, individual, and philanthropic sponsors of the first class of this multi-year, signature program.

Applicants for fellows: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/page/IMPACTProgram

Sponsors information: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/mpage/IMPACT

About National Postdoctoral Association:

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) educational association headquartered in Rockville, MD. Founded in 2003, the NPA envisions an inclusive community where all postdocs are empowered, valued, recognized, and supported in their current and future endeavors. The NPA serves the entire postdoctoral community, including its 19,000 individual and 215 organizational members.

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The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) today announced a fellowship program designed to help researchers from marginalized communities advance their careers. Using tools to improve skills, better understand strengths, provide exposure to new fields, and develop new networks, the IMPACT Fellowship Program is a groundbreaking effort assisting postdoctoral scholars of all disciplines.

Related link: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

New Study Shows Positive Trends and Continued Challenges for University Postdocs

ROCKVILLE, Md. /ScoopCloud/ -- The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) today announced the release of Growing Progress in Supporting Postdocs: 2021 National Postdoctoral Association Institutional Policy Report.

Developed in collaboration with Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society, and with support from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, the report provides data and analysis of current postdoc office structures as well as insights into postdoc policies and programs at their institutions. The report is the third in a series of triennial reports on this topic.

The report analyzes the impact of how certain important and measurable factors, such as the number of postdocs at an institution, affect postdoc policies, benefits, and training programs. The latest data show positive trends when compared to the last edition, such as the continued creation of new postdoc offices at research facilities, a small increase in postdoc office budgets, and a few more institutions offering family friendly benefits to postdocs, to name a few.

"We are headed in the right direction in many areas of the postdoctoral experience," noted Tom Kimbis, executive director and chief executive officer of the NPA. "However, there are clear areas demanding improvement illustrated in this report that should be considered by all institutions supporting postdocs."

The report's key recommendations to institutions that hire postdocs are to increase the staff and budget for postdoc offices, provide higher compensation and equality in postdoc benefits, implement a uniform postdoc onboarding process, offer an intentional training program, build a diverse postdoc population, and implement better career tracking of postdocs after they leave their training institutions.

The report is part of an ongoing data collection project that began in 2012. This is the first look at longitudinal data covering a span of six years and originating with the last three NPA Institutional Policy Reports, and includes identification of areas of strength and weakness in institutional progress over that time. The institutions covered in this year's iteration represent 36,000 of the country's approximately 70,000 postdocs. Work is underway to begin the next round of data collection starting in 2022.

Growing Progress in Supporting Postdocs is being released as a supplement to the May-June 2021 issue of Sigma Xi's publication, American Scientist, and is also available online at the Sigma Xi and NPA websites. Fuller data from the expansive report is also available to NPA members only on the NPA website.

Learn mote: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/page/policy_report_databa

About National Postdoctoral Association:

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) educational association headquartered in Rockville, MD. Founded in 2003, the NPA envisions an inclusive community where all postdocs are empowered, valued, recognized, and supported in their current and future endeavors. The NPA serves the entire postdoctoral community, including its 18,000 individual and 215 organizational members.

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) today announced the release of Growing Progress in Supporting Postdocs: 2021 National Postdoctoral Association Institutional Policy Report.

Related link: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

NPA Announces Chalasani, Tetzlaff Win Awards of Highest Distinction

ROCKVILLE, Md. /ScoopCloud/ -- The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) today announced that Sreekanth Chalasani, Ph.D. and Julie Tetzlaff, Ph.D. are the 2021 winners of the organization's two most prestigious awards for exceptional service to the postdoctoral scholar community.

Chalasani, associate professor at the Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory at the Salk Institute, was announced as the winner of the 2021 NPA Gallagher Mentor Award among an exceptional field of finalists. Tetzlaff, associate professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin, was recognized by peers across the nation as the winner of the 2021 NPA Distinguished Service Award.

The NPA Gallagher Mentor Award recognizes the very best of mentors across the nation who advocate for postdoctoral scholars, celebrate diversity, equity and inclusion values and empower their postdoc scholars to succeed.

"A great expert is a person who has made all the mistakes," explained John Beacom, Ph.D., winner of the Mentor Award last year. "A great mentor is a person who will share those mistakes so others can avoid them."

"I am deeply honored to be selected as the NPA Gallagher Mentor of the Year from the National Postdoc Association," said Chalasani. "I would like to thank my current and former postdocs, all of whom have helped me become a better mentor. I also congratulate all of the award finalists for their fantastic work supporting postdocs."

The NPA Distinguished Service Award recognizes the highest appreciation for an individual that has demonstrated a profound, sustained, or leadership contribution to improving the postdoctoral experience. "The postdoctoral community is fortunate to have the NPA advocating on their behalf to improve the postdoctoral experience," commented Tetzlaff. "I thank them for giving me this award and bringing even more positive visibility to postdocs everywhere."

"Drs. Chalasani and Tetzlaff are receiving the highest honors that the NPA awards," stated NPA Board chair Stephanie Eberle, M.Ed. "In their own exceptional ways, they have excelled at creating agency and opportunity for postdoctoral scholars to succeed and advance in their work and careers."

The two awards were presented at the 2021 NPA Annual Conference before a record audience of postdoctoral scholars, faculty members, industry leaders and academic administrators.

Learn more: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/page/2021AC

About National Postdoctoral Association:

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) educational association headquartered in Rockville, MD. Founded in 2003, the NPA envisions an inclusive community where all postdocs are empowered, valued, recognized, and supported in their current and future endeavors. The NPA serves the entire postdoctoral community, including its 18,000 individual and 215 organizational members.

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) today announced that Sreekanth Chalasani, Ph.D. and Julie Tetzlaff, Ph.D. are the 2021 winners of the organization's two most prestigious awards for exceptional service to the postdoctoral scholar community.

Related link: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

National Postdoctoral Association Unveils New Strategic Plan

ROCKVILLE, Md. /ScoopCloud/ -- Today, the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) released a strategic plan for the coming three years to move closer towards its vision of "an inclusive community where all postdocs are empowered, valued, recognized, and supported in their current and future endeavors."

The 2021-2024 plan features a dozen strategies oriented around four pillars of NPA activity -- advocacy; diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI); member development; and operational excellence. The pillars and strategies were developed through an inclusive, eight-month process that included surveys of postdocs and university offices, consultation with external stakeholders, and use of best practices.

"The pillars of this strategic plan represent the next logical steps in our growth," said Stephanie Eberle, M.Ed., NPA Board Chair, "diversifying our research community, advocating for equity and opportunities within it, and maintaining the intentional, dependable service this important community deserves."

Since 2003, the NPA has been dedicated to improve the postdoctoral experience by supporting a culture of inclusive connection. This new member-driven plan is designed to bring even greater focus to the NPA's efforts by honing in on areas of greatest value and importance to postdocs and the institutions that support them.

The release coincides with the NPA's 19th Annual Conference, also occurring this week, and which has itself shattered attendance records and positioned the organization to jumpstart work under the new plan. The 18,000 member association hopes to further engage with its members, partners, allies and other stakeholders as it builds out specific initiatives and activities to implement its new strategies.

"We are committed to excellence in helping our members succeed -- from developing career pathways to building more inclusive communities -- and to creating novel and collaborative ways of enabling such success," commented Thomas P. Kimbis, J.D., NPA executive director and CEO. "We encourage stakeholders to connect with us to create win-win scenarios under our new plan."

About National Postdoctoral Association:

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) educational association headquartered in Rockville, MD. Founded in 2003, the NPA envisions an inclusive community where all postdocs are empowered, valued, recognized, and supported in their current and future endeavors. The NPA serves the entire postdoctoral community, including its 18,000 individual and 215 organizational members.

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Today, the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) released a strategic plan for the coming three years to move closer towards its vision of "an inclusive community where all postdocs are empowered, valued, recognized, and supported in their current and future endeavors."

Related link: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

2021 Mentor of the Year Finalists Announced – Eight outstanding leaders nominated from across the U.S.

ROCKVILLE, Md. /ScoopCloud/ -- The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA), in partnership with Gallagher, today announced the finalists for the 2021 NPA Gallagher Mentor Award. The award recognizes a faculty member or advisor who engages in exceptional mentoring of postdoctoral scholars.

The prestigious award recognizes those who advocate for postdoctoral scholars; exhibit outstanding communication skills; embed diversity, equity and inclusion values in mentoring; demonstrate respect for the work and career paths of postdoctoral scholars; create productive working environments to enhance the postdoctoral experience; and show resilience and creativity as mentors during the pandemic.

"Recognition as a mentor is without a doubt the highest achievement one can receive, because it represents one's positive impact on those that will help shape the future," said Ed Krug, Ph.D., former recipient of the NPA Gallagher Mentor Award and professor emeritus at the Medical University of South Carolina.

The 2021 finalists for the NPA Gallagher Mentor Award are:

* Sreekanth Chalasani, Ph.D., Salk Institute for Biological Studies

* Cory Christiansen, Ph.D., University of Colorado School of Medicine

* Christina Cipriano, Ph.D., Yale School of Medicine

* John D. Fryer, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic

* Kentaro Fujita, Ph.D., Ohio State University

* David J. Katz, Ph.D., Emory University School of Medicine

* Stephanie Madon, Ph.D., Iowa State University

* Ethan Menahem Shevach, M.D., National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

"The NPA recognizes the accomplishments of all eight of these impressive individuals and their unfailing commitment to mentorship for postdoctoral scholars," stated NPA executive director and chief executive officer, Thomas P. Kimbis. "Each of these finalists is already a winner for how they give to others every day."

The winner of this year's award will be announced at the 2021 NPA Annual Conference, taking place online April 15-16, 2021. Registration remains open for this event accessible around the world.

About National Postdoctoral Association:

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) educational association headquartered in Rockville, MD. Founded in 2003, the NPA envisions an inclusive community where all postdocs are empowered, valued, recognized, and supported in their current and future endeavors. The NPA serves the entire postdoctoral community, including its 18,000 individual and 215 organizational members.

Learn more at: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

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The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA), in partnership with Gallagher, today announced the finalists for the 2021 NPA Gallagher Mentor Award. The award recognizes a faculty member or advisor who engages in exceptional mentoring of postdoctoral scholars.

Related link: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

19th Annual Postdoc Event Targets Career Successes

ROCKVILLE, Md. /ScoopCloud/ -- The 19th National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) Annual Conference is set for April 15-16, 2021 and will include educational, career advancement and networking opportunities benefiting postdoctoral scholars ("postdocs") and their host institutions around the world. More than fifty experts will dive into themes of top importance to the greater postdoc community.

The conference is an annual highlight for the 70,000 postdocs who comprise the heart of early-stage American research and innovation as well as for representatives of 215 member NPA universities, research institutions and industry that host postdocs.

Taking place for the first time on a virtual platform, the conference will feature two keynote addresses focused on aspects of the most important postdoc concern today: career pathways and possibilities. Chris Gunter, Ph.D., senior advisor for genomics engagement at the National Human Genome Research Institute at the National Institutes of Health and Cristina Rabadán-Diehl, Ph.D., former director of the Office of the Americas at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will share their wisdom, expertise, and lessons learned.

"Postdocs and postdoc offices spoke and we listened," remarked Stephanie Eberle, M.Ed., NPA Board chair. "Career trajectories are top of mind for many postdocs and their advisors in this era of great uncertainty. Our conference will help answer the call."

Using a creative array of interactive sessions, speed talks, networking breakout groups, and social engagement tools, attendees will interact extensively. Experts from dozens of institutions will address critical issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion; excellence in mentoring; mental health and wellness, especially during the pandemic; and best practices in postdoc program management. A career "fireside chat," featuring Christopher Rhodes, Ph.D., of AstraZeneca and Latishya Steele, Ph.D., of Stanford University, will further delve into career trends and options in the increasingly intertwined areas of academia and industry.

"The NPA is thrilled to welcome first-time attendees from across the nation and around the globe using our virtual platform," commented Thomas P. Kimbis, NPA executive director and CEO. "It will be both a social, networking and learning experience you won't want to miss."

For more information about the 2021 NPA Annual Conference, including registration and sponsorship information, visit https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/page/2021AC.

About National Postdoctoral Association:

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) educational association headquartered in Rockville, MD. Founded in 2003, the NPA envisions an inclusive community where all postdocs are empowered, valued, recognized, and supported in their current and future endeavors. The NPA serves the entire postdoctoral community, including its 18,000 individual and 215 organizational members. Learn more: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/.

The 19th National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) Annual Conference is set for April 15-16, 2021 and will include educational, career advancement and networking opportunities benefiting postdoctoral scholars ("postdocs") and their host institutions around the world. More than fifty experts will dive into themes of top importance to the greater postdoc community.

Related link: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

National Postdoctoral Association Applauds Pay Increases for Postdocs

ROCKVILLE, Md. /ScoopCloud/ -- As advocates for a rewarding postdoctoral experience, the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) applauds the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for increasing the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) stipends for fiscal year 2021. A bellwether for research institutions across the country, NRSA pay levels are a critical factor in setting salaries for postdoctoral scholars - postdocs - of all disciplines.

"We can empower and educate the entire postdoctoral community by integrating meaningful work with healthy personal lives," commented Thomas P. Kimbis, NPA executive director and CEO. "A reasonable salary is a necessary part of any well-integrated postdoc experience."

Postdocs are the heart of early-stage research across America. Having completed their doctoral or terminal degrees in their fields, roughly 70,000 postdocs across all fifty states tackle tough issues in all disciplines from the biological and social sciences to engineering, leading cutting-edge research efforts at universities, institutes and within industry.

Often the unsung heroes in American research, thousands of postdocs have worked tirelessly during the COVID-19 pandemic to improve outcomes in the fight against the virus, from developing vaccines to understanding the impact of the pandemic on schools and communities. Postdocs not only serve as leaders of research projects, but also as important mentors and respected role models for graduate students, keeping the American innovation pipeline flowing.

"During this unprecedented time in our nation's history, the dedication and acumen of the hidden postdoctoral workforce is imperative, which makes this intentional expression of appreciation ever more important," remarked Stephanie K. Eberle, M.Ed., NPA board chair.

The NPA is heartened by the NIH's track record of increases in NRSA stipends and encourages the NIH to continue to provide annual adjustments to ensure that postdocs are empowered, valued, recognized, and supported in their lives and work as they well deserve.

About National Postdoctoral Association:

The NPA is a charitable and educational non-profit association headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, that seeks to improve the postdoctoral experience by supporting a culture of enhanced professional growth. At the individual, organizational, and national levels, the NPA facilitates connections, raises awareness, and collaborates with stakeholders in the postdoctoral community. Membership in the NPA is open to all organizations and individuals interested in advancing the interests of postdocs in the U.S.

Learn more about postdocs and how they drive American innovation by attending via virtual platform the NPA's 19th Annual Conference on Apr. 15-16, 2021.

For more information, visit: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

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MEDIA ONLY CONTACT:
Amy Wilson
Office & Marketing Manager
National Postdoctoral Association
+1-301-984-4800
awilson@nationalpostdoc.org

As advocates for a rewarding postdoctoral experience, the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) applauds the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for increasing the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) stipends for fiscal year 2021.

Related link: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

Thousands of Scholars Driving Innovation to be Recognized During 11th National Postdoc Appreciation Week

ROCKVILLE, Md. /ScoopCloud/ -- The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) announced the 11th annual National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW) will take place September 21 - 25, 2020. NPAW is the nation's largest celebration of postdoctoral scholars who serve at more than 300 institutions, acknowledging the significant contributions these "postdocs" make to U.S. research and discovery. This year, due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the first virtual NPAW will allow universities to open events to postdocs from other institutions across the country.

"NPAW is a well-earned celebration of the inspiration and perspiration of the tens of thousands of postdocs working to advance early-stage research across thousands of topical areas from finding a vaccine for COVID-19 to reimagining more diverse, equitable and inclusive learning environments," said Tom Kimbis, NPA executive director and CEO. "Postdocs help drive American leadership and competitiveness across all aspects of our lives."

Postdocs are individuals holding doctoral degrees engaged in a temporary period of mentored research or scholarly training to gain needed skills to excel in their careers. These scholars conduct a large share of critical, cutting-edge research across all disciplines at universities, research institutions and industry members across the U.S.

NPAW boosts awareness of the critical work of the estimated 80,000 postdocs in the United States. In 2019, 556 events were held by 121 organizations, spanning 35 states and 98 cities. In recent years, NPAW expanded to Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Popular events during NPAW include professional and career development workshops, networking activities, and social events celebrating the immense contribution of postdocs to our nation's thought leadership.

This year's celebration includes a keynote featuring John Beacom, Ph.D., Henry L. Cox professor of physics and astronomy at the Ohio State University, and Christine Pfund, Ph.D., senior scientist with the Wisconsin Center for Education Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, discussing best practices for mentorship, as well as national webinars hosted by key NPA partners -- a National Research Mentoring Network event focused on diversity in mentoring and a Postdoc Academy opportunity to hone leadership skills.

During NPAW, the NPA is also debuting NPA Communities, an online member engagement platform designed to share best practices, encourage communal solutions to common problems facing the greater postdoc community, and assist scholars in advancing their careers. All NPA member institutions are welcome to join the new network. A calendar of NPAW events can be found at http://www.nationalpostdoc.org/2020NPAW. NPAW is made possible by Distinguished Sponsor, Gallagher Insurance, and NPAW 2020 Lead Sponsor, Proteintech.

The week-long celebration sponsored by the NPA grew out of National Postdoc Appreciation Day in 2009 followed by formal recognition of NPAW by the U.S. House of Representatives on September 24, 2010.

About National Postdoctoral Association:

The NPA is a charitable and educational non-profit association headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, that seeks to improve the postdoctoral experience by supporting a culture of enhanced professional growth. At the individual, organizational, and national levels, the NPA facilitates connections, raises awareness, and collaborates with stakeholders in the postdoctoral community. Membership in the NPA is open to all organizations and individuals interested in advancing the interests of postdocs in the U.S.

Affiliate membership in the NPA for most postdocs is free and available at https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/.

*LOGO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-0916s2p-natpostdoc-logo-300dpi.jpg

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) announced the 11th annual National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW) will take place September 21 - 25, 2020. NPAW is the nation's largest celebration of postdoctoral scholars who serve at more than 300 institutions, acknowledging the significant contributions these "postdocs" make to U.S. research and discovery.

Related link: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/