Tag Archives: NPA IMPACT Fellows

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.

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA)
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:

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.

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

MULTIMEDIA:

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NEWS SOURCE: National Postdoctoral Association


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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.

RELATED LINKS

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

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News from National Postdoctoral Association

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/

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