Published: Aug. 30, 2017

By Leah Colvin

PAC Officers

Postdoc Association of Colorado officers. Photo credit: Tess Eidem

September 18th – 22nd marks the eighth annual National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW) sponsored by the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA). Officially recognized by the U.S. House of Representatives since 2010, institutions across the nation have used NPAW to raise awareness and acknowledge the hard work and substantial contributions that postdocs make to the national (and international) research and teaching enterprise.

The postdoctoral training period allows researchers to focus on their research and career development, transforming them into major drivers of research productivity. Postdocs at CU Boulder are impacting the research landscape not only by growing the body of knowledge in the social, physical and biological sciences as well as engineering and mathematics, but also by making significant contributions advancing technology, infrastructure, and policy worldwide. We would like to highlight three postdocs in particular whose studies have far-reaching implications.

Kimberly Rogers, a postdoctoral scholar at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), is investigating the interactions between human and natural systems in deltas. Dr. Rogers’ research has far-reaching implications for infrastructure governance and responses to climate-related coastal flooding, and has been featured in Slate and Environmental Health Perspectives.

Aaron Palumbo, a postdoc in Chemical & Biological Engineering, developed a new method for extracting magnesium metal from ore – the first revamping of magnesium extraction beyond a World-War 2-era process. Dr. Palumbo research led to the foundation of Big Blue Technologies, and he currently serves as its CEO as well as the Executive Vice President at Nevada Clean Magnesium.

Ed Marti helped develop the most accurate atomic clock built to date as a JILA postdoc. Featured on ABC News and in Cosmos Magazine as one of the top 10 tech stories of 2015,the Sr optical lattice clock will remain accurate to the second for 15 billion years – the approximate age of the universe. Dr. Marti’s technological advancement could be used to improve global navigation systems like the Global Positioning System (GPS), global computing, and quantum physics research.

In light of the significant contributions made by postdocs, the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) and Postdoctoral Association of Colorado (PAC) would like to thank CU Boulder postdocs during NPAW by highlighting their research during Postdoc Appreciation Day. Postdocs and their mentors & family members are invited to attend Postdoc Appreciation Day events, including a networking hour, 2-minute flash talks of postdoc research, presentation of Outstanding Postdoc and Mentor awards, lawn games and dinner.

We invite Postdocs to participate in the Flash Talk Competition during Postdoc Appreciation Day. Winners will receive $50 Visa gift cards.

Learn More & Sign Up

Two postdocs will be awarded with the 2017 Outstanding Postdoc Award, which comes with a $250 Visa gift card. We also encourage postdocs to nominate their mentors for the 2017 Outstanding Mentor Award. Awards will be announced during Postdoc Appreciation Day.

Learn More & Apply

Postdoc Appreciation Day
Thursday, September 21st

2—6 PM
Koenig Alumni Center

More Info & RSVP

Postdocs and their families & mentors are invited to attend all Postdoc Appreciation Day events.

Community members and postdoc alums are invited to attend the Networking Hour from 2-3:30 PM.