Nominations due 8/24: Awards for Outstanding Postdocs & Postdoc Mentors
Call for Nominations: Outstanding Postdoc & Postdoc Mentor Awards
Nominations due August 24
The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) is excited to announce the opportunity to recognize Outstanding Postdocs and Outstanding Postdoc Mentors. Join us in celebrating these exceptional individuals and the entire CU Boulder postdoc community during National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW), from September 15–19, 2025. Recipients will receive a $200 gift card.
Outstanding Postdoc of the Year Award
This award honors Postdoctoral Associates, Postdoctoral Fellows and Research Associates in temporary traineeship positions who demonstrate excellence in research, communication and leadership.
Eligibility
- Must be a current Postdoctoral Associate, Postdoctoral Fellow or Research Associate in a traineeship position at CU Boulder or an affiliated lab.
- Previous recipients are not eligible.
- Nominations must come from faculty members. Nominees should have completed at least three months of postdoctoral service at CU Boulder at the time of nomination.
Nomination Information
Nominators (the postdoc’s faculty mentor or supervisor) must submit:
- A copy of the postdoc’s CV.
- A recommendation letter (2 pages max) summarizing some of the postdoc’s achievements, such as:
- Innovation or research contributions to the discipline(s)
- Research productivity, including publications, presentations, performances, and funding
- Clarity of communication about research or scholarly work and a commitment to communicating with broad audiences
- Ability to collaborate, enhancing outcomes across diverse disciplines or fields of study
- Leadership, including mentoring, project management, and service within the local, national and international communities
Nominate a Postdoc by 8/24 at 11:59 p.m.
Outstanding Mentor of the Year Award
This award recognizes faculty members who provide exceptional mentoring, training and leadership to postdoctoral scholars at CU Boulder.
Eligibility
- Must be a current faculty member nominated by a Postdoctoral Associate, Postdoctoral Fellow or Research Associate in a traineeship position at CU Boulder or an affiliated lab.
- Mentors should have provided at least three months of postdoctoral mentoring at CU Boulder at the time of nomination.
- Previous recipients are not eligible.
Nomination information
Nominators should submit:
- The mentor’s CV
- A recommendation letter (2 pages max) from one or more postdoc mentees, describing how the mentor:
- Creates a supportive training environment tailored to the needs of individual postdocs
- Advocates for and guides postdocs towards professional independence
- Provides regular and constructive feedback to postdocs to develop their careers