CU Boulder postdocs spotlighted during Sept 17-21 National Postdoc Appreciation Week

Postdocs around the country, including those contributing to research and teaching at CU Boulder, will take center stage from Sept 17-21 during National Postdoc Appreciation Week. The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) will host a number of events to spotlight campus postdocs during this year’s annual celebration of postdoctoral scholars, sponsored by the National Postdoc Association. 

“We are delighted to join peer universities around the country in recognizing our postdoctoral scholars,” said Terri Fiez, vice chancellor for research & innovation. “The CU Boulder postdoc community is a diverse and thriving group making invaluable contributions to the world through their work in our laboratories, departments, centers and institutes.”

This year’s celebration marks the ninth annual National Postdoc Appreciation Week, and the Research & Innovation Office (RIO) and OPA are leveraging this national effort to help acknowledge the significant impact of CU Boulder’s approximately 350 postdoctoral scholars. 

In addition to OPA, housed within the Research & Innovation Office, the CU Boulder postdoc community is supported by the Postdoctoral Association of Colorado Boulder (PAC Boulder), an all-volunteer group run by postdocs for postdocs. 

“Postdoctoral researchers who are so essential to the CU Boulder community, including national labs, are not only answering the big questions of science,” said Benjamin Nault, PAC Boulder President. “They are also valuable mentors for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as persistent advocates for scientific discussion with government officials.” 

CU Boulder events to recognize its postdocs during National Postdoc Appreciation Week include:

• Monday, Sept 17: Awards & Town Hall  
  • Presentations and Q&A from PAC Boulder and Office of Institutional Research (IR).  OPA will also present the two Outstanding Postdoc Awards and one Outstanding Mentor Award. Lunch will be provided. RSVP required.
• Tuesday, Sept 18: Professional Postdoc Portraits
  • Strategic Relations will provide postdocs with a professional photo for your campus unit website, your LinkedIn profile, or any other sort of professional page.
• Wednesday, Sept 19: Learning Leadership Skills  
  • OPA and the Graduate School welcome all postdocs and graduate students to a workshop luncheon on leadership skills. Lunch will be provided. RSVP required. 
• Thursday, Sept 20: Building Your Network of Mentors
  • OPA and the Graduate School invite postdocs and graduate students to a brown bag presentation on Building Your Network of Mentors. Bring your own brown bag lunch. RSVP required.
• Friday, Sept 21: Postdoc Social- Rayback Collective
  • Organized by thePAC Boulder, the social starting at 5 p.m. will be at the Rayback Collective, a popular Boulder spot for food, drink, and music. Family and friends of the CU Boulder postdoc community are also invited.  

Learn more about National Postdoc Appreciation Week events or the many services OPA makes available to postdocs throughout the year.