National Postdoc Appreciation Week, sponsored by the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA), is coming this Monday through Friday, September 21- 25. While many groups of postdocs located in academic institutions, industry, or government facilities hold events such as symposia or social gatherings, the SOT Postdoctoral Assembly (PDA) must take a different approach, reaching out to create a “virtual” gathering to support our community of scholars that spans the globe.
Why celebrate postdocs? A survey of recent data reflects the growing impact of postdoctoral researchers.
- According to 2012 Science and Engineering Indicators, postdoctoral positions in life science research have increased from 46 percent in 1972 to 61 percent in 2012.
The journal Science reported that 43 percent of the primary authors of research articles were postdoctoral scholars.
According to the National Academies, postdoctoral researchers “have become indispensable to the science…enterprise, performing a substantial portion of the nation’s research in every setting.”
Join the PDA-Sponsored Webinar on Wednesday, September 23
On Wednesday, September 23 at 2:00 pm Eastern Time, the PDA is sponsoring a webinar entitled Your Pathway to an Independent Academic Career: Tips and Good Practices for K99/R00s.
Michael C. Humble, PhD, Program Administrator, Genes, Environment and Health Branch Division of Extramural Research and Training, NIEHS will discuss some important tips on how to write a successful competitive grant, as well as a few common missteps that should be avoided. The goal of this webinar is to shed some light on grantsmanship issues for those junior investigators/postdoctoral scholars who are planning to write K99/R00 applications.
Look for the Postdoc-Themed Blog Series All Week
Other highlights of the week include a blog series celebrating and reflecting on the postdoctoral experience. Articles will be published as SOT Communiqué blogs for all to enjoy.
Through these events, the PDA joins with the National Postdoctoral Association in focusing attention on the contributions and achievements of postdoctoral scholars. We hope that all SOT members will take time during National Postdoc Appreciation Week to acknowledge the postdocs in your communities and institutions.
Join the NPA for $10 during the month of September
During the month of September, postdocs can take advantage of a discounted NPA membership fee. For just $10, postdocs can join the NPA, a member-driven organization that provides a unique, national voice for postdocs, as Individual Members. NPA is an important voice for postdocs, SOT is a sustaining member of the NPA and provides travel support for a PDA officer to attend the national meeting to share what PDA does and return with ideas and resources.