Pursuing a Postdoc Proactively 2026
Offered in collaboration with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Graduate School, this fall's series is open to graduate students at UNC, the University of Virginia, Norfolk State University, Virginia State University, North Carolina Central University, and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
The five-part series is designed for Ph.D. students who want to better understand the advantages and challenges of pursuing a postdoctoral position. Sessions will cover what to look for in a postdoc and provide practical strategies for effective networking.
Online sessions will be held weekly on Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m., beginning Oct. 7 and ending Oct. 28.
A special virtual postdoc panel will be held at the end of the series on Nov. 11, 12 - 1:30 p.m. on Zoom.
This session will cover the objectives of a postdoctoral position and why an individual may consider pursuing one.
As part of the session, participants will engage in self reflection around their current training and career goals and work to articulate whether postdoctoral training serves these goals.
Oct. 7 | 12 - 1 p.m.
ONLINE-ONLY
This session will be grounded in work by Virginia Tech Engineering Education Professor David Knight's PLoS One paper: U.S. postdoctoral careers in life sciences, physical sciences and engineering: Government, industry, and academia.
The workshop will begin with an overview of data on career trajectories and earnings for both life sciences and physical sciences and engineering graduates pursuing postdocs in academia, industry, and government.
The second half of the session will provide an overview of common options for postdocs outside academia including at the National Laboratories, via government agencies, and industry.
Oct. 14 | 12 - 1 p.m.
ONLINE-ONLY
This session will discuss the importance of the training aspect of the postdoctoral position and cover specific components of the environment one should consider before accepting a postdoc position.
Attendees will also learn practical strategies to expand their networks - not only to identify postdoctoral opportunities but also to evaluate how well those opportunities align with their needs and career goals.
Oct. 21 | 12 - 1 p.m.
ONLINE-ONLY
This session will take a deep dive into the National Postdoctoral Association’s 2026 Institutional Policy Report to better understand the landscape of postdoc support and benefits across institutions in the United States.
Oct. 28 | 12 - 1 p.m.
ONLINE-ONLY
This session will feature a panel of postdocs working at a variety of institutions and supported by distinct programs that provide a snapshot of the diversity of postdoctoral experiences available in the United States.
Panelists details will be announced closer to the session date.
Nov. 11 | 12 - 1:30 p.m.
ONLINE-ONLY