National Postdoctoral Appreciation Week is September 13-19, 2025!
Each year, the Office of Postdoctoral Initiatives and the University of Minnesota join institutions and research centers across the country to celebrate postdocs and their invaluable contributions during National Postdoctoral Appreciation Week (NPAW), a National Postdoctoral Association-sponsored initiative that takes place over the third week of September.
This year, we are pleased to celebrate our postdocs with a diverse range of in-person and virtual events from September 13-19, 2025. And, in what is fast becoming a tradition at UMN, our Postdoctoral Association will be co-hosting a ‘Postdoc Family Picnic’ on Saturday, September 13 ahead of the week’s celebrations.
Postdocs are encouraged to visit the National Postdoctoral Association’s (NPA) listing of virtual and in-person NPAW events at institutions and research centers across the country. UMN postdocs must first register for free affiliate membership and will then be able to register to access the resources available on the NPA’s page, as well as attend any virtual offerings of interest.
Featured Events
Saturday, September 13
Postdoc Family Picnic, UMN Postdoctoral Association and Office for Postdoctoral Initiatives
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM | Shelter G, Wabun Picnic Area | Minnehaha Regional Park
The Postdoctoral Association (PDA) is hosting a family picnic with food, drinks, and yard games!
Please join us and meet other postdocs and their families. Partners (including good friends) and kids are welcome!
The address of the park is 4801 S Minnehaha Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417.
There is ample paid parking and free street parking within walking distance. Please refer to this map to locate the best parking location for your needs.
Monday, September 15
Postdoc Breakfast, CFANS Postdoc Board
9:00-11:00 a.m. | Borlaug Commons (St. Paul Campus)
Join the CFANS Postdoc Board for breakfast! Come hang out with other postdocs to kickoff National Postdoc Appreciation Week!
2025 NPAW National Kickoff, National Postdoctoral Association (NPA)
3:00-4:00 p.m. | Online
Please join us for the 2025 NPAW National Kickoff brought to you by the NPA. The 2025 kickoff will include remarks provided by leaders across the postdoc community, with a brief keynote by Gretchen Goldman, Ph.D., president of the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), a long-standing partner organization of the NPA. Goldman is an environmental engineer who previously served in the White House and Department of Transportation before joining UCS earlier this year and well versed in the nexus of science and policy. This event is free to attend and open to the full community.
Tuesday, September 16
Postdoc Appreciation Lunch & Awards Ceremony, Office of Postdoctoral Initiatives (OPI)
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM | Mississippi Room (3rd Floor) | Coffman Memorial Union
The event will recognize postdocs who have made outstanding contributions to research, teaching and mentoring, service to the University, community outreach, as well as diversity and inclusivity.
Faculty awards will also be presented for excellence in postdoctoral advising.
Speakers
- Scott Lanyon, Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Education
- Shashank Priya, Vice President for Research & Innovation
- Gretchen Ritter, Executive Vice President and Provost
Schedule
- 11:00 a.m. | Welcome
- 11:10 a.m. | Faculty Awards Presentation
- 11:20 a.m. | Postdoc Awards Presentation
- 11:45 a.m. | Closing Remarks
- 11:50 a.m. | Lunch
Wednesday, September 17
Coffee & Donuts, Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (OGPS), Medical School
9:00-11:00 AM | Nils Hasselmo Hall Atrium (East Bank)
Stop by for some food and to network with other postdocs, representatives from STEMCELL Technologies, as well as your OGPS staff members!
This is a great opportunity to connect with fellow postdocs, build your campus network, and learn about resources designed to support your success.
Our first 30 registrants will receive a free GPS coffee mug!
Who will be there:
- Postdoctoral Fellows, Associates, Researchers, and Coffee-Lovers!
- Industry Representatives from Stemcell Technologies
- Your friendly student services staff from OPI & GPS
Proactive Planning for Postdocs with the IDP, Office of Postdoctoral Initiatives (OPI)
3:00-4:00 p.m. | Online
Join us for an interactive session on the Individual Development Plan (IDP). The IDP is an invaluable tool to guide postdocs as they prioritize their goals and objectives for career development.
You can access a sample postdoc IDP here.
Discussion will include:
- assessing strengths
- identifying areas to develop
- obtaining transferable skills for any career path
- collaborating with multiple mentors to effectively draft and implement an IDP
- building a network of support to further your career within and beyond the postdoc experience
Speaker: Noro Andriamanalina, Assistant Vice Provost for Graduate Student & Postdoctoral Initiatives, Graduate School
Thursday, September 18
Fall Welcome Breakfast, Office for Equity & Diversity
9:00 - 11:00 a.m. | McNamara Alumni Center
Join us for the 2025 Fall Welcome Breakfast—a meaningful tradition that brings together faculty and postdoctoral scholars to celebrate the start of a new academic year. This gathering is open to all faculty, instructors, and postdocs—both new and returning—and offers a chance to build community, reconnect with colleagues, and expand your professional network.
Program Highlights
The program is evolving. We are honored to welcome remarks from:
- GerShun Avilez, Dean, College of Liberal Arts
- Mercedes Ramírez Fernández, Vice President for Equity & Diversity
- Gretchen Ritter, Executive Vice President and Provost
Schedule
- 9:00 - 9:45 a.m. | Breakfast, Resource Fair, and Networking
- 9:45 - 10:30 a.m. | Welcome Program with Academic Leaders
- 10:30 - 11:00 a.m. | Community Building, Resource Fair, Networking, and Headshots
*This gathering is open to all faculty and postdocs regardless of race, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristic.
‘On the Tenure Track: New Faculty Reflections on Interviewing’ Panel Discussion, SPHERE Engineering Group
1:00-2:00 p.m. | Online
Hear from former postdocs that have recently landed tenure-track positions at Ohio State University, Rice University, University of Michigan, and University of Minnesota.
Our panelists will share their experiences and advice with those in attendance.
This event is open to any Ph.D. or postdoc seeking a tenure-track faculty position in the United States and is organized via partnership of institutions involved in the SPHERE Engineering Group, an organization that seeks to support postdocs in engineering with their career and professional development.
Panelists
Kevin Singh, Assistant Professor of Physics, Ohio State University
Keya Ghonasgi, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Rice University
Rabab Haider, Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan
Andrew Khalil, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota
Social Hour & Meet-and-Greet, PDA, CFANS Postdoc Board & OPI
5:00-7:00 PM | Surly Brewing
Join leaders of the UMN Postdoctoral Association, CFANS Postdoc Board, and UMN staff members with the Office of Postdoctoral Initiatives for some casual conversation and networking with your postdoc peers!
Snacks will be provided, but bring your ID if you plan on purchasing any alcoholic beverages!
Friday, September 19
Postdoc Career Development Through Service: Opportunities at the U and Beyond!
2:00-3:00 p.m. | Online
Join us to learn more about service opportunities and how to get involved in the postdoc community at UMN and beyond! You'll have the opportunity to speak with leaders of the Postdoctoral Association, CFANS Postdoc Board, and Medical School Postdoctoral Council (MSPC), as well as staff from the Office of Postdoctoral Initiatives (OPI).
Schedule
- 2:00 p.m. - Introduction and General Information on Service Opportunities
- 2:30 p.m. - Breakout rooms (PDA, CFANS, MSPC, and external opportunities)
Bowling and Pizza Night, OPI
5:00-7:00 PM | Goldy's Gameroom (Basement) | Coffman Memorial Union
Postdocs are invited to a fun night of bowling and pizza!
We’ve reserved all the bowling lanes for postdocs! Come play a game or two or simply hang out together! Bowling, shoes, soft drinks, and pizza are free for postdocs!