Office of Postdoctoral Initiatives

Associate Director

Mariam Banahi
Johnston Hall 306

[email protected]

Pomerantz Lab
Two women in hijabs working in a lab

Make the most of the postdoc experience.

The Office Postdoctoral Initiatives, located within the Graduate School, advocates for postdoctoral associates (9546) and fellows (9560). We collaborate with faculty, administrators, and departments across the University to provide the support and resources our postdoctoral scholars need as they prepare for their future careers.

About the Office of Postdoctoral Initiatives

The Office of Postdoctoral Initiatives exists to:

  • Build community and give greater visibility to postdoctoral scholars;
  • Encourage excellence in postdoctoral mentoring, advising, and professional development;
  • Prepare the next generation of scholars to be leaders and change agents in their respective fields.

OPI Strategic Vision

OPI Logic Model

The Postdoc Experience

PostdocSERU Survey

PostdocSERU is the first comprehensive survey of the postdoctoral experience of its kind at the University of Minnesota. The survey includes questions related to the postdoc experience in several key areas: research training, teaching, manuscript and grant-writing, mentoring and advising, professional and career development opportunities, as well as health and well-being. View results from the 2021 PostdocSERU Survey.

Postdoctoral Handbook - Office of Postdoctoral Initiatives Logo

Postdoctoral Handbook

The Postdoctoral Handbook is a guide for incoming and existing Postdocs for navigating their time at the University of Minnesota.

Contact Us

Office of Postdoctoral Initiatives | [email protected]

Mariam Banahi
Associate Director for Postdoctoral Initiatives
Twin Cities Campus | Johnston Hall 306
[email protected]

Individual Consultation

OPI staff is available to help you with career and professional development advice, your individual development plan (IDP), conflict resolution, navigating University resources, and more. 

Schedule a consultation with OPI Staff.

The Post

The Post is a monthly e-newsletter catered to UMN’s postdoctoral community. It includes career and professional development resources, information on internal and external funding opportunities, service opportunities, as well as the latest from OPI and the Postdoctoral Association. All UMN Postdocs are automatically subscribed to The Post, but Faculty and Staff who work closely with Postdocs are encouraged to subscribe using the form below. To submit content to The Post, please email [email protected].

Subscribe to The Post

Stay up to Date

Benjamin Magruder Headshot
03. 25. 2026
UMN Alum Benjamin Magruder Named 2026 Schmidt Science Fellow

 

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03. 24. 2026
The University of Minnesota Graduate School invites applications for a Chief of Staff and Operations (COSO), a key leadership role supporting the Vice Provost for Graduate and Professional Education and Dean of the Graduate School.

 

UMN logo
03. 23. 2026
The Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowship (IDF) provides a unique opportunity for outstanding Ph.D. students who are engaged in interdisciplinary research to study with faculty at one of the University’s interdisciplinary research centers or institutes during the fellowship year.

 

Events

Apr 29 // 5:00pm to 7:00pm