Postdocs are vital members of the University of Washington ecosystem. During National Postdoc Appreciation Week (September 18-22), we here at the UW Office of Postdoc Affairs (OPA) in the Graduate School wanted to point out just a few of the many reasons why:
- Postdocs are often the first point of contact for graduate students and undergrads working on a research team, and provide countless hours of mentorship and guidance to this next generation;
- Postdocs are energetic teachers of classes, touching even more graduate and undergraduate students here on campus through their seminars and lectures;
- Postdocs often contribute substantial intellectual ideas and strategies to their research groups, making our world-class research at UW even better;
- Postdocs are often essential contributors to faculty projects, grants and publications in ways that help their faculty mentors be even more productive;
- And finally, you postdocs are here at UW, investing in your own professional development, and we applaud your investment in your future!
For all these reasons, the OPA, in partnership with the UW Postdoctoral Association (UWPA), recognizes and honors the over 1,000 postdocs working across our 3 campuses in every School and College.
Since 2009, National Postdoc Appreciation Week recognizes the significant contributions that postdoctoral scholars make to U.S. research and development. Institutions from across the country participate by holding special events. In 2010, this week was officially recognized by the U.S. House of Representatives.
We will be celebrating you on September 20, 5:30-7pm in the Health Sciences Building Rotunda. If you are a postdoc – or a postdoc supporter – join us for tacos and beverages. The OPA will be hosting an orientation with key campus resources that same day 3-4pm and a workshop on planning your pathway to independence aimed at early stage postdocs 4-5pm. Both of those sessions are in Health Sciences T-531.
Join us, and thank a postdoc!
