Who We Are |
The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) is:A 501(c)3 educational nonprofit organization that seeks sustainable change and improvement for the postdoctoral experience through collaboration with all stakeholders. Our Founding
The NPA was established with the goal of fostering necessary improvements to the postdoctoral situation in the United States. At the time of its founding, there was no organization with the sole aim of achieving improvements in the postdoctoral experience. The NPA sought to crystallize the diffuse postdoc debate and provide a focal point for achieving administrative and policy changes. The early leadership of the NPA consisted of a democratically-elected group of postdoctoral scientists. From its inception, the NPA worked collaboratively and constructively with research institutions, postdoctoral affairs offices, postdoctoral associations (PDAs), professional organizations, and scientific funding agencies. The NPA sought especially to encourage the creation of additional PDAs. Through advocacy based on hard data, the NPA sought to bring about changes that would benefit postdocs and other parties interested in seeing the research enterprise flourish. Our Founders
The founding board was comprised of postdoctoral representatives from across the country, each a chair or founding member of an institutional postdoctoral association, initiated the formation of the NPA. This board began as a committee that coalesced during Science's NextWave Postdoc Network meeting in April 2002 in Washington D.C. At this meeting, attendees expressed broad support for a national postdoctoral organization that could provide focus and effect positive change. The founding board secured funding, put together the bylaws, set up the committee structure, and did all the tasks required to set up a new organization. Our MissionThe mission of the NPA is to improve the postdoctoral experience by supporting enhanced research training and a culture of enhanced professional growth to benefit scholarship and innovation. Our VisionWorking in collaboration with the entire research community, the NPA envisions changing the culture of those individuals and institutions engaged in the U.S. research enterprise so that the contributions of postdoctoral scholars are fully valued and recognized. Our ValuesThe NPA values:
Diversity StatementThe NPA seeks to promote diversity and ensure equal opportunity and inclusion for all persons in the membership, leadership and activities of the NPA regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, disability, country of origin, field of research, socio-economic status, religion, age, marital status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Statement of InclusionThe NPA aims to advance the United States’ research enterprise by maximizing the effectiveness of the research community and enhancing the quality of the postdoctoral experience for all participants. A diverse postdoctoral community has positive effects on research and teaching and enhances the work environment by offering broadened perspectives and encouraging critical thinking. It is therefore a goal of the NPA to create an environment that promotes diversity and inclusiveness, and to create opportunities for all of its members to interact with tolerance, understanding, and respect for others. |
4/10/2018Posters Recognized at the 2018 Annual Conference in Cleveland
3/27/2018Advocacy Committee Leaders Appointed
3/20/2018Updates From the Postdoc Community: The March Issue of The POSTDOCket
3/15/2018The NPA is Seeking a Leader for the Resource Development Committee
3/7/2018Leader Wanted to Fill an International Officer Position