Navigating the U.S. immigration system can be one of the most complex and uncertain aspects of the postdoctoral experience. This session will combine data-driven insights on international postdocs with practical advice on planning immigration pathways early in one’s tenure. We’ll discuss evolving visa policies, funding and job security challenges, and strategies for building flexibility and backup plans in an unpredictable policy climate.

Speakers: Brendan Delaney, Esq., partner, Frank & Delaney Immigration Law, LLC; Nabila Riaz, Ph.D., postdoctoral research associate

A native of Northern Ireland, Delaney received his Juris Doctor at The Catholic University of America in Washington DC, in January 2009. Focusing on the representation of foreign born nationals, and U.S. employers with their U.S. immigration matters, his work includes an emphasis on Extraordinary Ability and National Interest Waiver cases, as well as EB-1B, PERM, J-Waiver, H1B and O and P Visa applications. He works extensively with scientists, researchers, physicians, and other professionals, as well as organizations and employers in both academia and industry. He assists with their temporary and permanent visa applications on a company, individual, and institutional basis.

Riaz is a postdoctoral research associate studying sustainable agriculture and biofortification. She is also a policy analyst and researcher specializing in workforce development, science policy, and equity in higher education. Originally from Pakistan, she earned her Bachelor of Science in biology from the Lahore University of Management Sciences, her Master of Science in plant sciences from the University of Bonn, and her doctorate in biology from Dartmouth College. She is passionate about advancing equitable, evidence-based policies that support international postdocs and strengthen the U.S. research enterprise.