Through a series of interactive online race and ethnicity discussions led by the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) and its partner organizations, the summit seeks to identify barriers – and find paths forward – in the greater postdoctoral community on the path to racial and ethnic equality. Roundtable discussions are currently planned on a variety of topics with NPA and its partners taking leadership roles in organizing each discussion. From diversifying the cohort of potential postdoctoral researchers to promoting robust permanent position options after postdoctoral period completion, work needs to be performed in many areas to enable greater racial and ethnic equity. It is the hope of the NPA and its allies that these conversations will lead to further discussions about specific issues and actions toward solutions in the racial and ethnic equity space.

Sponsors

• University of Chicago, Silver Sponsor

Partners, Participants, and Allies:

• Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
• Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS)
• American Council on Education
• AstraZeneca
• Baylor College of Medicine
• Graduate Career Consortium (GCC)
• Georgetown University
• Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC)
• National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
• Stanford University
  
• Tulane University
• University of California, San Diego
• Union of Concerned Scientists
• Yale Black Postdoctoral Association

Panel 1: What Comes Before
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. ET, Thursday, November 17

Diversifying the pathway of potential postdocs at the undergrad and graduate education levels who may enter the postdoc position. What is happening in these spaces due to race and ethnicity inequity today that could affect the postdoc population?

• Moderators: Suzanne Ortega, Ph.D., president, Council of Graduate Schools
• Speakers: James Antony, Ph.D., dean, Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs, University of California, San Diego; Michael Cunningham, Ph.D., associate provost, Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Tulane; Andrea Joseph, Ph.D., postdoctoral researcher, University of Pennsylvania, chair, NPA Postdoc Council; Hiro Okahana, Ph.D., M.P.P., assistant vice president, research & insights learning and engagement, American Council on Education

Panel 2: Becoming a Postdoc
1:10 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET, Thursday, November 17

Demystifying the postdoc position and promoting egalitarian hiring practices. Are institutions reaching out to all potential grad student populations in an egalitarian manner? How can we help ensure grad students are aware of their opportunities to enter postdocs and do so with eyes wide open to barriers, pitfalls, and opportunities?

• Moderator: Caleb C. McKinney,Ph.D., M.P.S., associate professor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, associate dean, graduate and postdoctoral training & development, Georgetown University Biomedical Graduate Education
• Speakers: Aileen Fernandez, Ph.D., postdoctoral associate, Yale University; Devin Horton, Ph.D., graduate diversity officer: science, technology, engineering and math, University of California, Davis; Antonio Robinson, M.S.Ed., recruitment & engagement programs manager, manager, Stanford PRISM Program, Stanford University

Panel 3: Thriving as a Postdoc
2:10 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET, Thursday, November 17

Ensuring equity, inclusion and belonging in the postdoc experience. Where are postdocs and the system succeeding? Where are they failing? What obstacles related to race and ethnicity need a spotlight on them?

• Moderator: Vipul Sharma, Ph.D., assistant director of postdoctoral affairs, University of Chicago
• Speakers: Katelyn Dunigan Russell, Ph.D., internal project manager, AmplifyBio, vice chair, NPA Postdoc Council; Irene Hulede, director, Education at the American Society for Microbiology; Sarina Kajani, Ph.D., senior scientist, AstraZeneca; Kimiko Krieger, Ph.D., postdoctoral associate, Baylor College of Medicine

Panel 4: Moving On
3:10 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET, Thursday, November 17

Ensuring that postdocs from diverse backgrounds have a robust set of opportunities post-completion requires a thorough examination of institutional policies, procedures, and practices that perpetuate racial and ethnic inequities in career pathways. It also requires open exchange to help spur the transfer of social capital, make obscure practices more transparent, and identify tangible actions institutions and individuals can take to ensure postdocs from all racial and ethnic backgrounds have equal career opportunities. In this session, explore the role identity takes in career decisions and outcomes, hear personal career pathways, and learn how to leverage resources and knowledge to build thriving career opportunities.

• Moderator: Jessica Wise, M.S., co-executive director & director of programs, HERC
• Speakers: Omanjana Goswami, Ph.D., interdisciplinary scientist, Union of Concerned Scientists; Shakira Nelson, Ph.D., M.P.H., program officer, Division of Training, Workforce Development and Diversity (TWD), National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS); Julia Omotade, Ph.D., senior science policy specialist, AAMC; Andrea Pereyra, M.D., Ph.D., postdoctoral researcher, East Carolina University, Board member, NPA