The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) Board of Directors has appointed Zeinab Mehsein, Ph.D., as vice chair of the Engagement Committee. She will join Robert Fofrich, Ph.D., and Saikat Nandy, Ph.D., in this committee leadership role. The mission of the Engagement Committee is to increase partner engagement with the NPA through increased interaction, participation, and attention to issues, roles, and matters of importance to the NPA. Members of EnCom endeavor to increase interaction with the NPA through multiple dynamic channels, participation in NPA activities and volunteer commitments, and attention to topics and matters impacting the postdoctoral community.

Mehsein is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She received her Bachelor of Science and master’s degree in neuroscience from the University of Montpellier in France, then completed her doctorate in biology and medical science, specializing in neuroscience, in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Saint Joseph in Beirut, Lebanon. Her doctoral research focused on investigating the link between neuropathic pain and mood disorders by targeting the insula, a key region for neuromodulation involved in both pain regulation and emotional processing.

During graduate school, she was involved in public science communication through a research vulgarization association, an initiative aimed at making scientific knowledge accessible to the general public.

She is currently the chair of the postdoctoral association at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she leads initiatives such as professional development workshops and social events to build a stronger, more supportive postdoctoral community. She also aims to bridge the gap between postdoctoral scholars and institutional leadership by actively advocating for the needs and concerns of the postdoc community.

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) is currently seeking a strong, dedicated, passionate, and knowledgeable leader to serve as vice chair of the Community Committee. The committee seeks to ensure that all voices within the postdoc community are heard and valued through collaboration, dialogue, and evidence-based practices.

The ideal candidate will have experience with the NPA and the postdoc community, along with relevant expertise and understanding of the importance of community in the context of higher education and research environments. In addition, the candidate should be thoughtful, engaged, creative, and collaborative to improve the postdoctoral experience by supporting a culture of inclusive connection.

NPA leadership positions are widely understood as valuable opportunities to develop or hone leadership skills, expand professional networks, advance the mission of the NPA, and work with a wonderful group of colleagues from many disciplines across the United States. Most committee work is accomplished via regularly scheduled video calls and asynchronously over email. Qualified postdocs and administrators are strongly encouraged to consider service.

Application Deadline: Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET

Vice Chair

There is one Community leadership position at the NPA that is to be filled through this national search.

The NPA is committed to addressing issues in the postdoc community. To assist in this effort, the NPA created the Community Committee.

Position Description:

• The Community Committee is the primary resource and expert advisor on issues that affect all members of the postdoc community for the NPA Board of Directors and the staff.
• The Community Committee works with the NPA staff and the membership committees to ensure that the NPA’s commitment to its core values and mission is advanced.

About the Community Committee

As a committee, we continue to advance initiatives that strengthen connection, leadership, and engagement within the postdoctoral community. This includes:

• Organizing the NPA Special Interest Summit, which creates collaborative spaces for dialogue and discussion around issues affecting postdocs across institutions and disciplines.
• Managing the NPA IMPACT Fellowship Program, a leadership and professional development initiative designed to support postdoctoral scholars through mentorship, networking, and community-building opportunities.
• Continuing advocacy efforts through the development of tools and resources focused on intentional space-building within postdoctoral communities to foster environments where all postdocs feel supported and empowered to thrive professionally and personally.

NPA Statement

The NPA advocates equality for all postdocs, regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, disability, country of origin, field of research, socio-economic status, religion, age, marital status, sexual orientation, or gender identity, in all disciplines at all organizations that train postdoctoral fellows. This commitment extends to the practices and policies of the NPA, and the NPA strongly urges postdoctoral training institutions to embrace this commitment as part of their missions.

The NPA strives to ensure that all members have open access and opportunities to contribute to the organization through leadership positions, involvement within the committee structure, and participation in annual meetings and other NPA-sponsored events.

Responsibilities of the Vice Chair:

• Provide advice and actively engage with the executive director, Board of Directors, and Committees of the Membership on issues and overarching tasks affecting the postdoc community, and assist with related projects.
• Monitor external policies and developments on issues affecting the postdoc community.
• Address public inquiries on the NPA policies and recommended practices on increasing and maintaining the sense of community within the postdoc community.
• Actively engage in the development of the NPA IMPACT Fellowship Program and coordinate the fellowship operations.
• Submit articles to The POSTDOCket that cover issues pertinent to the postdoc community.
• Regularly attend meetings with NPA committees to ensure that initiatives, programs, and resources are catered to all members of the postdoc community.

Eligibility

Eligibility is limited to members of the NPA, including Affiliate Members and Organizational Member representatives. If you are not a member but you are interested in a position, visit Join the NPA for membership details. Most individuals affiliated with an academic institution can join immediately for free.

Application Instructions

All interested persons must submit a one-page CV and a one-page statement that describes:

1. The applicant's qualifications for the position.
2. What the applicant can bring to the position.
3. The applicant’s interest and experience with the NPA and its mission.

To apply, all application packets must be emailed to community@nationalpostdoc.org by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 10, 2026. Name your application file as follows: [Vice Chair Application Package]_[LastNameFirstName] For example: Vice Chair Application Package_JohnDoe.pdf.

Questions?

If you are interested in being considered or have any questions, please email community@nationalpostdoc.org.

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) Board of Directors officers for 2026 are: chair, Andrea Pereyra, M.D., Ph.D.; vice chair, Erin Heckler, Ph.D.; treasurer, Matthew Aguirre, Ph.D.; and oversight officer, Madhumita Joshi, Ph.D. As treasurer, Aguirre will serve as chair of the Finance Committee, and as oversight officer, Joshi will serve as chair of the Oversight Committee. These four positions, along with the NPA's executive director, comprise the Executive Committee.

The 2026 elected officers for the NPA Postdoc Council (PDC) are: chair, Florencia Anunziata, Ph.D.; vice chair, Pallabi Bhowmick, Ph.D.; and, oversight officer, Nicoletta Memos, Ph.D. The chair and vice chair of the PDC also serve on the Board of Directors.

To view the full 2026 Board, follow this link.

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) Board of Directors has appointed Cherry Cheuk Lam Cheung, Ph.D., as vice chair of the Advocacy Committee. She will join Azmi Ahmad, Ph.D., and Kylie Seltzer, Ph.D., in this committee leadership role. The mission of the Advocacy Committee is to monitor, discuss, debate, and develop strategies around advocacy and policy issues relating to and affecting the postdoctoral community; advise NPA staff and Board on potential actions; and educate the NPA postdoc community on self-advocacy.

Cheung is a scientist and science policy advocate with training in immunology and policy analysis, and experience connecting research, communication, and civic engagement to support the scientific community.

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) has nominated five individuals to the NPA Postdoc Council (PDC) for two-year terms of service beginning on January 1, 2026: Maria Lungu, J.D., Ph.D., Zeinab Mehsein, Ph.D., Nicoletta Memos, Ph.D., Adati Tarfa, Ph.D., PharmD, M.S., and Chukwudi Ubah, Dr.PH, MPH.

The newly elected directors will join the following members of the PDC: Florencia Anunziata, Ph.D., Pallabi Bhowmick, Ph.D., Christine Carney, Ph.D., Courtney McClure, Ph.D., Javaria Munir, Ph.D., Claire Perrot, Ph.D., and Alexandra Wynn, Ph.D.

Azmi Ahmad, Ph.D., Veronica Farrugia Drakard, Ph.D., Alison McCarthy, Ph.D., Dylan Johnson, Ph.D., and Amanda Shaver, Ph.D., will complete their terms at the end of this year. We thank them for their service.

Lungu is a postdoctoral research associate at the Digital Technology for Democracy Lab. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Tennessee College of Law and a doctorate from Florida Atlantic University in public administration. She is currently a policy researcher and team leader at the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Policy (CAIDP). She was previously a legal consultant at Stepping Stones International and, before that, gained valuable experience working for the Metropolitan Public Defender’s Office in Nashville. Lungu has also been honored as an Artificial Intelligence Ethics and Society (AIES) research fellow and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s AI Governance Alliance. Her research focuses on the intersection of law, public administration, and artificial intelligence. She currently serves as an associate editor of The POSTDOCket where she enjoys giving a voice to various postdoc issues.

Mehsein is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She received her Bachelor of Science and master’s degree in neuroscience from the University of Montpellier in France, then completed her doctorate in biology and medical science, specializing in neuroscience, in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Saint Joseph in Beirut, Lebanon. Her doctoral research focused on investigating the link between neuropathic pain and mood disorders by targeting the insula, a key region for neuromodulation involved in both pain regulation and emotional processing.

During graduate school, she was involved in public science communication through a research vulgarization association, an initiative aimed at making scientific knowledge accessible to the general public.

She is currently the chair of the postdoctoral association at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she leads initiatives such as professional development workshops and social events to build a stronger, more supportive postdoctoral community. She also aims to bridge the gap between postdoctoral scholars and institutional leadership by actively advocating for the needs and concerns of the postdoc community.

Memos is an NIH F32 postdoctoral fellow at Baylor College of Medicine. She received her Bachelor of Science in animal behavior from Southwestern University, after which she earned her Master of Philosophy and her doctorate in psychology with a focus on animal behavior and comparative psychology from the CUNY Graduate Center. Her doctoral research focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms driving the long-lasting neurotoxic effects and behavioral deficits associated with chronic methamphetamine use in mice following a period of withdrawal to identify therapeutic interventions for substance use disorder. As a postdoc, Memos studies the genetic risk factors associated with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome/Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SIDS/SUID) using genetically modified mice and studies the role of the mu opioid receptors in cardiorespiratory function to inform upon the effects of prenatal substance use exposure and SIDS/SUID outcomes. Memos is passionate about advocating for postdoctoral support and wellness, as well as championing the inclusion and equity of women and the LGBTQ+ community in STEMM research.

Tarfa is a postdoctoral researcher at the Yale School of Medicine whose work is informed by implementation science, health services research, and a syndemics perspective to advance care for HIV and substance use disorder. A pharmacist by training, Tarfa is driven by an interest in how care actually happens in communities, including in community pharmacies, in spaces serving people who are unhoused, and in the lives of individuals whose needs are not adequately met by traditional healthcare systems. Tarfa’s leadership and scientific contributions have been recognized by the Edward Bouchet Graduate Honor Society, the College on Problems of Drug Dependence, the Society of Behavioral Medicine, and through an alumni achievement award from Tarfa’s PharmD program.

Tarfa is committed to building more supportive environments for postdoctoral scholars and is honored to serve on the NPA Postdoc Council. Tarfa values mentorship and is inspired by the many voices and contributions of fellow postdocs. Outside of research, Tarfa writes Google reviews as a Level 10 Local Guide with over 200 million views, a creative outlet rooted in curiosity about people, places, and the stories they tell.

Ubah is a postdoctoral scholar within the Division of Dental Public Health at East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine. He received his Bachelor of Science in microbiology from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), a master's in public health from Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, and a Doctor of Public Health from the Brody School of Medicine at ECU in Dec. 2023. His doctorate dissertation focused on "Addressing rising Hospital Acquired Infection (HAI's) using novel Nanomedicine: Implications for public health protection," where his work contributed to the fight against antibiotic resistance bacteria infections in health system.

Actively involved in community and leadership, Ubah has served as president of international students association, director of graduate school of affairs in student government association, and senator of the graduate and professional student senate. Through these experiences, he has acquired broad perspectives on advocacy, outreach, community engagement, diversity and change agents particularly among diverse population. Ubah is also very active in professional organizations including American Public Health Association where he currently serve as section councilor for international health, American College of Health Care Executives, National Black MBA Association, and American Chemical Society. He plays soccer, kayaking, bowling and paintball. He will be speaking at the 2026 NPA Annual Conference on the topic, "Beyond the Lab: Building Inclusive Postdoc Communities Through Digital Connection and Informal Engagement."

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) has elected four individuals to the Board of Directors for the three-year term of service beginning on January 1, 2026: Amber Ismael, Ph.D., Wesley D. Marner II, Ph.D., Karena Nguyen, Ph.D., and Vipul Sharma, Ph.D.

The directors were elected from a field of ten candidates during the 2025 election, which ran from September 10 through September 24. The newly elected directors will join the following members of the Board: Matthew Aguirre, Ph.D., Lindsey Fernandez, Ph.D., Erin Heckler, Ph.D., Madhumita Joshi, Ph.D., Sudha Krishnamurthy, B.D.S, Ph.D., Andrea Pereyra, M.D., Ph.D., and Robin Sugiura, M.A.

S. Anand Narayanan, Ph.D., Caleb McKinney, Ph.D., M.P.S., William Mahoney, Jr., Ph.D., and Christopher Smith, Ph.D., will complete their terms at the end of this year. We thank them for their service.

Ismael (she/they) is dedicated to supporting the career and professional development of graduate students and postdocs, helping them achieve their goals. As a senior program manager in the Office of Scientific Career Development at Fred Hutch, she designs and delivers a wide range of programming emphasizing interactive, experiential, and peer learning, creating a more personalized and fulfilling experience. She also offers career coaching to provide individualized support that addresses the unique needs of each person. By working closely with graduate students and postdocs, she ensures that programming evolves in alignment with their changing needs.

Ismael earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of California, Irvine, a doctorate in biology from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and completed her postdoctoral training at the University of Colorado Anschutz. During her postdoc, she became actively involved with the postdoctoral association (PDA), sparking a deep interest in supporting and advocating for postdocs, a passion that has guided her work ever since. She continues to pursue opportunities to support postdocs at institutional, community, and national levels.

Out in the wild, she explores the Pacific Northwest with her family, cycling, trail running, cross- country skiing, or experimenting in the kitchen to perfect the art of pizza-making.

Marner is the director of engagement, education, and equity at the Morgridge Institute for Research, a private biomedical research institution affiliated with the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In this role, he focuses on the holistic development of early-career scientists, particularly postdoctoral scholars, and the expansion of access to STEM opportunities. Marner leads a team that designs and implements comprehensive training in science communication, leadership, and public engagement. His mission is rooted in mentorship and equity in science, a focus he adopted after consciously transitioning his career. Previously, Marner directed the Experimental Fermentation lab at the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, where he specialized in microbial metabolic engineering and synthetic biology for biofuel synthesis. He holds a doctorate in chemical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Virginia Tech. Marner is passionate about using institutional resources to break down systemic barriers in STEM, ensuring that all scientists gain the confidence, self-understanding, and professional skills necessary for fulfilling and diverse careers.

Nguyen is the assistant director of postdoctoral services at the Georgia Institute of Technology. In her role, Nguyen builds community through social and academic events and develops career and professional development programming for postdocs. A core motivation of her work is finding ways to create, support, and sustain equitable and inclusive spaces. To this end, Nguyen has volunteered with and led committees through organizations such as the NPA, the Graduate Career Consortium, and the POD Network.

Previously, Nguyen was a disease ecologist and environmental microbiologist with experience conducting lab and field-based research domestically and internationally. She earned a doctorate in integrative biology from the University of South Florida and a Bachelor of Science in ecology and evolution from Saint Louis University. She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship with the Fellowships in Research and Science Teaching (FIRST) program at Emory University.

Sharma is the director of postdoctoral affairs at the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago. Prior to this role, he was the assistant director for postdoctoral affairs in Biological Sciences Division, University of Chicago, and co-chair of Diversity Task Force of the NPA. He got his doctorate in cardiovascular developmental genetics from the Newcastle University, UK and did his postdoctoral research in understanding heart development and congenital heart defects at Washington University in St. Louis. During his postdoctoral training, he was an active member of WashU postdoc association and served as outreach director. He is passionate about graduate and postdoctoral affairs like program development, mentorship, advocacy, policy making, and increasing representation in higher education and leadership roles. He has also written op-eds for Inside Higher Ed, Times Higher Education, and the NPA's POSTDOCket on these themes. In my free time he produces his podcast, WokeTales, and enjoys spending time with his cats.

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) has appointed Ioana (ee-wa-na) Marin, Ph.D., as Community Committee vice chair.

Marin (she/her) is a neuroscientist and community builder, currently working as an associate editor at Nature Neuroscience. Originally from Romania, she pursued her undergraduate degree at Lafayette College and received her doctorate in neuroscience from the University of Virginia. She then continued her training as a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University for five years, where she was heavily involved in teaching and leadership in the postdoc community. Marin continues to remain passionate about supporting postdocs in their personal and professional lives. In science, her dream is to be able to integrate research from different areas to understand how the brain works. In life, she believes showing up is the first step to achieving many things. She enjoys cultivating wonder, being outdoors, baking and the arts.

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) has appointed Vinita Gangaram Jansari, Ph.D., as Meetings Committee vice chair. She will join S. Anand Narayanan, Ph.D., and Fatima Saldaña Morales, Ph.D., in leadership duties. The Meetings Committee assists the staff and Board in planning and coordinating the NPA Annual Conferences. This committee interacts with all NPA committees and staff to develop programmatic content for the NPA Annual Conference and offers an opportunity to network with postdocs and administrators from institutions across the country.

Jansari is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Automotive Engineering at Clemson University, South Carolina. She holds degrees in computer applications (Bachelor of Computer Applications, India), management and IT (Master of Science, University of St Andrews, Scotland), and computer science (doctorate, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand). Her current research applies AI and machine learning across manufacturing, mathematics, and healthcare. She is a co-principal investigator on an NSF-funded project and actively collaborates with industry partners, including BMW, to advance intelligent systems in manufacturing. She has industry experience as a software developer in London and has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in New Zealand, Singapore, and the United States. She actively contributes to academic leadership at Clemson as the Graduate School Liaison for Postdoctoral and Early Professional Scholars Association and has organized major research events, including a summit involving four NSF NRT programs and the co-located international manufacturing conferences NAMRC 53 and MSEC 2025.

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) Board of Directors has appointed Daniela Lucia Mendoza Millan, M.D., deputy editor of The POSTDOCket, the NPA's official newsletter.

Millan is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Dermatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School. Her research focuses on autoimmune and inflammatory skin diseases, with an emphasis on understanding hair loss and addressing racial disparities in dermatologic care. She earned her medical degree from the Central University of Venezuela. Her work has led to multiple peer-reviewed publications, international conference presentations, and collaborative projects that bridge dermatology and rheumatology. She serves as the educational officer of the Young Leaders Circle of the American Society for Microbiology, co-chair of the Wellness Committee for the BIDMC Postdoctoral Association, a member of the Academic Committee of the International Research Initiative program at Harvard University, and an editor for various academic journals. Outside of research, she enjoys running, reading, and baking. She is passionate about fostering collaboration among scientists, promoting diversity and inclusion in academic medicine, and mentoring aspiring physician-scientists.

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) Board of Directors has appointed Yorgos Kepesidis, Ph.D., and Nabila Riaz, Ph.D., as International Committee vice chairs. They will join Elham Javed, Ph.D., in leadership duties. The International Committee serves as the public face of international postdoc issues for the NPA and is the primary resource and expert advisors for the NPA Board of Directors, staff, and committees.

Kepesidis is, since March 2023, a postdoctoral appointee in Sandia National Labs, Livermore, working for the Algae program of the lab. Kepesidis holds a bachelor's/master’s integrated degree in biology from the Department of Biological Applications and Technologies at the University of Ioannina, Greece. His passion for microorganisms and curiosity about photosynthesis and plants led him to pursue a doctorate in algal cellular biology, focusing on light-related responses in the model green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii at the University of Grenoble Alpes, France. Following the defense of his thesis, he worked as a research engineer in the microbiology-focused R&D department of the early-stage startup Genomines in Paris, France.

Concurrently, he serves as the social and networking chair for the California site of the Sandia Postdoctoral Development (SPD) Association, overseeing the social events of the lab’s postdoctoral community. He also co-organized the last two annual SPD mentorship Awards, recognizing and highlighting outstanding mentorship across the lab. Furthermore, he is among the organizers of the National Lab Postdoctoral Leadership (NLPL) meetings, which aim to foster the connection between the postdoctoral communities of the DOE-funded National Laboratories. His experience as a Greek citizen who has worked in three different countries, transitioning between both academic and industrial labs, along with his passion for postdoctoral advocacy, has led to his interest in the affairs of international postdocs and their support.

Riaz is 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 (LUMS) and her Master of Science in plant sciences from the University of Bonn, Germany. She later received 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. She has worked with leading national science policy organizations, including the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), to champion early-career researchers and advance workforce development initiatives. At FASEB, she led policy initiatives impacting early-career researchers and international STEM scholars, spearheading a comprehensive international postdoc policy portfolio. She also partnered with the NPA’s Advocacy Committee, serving as FASEB’s liaison to the broader postdoctoral policy community.

In 2023, Riaz was selected as a National Academies Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Fellow, where she contributed to projects aimed at improving the representation, retention, and well-being of early-career scientists.She is excited to bring her expertise in science policy, higher education, and program management to support the NPA postdoctoral community and help cultivate a research environment where all scholars can thrive.

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) has appointed Henkel Valentine, Ph.D., as Diversity Committee vice chair.

Valentine is a postdoctoral scientist at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, PA. His research centers on developing advanced CRISPR-based mouse models of bladder cancer that recapitulate mutations within the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, a frequently mutated axis in this cancer type. By precisely generating these genetic alterations, Valentine aims to identify effective strategies for targeted treatment using kinase inhibitors, thereby establishing a foundation for potential clinical trials involving mTOR pathway inhibitors.

In addition to his scientific exploits, Valentine is actively involved in the Philadelphia community, where he coordinates programs designed to engage urban youth. Through these programs, he facilitates meaningful dialogues and hands-on experiences in STEM, empowering young people to envision and pursue viable STEM careers.

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) has appointed two new leaders: Robert Fofrich, Ph.D., as Engagement Committee chair, and Saikat Nandy, Ph.D., as Engagement Committee vice chair.

Fofrich is a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability at the University of California, Los Angeles, and is also a researcher with the Climate Impact Lab. He earned his doctorate in Earth system science from the University of California, Irvine, in 2022, where he studied climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. Fofrich's research seeks to mitigate the anthropogenic causes of climate change and the associated risks to natural and human populations. Within this context, his research has explored a variety of topics, including global energy emissions and transition challenges, carbon sequestration efforts, climate change impacts on global food security, and climate change attribution.

Nandy is a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Biostatistics at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. His research focuses on neuroimage analysis in pediatric cancer survivors, examining spatial trends in tumor spread, the effects of radiation on brain microstructure development, and the subsequent impact on neurocognitive abilities. He earned his doctorate in statistics from the University of Missouri and a Master of Science in mathematics from Georgia State University. His research interests lie at the intersection of public policy and public health, aiming to develop statistical tools that inform decision-making and improve patient outcomes.

In addition to research, Nandy is actively involved in leadership and mentorship. He serve as vice chair of the Career Development Committee on the St. Jude Postdoctoral Leadership Council and previously served on the Outreach Committee. He has also held leadership roles in student councils and program committees. As a mentor in the Emerging Leaders in Biomedical Research program at St. Jude, he guides high school students interested in careers in cancer research and education. He is passionate about fostering an inclusive and supportive scientific community, believing that a strong network of peers is invaluable, especially in challenging times. His goal has always been to create an environment where every voice is heard and members feel valued and recognized.

Beyond his professional work, Nandy is a proud and relatively successful plant dad, having named all 20 of his houseplants. When he is not immersed in research, he enjoy reading and painting.

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) Board of Directors officers for 2025 are: chair, Chris Smith, Ph.D.; vice chair, Andrea Pereyra, M.D., Ph.D.; treasurer, S. Anand Narayanan, Ph.D.; and oversight officer, Erin Heckler, Ph.D. As treasurer, Narayanan will serve as chair of the Finance Committee, and as oversight officer, Heckler will serve as chair of the Oversight Committee. These four positions, along with the NPA's executive director, comprise the Executive Committee.

The 2025 elected officers for the NPA Postdoc Council (PDC) are: chair, Alison McCarthy, Ph.D.; vice chair, Florencia Anunziata, Ph.D.; and, oversight officer, Pallabi Bhowmick, Ph.D. The chair and vice chair of the PDC also serve on the Board of Directors.

To view the full 2025 Board, follow this link.

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) has appointed three new leaders: Fatima Saldaña Morales, Ph.D., as Meetings Committee vice chair, Elizabeth Salm, Ph.D., as Resource Development Committee vice chair, and Kylie Seltzer, Ph.D., as Advocacy Committee vice chair.

Saldaña Morales is currently the assistant director for postdoctoral affairs at the University of Virginia (UVA) where her primary goal is to serve as a resource and advocate for UVA postdoctoral community. She was born and raised in Peru where she received her Bachelor of Science in biology from Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. Saldaña Morales has a Master of Science and a doctorate in neuroscience from Baylor College of Medicine were she studied the enteric nervous system. Saldaña Morales served as the first administrative postdoctoral fellow at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine Postdoctoral Affairs Office and was actively involved in planning and executing the 2023 "What Can you Be With a PhD?" She has served the NPA Meetings Committee since 2023 as a volunteer in the keynote and social & networking subcommittees. She has now assumed the vice chair position of the NPA Meetings Committee. Saldaña Morales has been involved in several science outreach initiatives to improve access to research opportunities for Peruvian and Latin American stem undergraduates as well as to spread her love of science to the public by volunteering in museums. She is also a mom, dog-mom, and coffee-lover.

Salm is the director for graduate & postdoctoral training and development for biomedical graduate education at Georgetown University. In her role, Salm directs career development programming for Master of Science and doctoral students as well as postdoctoral fellows. She also supports Georgetown's 10 NIH-funded T32 training programs throughout the training grant lifecycle. She graduated from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities with a Bachelor of Science in neuroscience and received her doctorate in neuroscience from Yale. Salm is the current vice chair of the NPA Resource Development Committee and the secretary of the National Training Grant Community of Practice.

Seltzer is a researcher, creator, and community builder who is committed to fostering collective liberation and a more equitable world. An architectural historian by trade, her dissertation research focused on the intersection of race theory and the built environment, specifically the ways that architecture became a tool for visualizing and dissemination ideas about white supremacy. Her innovative research has been recognized by The Graham Foundation, The Council for European Studies, and The American Council of Learned Societies. After finishing her doctorate degree in the history of art and architecture from Pitt in 2020, she worked at a racial and social justice-focused consulting firm as the lead research strategist. In this role, she led a team of researchers in analyzing and synthesizing both qualitative and quantitative data. In 2023, she joined UNC-Chapel Hill's Carolina Public Humanities as the Zietlow postdoctoral fellow, where she is responsible for developing and leading a new branch of work that blends civic engagement and the public humanities. In her free time, she can be found doting on her Shih Tzus (Geroge Michael and Phil Collins), training for her first marathon, and nagging her husband to take her to Lowe's.