| NPA Social Sciences & Humanities Postdocs Special Interest Summit |
 Through a series of interactive online sessions led by the NPA, the summit aims to identify barriers – and find paths forward – in the broader postdoctoral community that significantly and/or disproportionately affect social sciences & humanities postdoctoral scholars. Roundtable discussions are currently planned on a variety of topics of interest to the postdoctoral communities featuring postdoctoral researchers and invited representatives from government, industry, nonprofits, and academia.Summit Registration Become a Summit Sponsor  Panel 1: Social Sciences & Humanities Postdocs Around Us1 p.m. - 1:55 p.m. ETThis session focuses on highlighting the work and impact of postdocs in the social sciences and humanities. Our panelists represent diverse disciplinary and institutional perspectives with the shared goal of working to support social scientists and humanists in being successful in their careers. Our roundtable discussion will highlight the amazing work social scientists and humanists do and panelists will offer their perspective on the skills, experiences and reflections these scholars can cultivate to make their next career step. We’ll touch on topics such as:
This will be followed by Q&A with participants. Moderator: Victoria Hallinan, Ph.D., program director for professional development, Yale University Speakers: Cynthia Berg, Ph.D., distinguished professor, development psychology, health psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Utah; Mark Lawson, Ph.D., director, President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, UC Berkeley Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, Division of Equity & Inclusion, University of California, Berkeley; Erica Machulak, Ph.D., founder, Hikma Collective, author; Caleb McKinney, Ph.D., M.P.S., associate dean, graduate and postdoctoral training & development for Biomedical Graduate Education, assistant vice president of master’s program administration and development, Georgetown University Medical Center, NPA Board member  Panel 2: Diving Deeper into Social Sciences & Humanities Postdoc Needs2 p.m. - 2:55 p.m. ETDetails to come. Moderator: Robin Sugiura, M.A., director of postdoctoral training, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, Stanford University; NPA Board member Speakers: Blessing Enekwe, Ph.D., program director, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, The Graduate School, University of Maryland; Jewel Pereyra, Ph.D., postdoc in African American & Black Diaspora Studies, Boston University; Claire Perrot, Ph.D., professional development postdoctoral fellow, Syracuse University; Alexandria Yen, Ph.D., program director, postdoctoral career & professional development, MIT  Panel 3: Skills Session: Transferable Skills for Multiple Career Choices3 p.m. - 3:55 p.m. ETIn this dynamic panel discussion, speakers will explore how postdoctoral scholars in the social sciences and humanities can leverage their transferable skills to thrive across diverse career paths. The conversation will unpack key themes such as navigating academic and non-academic career pathways, cultivating a professional identity and growth mindset, integrating work and life with intention, and building strategic relationships that open doors to new opportunities. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for shaping fulfilling, flexible, and values-driven careers. Moderator: Angela Crumdy, Ph.D., Provost postdoctoral fellow, University of Pennsylvania, NPA IMPACT alum Speakers: Fatimah Williams, Ph.D., Professional Pathways; Paola Cépeda, Ph.D., assistant vice chancellor for postdoctoral affairs; director, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine; Ilana HorwItz, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Jewish Studies, Tulane University  Panel 4: Building Community4 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ETHumanities and social science postdocs often navigate institutional cultures and expectations shaped by STEM models, from questions like “Who is your PI?” to the absence of clear structures for collaboration and career growth. This interactive session brings together Dina M. Asfaha (MIT), Anne-Charlotte Mecklenburg (UoV), and Chequeta Allen (UCSF) to explore how HSS postdocs can make the most of their postdoctoral experience while building stronger interdisciplinary networks. Drawing on examples such as research communication events and postdoc symposia as key sites of community-building, the panel will highlight how HSS postdocs can leverage their disciplinary strengths to connect across fields, articulate the value of their work, and identify concrete next steps for shaping inclusive postdoc communities and professional pathways beyond academia. Moderators: Kati Kish Bar-On, Ph.D., Marie Skłodowska-Curie postdoctoral fellow, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, NPA IMPACT Fellow Speakers: Chequeta Allen, Ed.D., MBA, FACMPE, assistant dean of postdoctoral affairs, Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs, University of California, San Francisco; Dina M. Asfaha, Ph.D., postdoctoral associate, MIT; Anne-Charlotte Mecklenburg, Ph.D., assistant director for research communication, PhD Plus, University of Virginia |