| Leadership |
Christopher T. Smith, Ph.D.FORMER POSTDOC AT VANDERBILT UNIVERSITYChairSmith received his doctoral degree in neurobiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2014, after which he served as a postdoc in the Department of Psychology at Vanderbilt University. While at Vanderbilt, he served in various roles within the Vanderbilt postdoctoral association including webmaster, treasurer, and junior co-chair. From January 2019 to 2022 he served as the postdoctoral affairs program manager within the Graduate School at North Carolina State University. Chris is now postdoctoral affairs program administrator within the Office of Research and Innovation at Virginia Tech where he is leading efforts to build out support and resources for postdoctoral associates at the institution. He has been actively involved with the NPA since 2017, including writing for The POSTDOCket newsletter and serving on the Meetings, Resource Development, and Advocacy Committees. Andrea Pereyra, M.D., Ph.D.FORMER POSTDOC AT EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITYVice ChairPereyra is the assistant director of postdoctoral life design at Johns Hopkins University. Her focus is supporting the professional development of postdoctoral fellows across all disciplines. In this role, she aims to connect individuals with resources and experiences so they can thrive in their chosen career paths. Before this, Pereyra was a postdoctoral scholar in biomedical research. She has over 15 years of academic experience, including laboratory work, teaching, and mentoring. She has published seminal discoveries in fatty acid oxidation disorders and presented her work nationally and internationally. More importantly, her academic journey has catalyzed her passion to serve doctoral and postdoctoral scholars as an academic administration leader. She completed medical and graduate school at the National University of La Plata School of Medicine in Argentina, earning an M.D./Ph.D. degree. She is fluent in Spanish and is a connoisseur of Argentinian sweet treats and baked goods. S. Anand Narayanan, Ph.D.FORMER POSTDOC AT FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITYTreasurerNarayanan is currently a research faculty at Florida State University. He holds Bachelor of Science degrees from West Virginia University in mechanical engineering and biology, completed his Doctor of Philosophy from Texas A&M University in medical and space physiology and a NASA space biology postdoctoral fellowship at Florida State University. He has interdisciplinary research interests across basic and applied research settings, studying how the cardiovascular and immune systems adapt, support, and regulate local and systemic organ adaptations in different contexts, including spaceflight, medicine (e.g. auto-immune conditions, lymphedema, etc.), public/global health, etc. Additionally, as a first-generation, immigrant, Indian American from a disadvantaged background, Narayanan has held a life-long interest in encouraging diversity through educational outreach and multi-disciplinary projects. In turn, he is involved with various programs and organizations (e.g. NASA, Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, Students for the Exploration and Development of Space, Zed Factor Fellowship, Intersections Science Fellows Symposium, etc.) to support and advise the next generation of students and young professionals, in particular those from underrepresented backgrounds in STEAM, with their professional development and career interests. Erin Heckler, Ph.D.FORMER POSTDOC AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY – NEW JERSEY MEDICAL SCHOOLOversight OfficerHeckler is associate provost for postdoctoral affairs at Yale University. She received her doctorate from the University of Delaware in 2003 and completed postdoc training at Rutgers University – New Jersey Medical School. She was previously the postdoctoral affairs administrator at the University of Chicago in the Biological Sciences Division and director of the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at Washington University in St. Louis. Heckler is a National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) Entering Mentoring Trained facilitator and an author on the 2018 eLife study: “United States National Postdoc Survey results and the interaction of gender, career choice and mentor impact.” She is a past co-chair of the NPA Resource Development Committee and served on the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) Graduate Research Education and Training (GREAT) Group Postdoctorate Leaders Section Steering Committee 2018-2022. She is a member of the AAMC GREAT working group’s on the Appropriate Treatment of Research Trainees and Equity in Postdoc Hiring. Matthew Aguirre, Ph.D.FORMER POSTDOCCommunity Committee LiaisonAguirre is currently the director of graduate student services and graduate student association (GSA) senior advisor at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). He was previously the director of postdoctoral affairs, graduate recruitment and diversity initiatives at UNR, while serving as a Diversity Officer for the NPA. In his current role he works with the UNR Graduate School to maintain and grow the offerings of services to ensure the recruitment and retention of graduate students. This includes co-organizing the graduate professional development workshop series, three-minute thesis competition and assisting in graduate student recruitment. As senior advisor to the GSA, Aguirre is responsible for the training of the GSA council and executive board, fiscal manager to GSA accounts and oversees all GSA programs and events. Florencia Anunziata, Ph.D.POSTDOC AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGOVice Chair, Postdoc CouncilAnunziata is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba in Argentina in 2015, and a doctorate in psychology with a concentration in experimental psychobiology from the same institution in 2022. Her doctoral research, conducted using both animal and human models, focused on the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on neonatal learning, memory, and physiological development. Her postdoctoral research at UCSD focuses on human studies related to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, child development, and the impact of environmental exposures early in life. She is also involved in the Healthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study, contributing to multiple working groups and co-chairing the Spanish Language-Culture Committee. At UCSD, she serves as the NPA liaison and co-chair of the Career Development Committee at the UCSD Postdoctoral Association. Lindsey Fernandez, Ph.D.POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIAResource Development Committee LiaisonFernandez is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania. She received her Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering and computer engineering from Johns Hopkins University in 2015, and a doctoral degree in bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania in 2021. Fernandez’s research investigates the mechanistic underpinnings of cancer progression, anti-tumor immunity, and therapeutic resistance through advanced systems biology methods, including multiscale modeling, agent-based modeling, neural networks, and quantitative systems pharmacology. She has additionally served as co-president of the Penn Science Policy and Diplomacy Group (PSPDG), supporting the organization’s mission to create opportunities for early-career scientists to get hands-on training and experience in the fields of science communication, policy, and diplomacy, and strategizing for organizational sustainability through recruitment initiatives, leadership development, and management of relationships with external organizations. She currently serves as co-president of the Penn Postdoc Association, where she has led the organization’s transition from a school-specific council to a university-wide association representing over 1400 postdocs across all 12 schools of the university and its affiliated institutions. As a director of the NPA, Fernandez hopes to amplify postdoctoral voices, strengthen connections with postdoc organizations, and aid in creating lasting improvements to the postdoctoral experience. Thomas P. Kimbis, Esq.Executive Director & CEOEx Officio Kimbis previously led a major trade association, multiple offices within the federal government, and a charitable and educational foundation. He brings years of experience serving as a liaison to the White House, building public-private partnerships, spearheading strategic planning, and engaging industry leadership. He has launched and led game-changing initiatives in areas as diverse as technical standards, energy policy, consumer protection, trade, stakeholder engagement, and political communications. He has appeared on national and local media outlets from FOX to NPR, is regularly quoted in the press, and is a published writer on nonprofit management and leadership. Kimbis graduated with honors from Williams College with a Bachelor of Arts in political science, and from the University of Virginia with a Juris Doctor degree. He has earned certificates in leadership from the Brookings Institution and in management from the American Management Association. Sudha Krishnamurthy, B.D.S., Ph.D.FORMER POSTDOC AT UT MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTERDevelopment Committee ChairKrishnamurthy is the director of postdoctoral and graduate student education and research development affairs at Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco. She has over nine years of experience advising early-career scientists on career development, professional skills and on diversifying the scientific workforce. She is an accomplished biomedical researcher with interests in cancer biology, dentistry and higher education. She advocates for policies related to postdocs and graduate students, students of color and international trainees, and works closely with the NPA and the Graduate Career Consortium (GCC). She is also an assistant adjunct professor at the School of Dentistry, UCSF and periodically serves on NSF panel reviews and advisory committees related to postdoctoral training and career education, science outreach, and mentoring programs. Longitudinal career outcomes, the development of a postdoctoral curriculum, experiential training, mentorship, grantsmanship, leadership and management, and postdoctoral diversity fellowship programs have been some of her recent projects. She is trained as a dentist scientist with a doctorate in cancer stem cell biology from the University of Michigan and a postdoctoral training from UT MD Anderson Cancer Center. William Mahoney, Jr., Ph.D.FORMER POSTDOC AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTONMeetings Committee LiaisonMahoney has a long-standing interest in professional development, focusing on graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty at the University of Washington (UW). As associate dean, he provides leadership to both the Office of Graduate Student Affairs and the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs to support inclusive learning environments across the UW educational ecosystem. He leads efforts related to graduate student and postdoctoral fellow recruitment and support, holistic mentorship, and career exploration and guidance. Mahoney is an associate professor of laboratory medicine & pathology in the School of Medicine. He came to UW as a postdoctoral fellow in 2004 and has followed the academic tract to associate professor in the Department of Pathology. After establishing his independent lab in cardiovascular development & regeneration, he transitioned to focusing on mentoring graduate students by directing the interdepartmental Molecular Medicine and Mechanisms of Disease (M3D) doctoral program. This led to a more holistic attention to professional development towards careers in STEM by working with URM pipeline programs and by co-directing the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) in the UW Graduate School. Alison McCarthy, Ph.D.FORMER POSTDOC AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIAChair, Postdoc CouncilMcCarthy is a Penn Provost's postdoctoral fellow in mechanical engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from The College of New Jersey in 2017, and a doctoral degree in materials science and engineering from Stony Brook University in 2022 with a joint affiliation at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Her graduate research focused on the design and architecture of electrodes in lithium-ion batteries and beyond lithium-ion battery systems. Her postdoctoral research focuses on studying lithium metal mechanics within a battery. At Penn she works with the Penn postdoc associations advocacy committee and serves on the executive board as their NPA liaison. Caleb McKinney, Ph.D., M.P.S.FORMER POSTDOC AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASESAdvocacy Committee LiaisonMcKinney is an associate professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, associate dean of graduate and postdoctoral training & development for Biomedical Graduate Education (BGE), and assistant vice president of master’s program administration and development at Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC). He is committed to advocacy and career formation of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and his office serves as administrative liaison to the Georgetown University Postdoctoral Association (GUPDA) and to the Medical Center Graduate Student Organization (MCGSO). McKinney is also a principal investigator (MPI) and co-director of the NIH/NIGMS-funded Georgetown University Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD), a predoctoral T32 training program that provides interprofessional and interdisciplinary training and student development activities focused on enhancing biomedical workforce diversity. Moreover, as a GUMC co-investigator for the NIH-funded Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Consortium to Advance Health Equity and Researcher Diversity (AIM-AHEAD) Data Science Training Core, he designed programs for academic and community stakeholders to build workforce development initiatives that curate a pipeline of diverse individuals into data science research focused on mitigating health disparities. McKinney graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science in biology and a minor in applied economics and management. He then completed his doctorate degree in microbiology from New York University, a master’s in professional studies in design management and communications at Georgetown University, and the Harvard Macy Program for Educators in the Health Professions. Madhumita Joshi, Ph.D.FORMER POSTDOCInternational Committee LiaisonJoshi is the director of postdoctoral success at the University of Texas at San Antonio, where she champions the interests of postdoctoral fellows. She fosters an inclusive and supportive academic community by focusing on enhancing postdoctoral training programs and advocating for policies that address the unique needs of postdoctoral scholars. In her role, she develops initiatives to improve postdoctoral experiences, including professional development programs, teaching and mentoring opportunities, and networking events, while also exploring career pathways for emerging academics. As a RISE-UPP Alliance leader, she represents the University of Texas system in efforts to prepare postdoctoral scholars for academic careers. Additionally, as a board member of CIRTL, she is dedicated to cultivating future faculty by promoting teaching excellence among postdoctoral scholars. She brings extensive experience in biotechnology and molecular biology research alongside a strong background in mentorship (CIMER and NRMN). Her research and educational journey include esteemed institutions like Cornell University, Texas A&M, and the University of Georgia, where she has mentored undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral scholars. Passionate about youth development, she initiated a STEM program for middle and high school students in Uvalde, Texas, in partnership with the National 4-H Organization, inspiring the next generation to pursue careers in science and engineering. Robin Sugiura, M.A.Engagement Committee LiaisonSugiura is the director of postdoctoral training in the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at Stanford University, where she sets vision for and oversees the team that drives strategy and implementation for professional development curriculum and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives serving the 2,500 postdoctoral scholars at Stanford. Among the many initiatives she has developed, the 10-week Preparing for Faculty Careers course has served over 1,000 postdocs since 2015, and the cutting-edge PRISM postdoctoral recruitment initiative has successfully recruited over 120 postdocs with identities that are underrepresented in academia since 2017. Prior to her doctorate work at Stanford, she spent nearly a decade in Japan running a communications consulting business, developing bespoke communication strategies and delivering tailored curricula for Japanese firms expanding their businesses internationally. Sugiura earned a Bachelor of Arts in east Asian languages and cultures from UC Berkeley, a Master of Arts in Japanese literature from Waseda University in Tokyo (as the first American admitted to the graduate division of National Literature), and a Master of Arts (leaving ABD) in Japanese literature from Stanford. As a humanist and translator by training and curriculum developer by trade, she works to ensure disciplinary inclusion through interdisciplinary understanding and strategic adaptation. Committee Leaders
Aixa Alemán-Díaz, Ph.D.Community Committee Chair EmeritusAlemán-Díaz (she/her/ella) is one of the NPA Community Committee leaders. She is a cultural anthropologist interested in the intersections of culture, environment and health and with a commitment to serving others at all career stages (K-20). In her research, she examines the multiple social relationships that co-exist between residents and coastal and karst environments in Puerto Rico (PR). In 2023, she and co-principal investigator María Alejandra Pérez, Ph.D., from West Virginia University, received two research grants for new projects in PR. Their ongoing NSF project investigates the history, present, and future directions of the exploration and conservation of coasts and karst natural systems in Puerto Rico. Over the years, she has developed ample experience in public and nonprofit sectors. In 2021, she joined the UNIDOS U.S. Advisory Committee to complete “Closing Latina Wealth Gap report.” Her professional experiences have focused on qualitative research, social inequality, and STEM fields and workforce, with an interest in working with youth and teens and K-20 including early career scholars and professionals. Alemán-Díaz completed mental health first aid and ADVANCEGeo “train the trainer” as well as is a NAI Certified Guide Interpreter, Environmental Leadership Program Fellow and SACNAS leadership alum. She did the Semester at Sea multi-cultural study abroad program and the course Decolonizing Knowledge and Power in Spain. She was born and raised in Puerto Rico, and is fully bilingual in Spanish and English and speaks intermediate Portuguese after a homestay in Brazil. She obtained a bachelor’s in anthropology and psychology from the University of Michigan, a master’s degree from Rutgers University and a doctorate in cultural anthropology from American University. S. Anand Narayanan, Ph.D.Meetings Committee Chair EmeritusNarayanan is currently a research faculty at Florida State University. He holds Bachelor of Science degrees from West Virginia University in mechanical engineering and biology, completed his Doctor of Philosophy from Texas A&M University in medical and space physiology and a NASA space biology postdoctoral fellowship at Florida State University. He has interdisciplinary research interests across basic and applied research settings, studying how the cardiovascular and immune systems adapt, support, and regulate local and systemic organ adaptations in different contexts, including spaceflight, medicine (e.g. auto-immune conditions, lymphedema, etc.), public/global health, etc. Additionally, as a first-generation, immigrant, Indian American from a disadvantaged background, Narayanan has held a life-long interest in encouraging diversity through educational outreach and multi-disciplinary projects. In turn, he is involved with various programs and organizations (e.g. NASA, Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, Students for the Exploration and Development of Space, Zed Factor Fellowship, Intersections Science Fellows Symposium, etc.) to support and advise the next generation of students and young professionals, in particular those from underrepresented backgrounds in STEAM, with their professional development and career interests. Azmi Ahmad, Ph.D.Advocacy Committee ChairAhmad is a postdoctoral fellow at the Yale School of Medicine, working in the Cardiovascular Molecular Imaging Laboratory. He received his doctoral degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Utah. His current postdoctoral training focuses on translational research investigating calcific aortic valve disease and assessing novel therapies, with the overall goal of using molecular imaging to develop in vivo approaches to visualize, characterize and quantify processes involved in cardiovascular diseases. Ahmad has always cared deeply about advocacy and social justice to help positively uplift and support underrepresented communities on issues beyond those that directly affect him. He is passionate about creating better working conditions and respect for underrepresented communities in biomedical research across the United States, with established leadership both at the local levels with the Yale Postdoctoral Association (YPA) and the Yale School of Medicine Black Postdoctoral Association (YBPA), as well as the national level with the NPA. Having previously held a co-coordinator position at the YPA advocacy committee, he organized events to promote mental health, work-life balance, and postdoc recognition. More recently Ahmad has co-founded a new belonging committee at the YPA, with the aim to increase programming related to diversity, inclusion, respect, and equity for the postdoctoral community. Ahmad also served as chair of the outreach committee at the YBPA, and more recently become co-chair, where he helps build a community for Black postdocs and allies at the school, while also giving back to the local community through volunteer efforts and fundraising for charity. While being an active member of the NPA Advocacy Committee, Ahmad was also elected to serve on the NPA Postdoctoral Council. Being familiar with NPA mission and working towards the goal of enhancing the postdoc experience, Ahmad is excited to further serve on the leadership of the NPA Advocacy Committee. He aims to maintain and expand the relationships with government and national organizations interested in postdoc policies, while establishing a bidirectional exchange of resources between the work on institutional and national levels. Sara Dann, Ph.D.Advocacy Committee Chair EmeritusDann is the director of the Postdoctoral Certificate Program at The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, Texas. In this role, she leads curriculum development and program evaluation efforts. She works closely with postdocs, faculty members and staff to create workshops and courses for postdocs and graduate students that build critical skills for career growth and satisfaction. She is passionate about providing a supportive and effective training environment and offers individual guidance and coaching. In addition, Dann is an associate professor in the Departments of Internal Medicine and Microbiology & Immunology. Her research program focuses on defining the functional relationships between microbes and the immune response to enhance our understanding of the underlying causes of intestinal inflammation and translate these findings into improved therapies. These research interests allow her to offer basic and translational research training to a broad range of learners, including postdocs. Her education includes a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of California, Riverside, a doctorate in public health from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, and postdoctoral training in gastroenterology at the University of California, San Diego. Robert Fofrich, Ph.D.Engagement Committee ChairFofrich 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. Vinita Gangaram Jansari, Ph.D.Meetings Committee Vice ChairJansari 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. Elham Javed, Ph.D.International Committee Chair EmeritusJaved is an Indian citizen that was born and raised in Dubai, UAE. She came to the United States to pursue her graduate studies, first a Master of Science in molecular medicine from Drexel University and then her doctorate in cell biology and regenerative medicine from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. Currently, she is in her third year of postdoctoral fellowship at the Center for Translational Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University. Her research involves identifying Protein Kinase-A anchoring proteins (AKAPs) as structural- and/or signaling- elements in human airway smooth muscle cells. In addition to research, she is actively involved in the postdoctoral community as she was the president of Jefferson postdoctoral association from 2022-2023 and currently is the president emeritus. She is passionate about advocating for the issues associated with international students and post doctorates, hence she joined the NPA. Yorgos Kepesidis, Ph.D.International Committee Vice ChairKepesidis 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. Daniela Lucia Mendoza Millan, M.D.The POSTDOCket Deputy EditorMillan 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. Hanna Morales Hernández, Ph.D.Resource Development Committee Vice ChairHernández is the assistant director of student affairs at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s School of Biological Sciences. In this role, she serves as liaison for external doctoral programs, supports CSHL’s doctoral program and summer undergraduate research program, and contributes to the reaccreditation process and efforts to reinvigorate the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs. Hernández received her Bachelor of Arts in chemistry and physics from Wesleyan University and her doctorate degree in chemistry from Stony Brook University, where she worked on determining the relationship between chemical structure and electronic structure of gold nanoclusters via gas-phase, UV-Vis and IR spectroscopy. She then joined the Graduate School at Stony Brook University (a joint appointment in the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and the Center for Inclusive Education) as a postdoctoral associate where she was involved in programmatic assessment and professional development of graduate students and postdocs. She is fluent in Spanish, continues to work on her French, and enjoys the gym, nonfiction books, true crime documentaries, and paint-by-numbers. Saikat Nandy, Ph.D.Engagement Committee Vice ChairNandy 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. Tanya M. Paes, Ph.D.Community Committee Vice ChairPaes is a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Purdue University. She is from Canada where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in health sciences from McMaster University. She obtained her master’s degree in child development and education at the University of Oxford and completed her doctorate in education at the University of Cambridge focussing on pretend play and the development of young children’s self-regulation and language skills. She has held several leadership positions in her department, college, and professional societies centring on students’ welfare, diversity, equity, and inclusion. In her free time, she is typically trying out a new baking recipe to satisfy her sweet tooth. Nabila Riaz, Ph.D.International Committee Vice ChairRiaz 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. Fatima Saldaña Morales, Ph.D.Meetings Committee ChairSaldaña 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. Elizabeth Salm, Ph.D.Resource Development Committee ChairSalm 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 dcotoral 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 secretary of the National Training Grant Community of Practice. Kylie Seltzer, Ph.D.Advocacy Committee Vice ChairSeltzer 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. Aswathy Shailaja, Ph.D.The POSTDOCket Editor in ChiefShailaja is a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Pediatrics at Duke University School of Medicine. Her research focuses on examining the impact of breast milk-associated oxysterols on systemic inflammation in neonatal brain injury. She earned her doctorate from Clemson University, SC. Her research excellence has been recognized with the prestigious 2023 Center for Biofilm Engineering Young Investigator Award. In addition to her research, she serves as a guest editor and reviewer for several academic journals, demonstrating her dedication to advancing scientific knowledge and supporting the academic community. Beyond research, Shailaja is actively involved in leadership roles. She currently serves as the chair of the Professional Development Committee for the Duke University Postdoctoral Association (DUPA), the Duke postdoc coordinator for the Enhancing Local Industry Transitions Through Exposure (ELITE) Program, and co-coordinator of the Inclusive STEM Teaching Affinity Group for International/Non-Native Born Women. Outside of academia, she enjoys mindfulness activities such as journaling, koru, and creating Mandala art, as well as outdoor activities like hiking and camping. She also serves as a event coordinator for the Women of the Triangle Hiking Club. Smrithika Subramani, Ph.D.The POSTDOCket Editor in Chief EmeritusSubramani is currently a postdoctoral research associate at University of Wisconsin – Madison. A doctoral degree in biophysics from the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-organization in Germany and a postdoctoral role at University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee guided her into Nanobiomechanics related research. Working in international and multidisciplinary environments have enabled her to resonate with diversity in opinions – both in terms of science and culture. She serves as the communications director for the UW- Madison Postdoctoral Association and is actively involved in science communication and outreach. During her spare time, she enjoys reading and writing opinion articles, baking, long-distance running and hiking with her dog. Henkel Valentine, Ph.D.Community Committee Vice ChairValentine 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. Evelin Young, Ph.D.Resource Development Committee Chair EmeritusYoung is the director of the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at Baylor College of Medicine and has been a member of the NPA’s Resource Development Committee for threeyears. The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs oversees the appointments of over 500 postdoctoral associates and fellows, develops policies and procedures, organizes professional skills programming, and aids in recruitment efforts. Young’s career path and professional interests focus on the engagement of STEM graduates and building supportive training environments. After completing an undergraduate degree at the University of Miami, she was placed in Houston as a high school science teacher through Teach for America. She participated in education reform and curriculum development efforts and became interested in scientific research and higher education. Young completed a doctorate in biomedical sciences and an IRACDA postdoctoral fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. Before her current role, Young was the education program manager for diversity initiatives, including the IMSD, PREP, and summer research programs. She became a trained facilitator of the National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) curriculum in 2018 and has facilitated numerous workshops for undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral associates to improve mentee-mentor communication. Professional Staff
Thomas P. Kimbis, Esq.Executive Director & CEOKimbis previously led a major trade association, multiple offices within the federal government, and a charitable and educational foundation. He brings years of experience serving as a liaison to the White House, building public-private partnerships, spearheading strategic planning, and engaging industry leadership. He has launched and led game-changing initiatives in areas as diverse as technical standards, energy policy, consumer protection, trade, stakeholder engagement, and political communications. He has appeared on national and local media outlets from FOX to NPR, is regularly quoted in the press, and is a published writer on nonprofit management and leadership. Kimbis graduated with honors from Williams College with a Bachelor of Arts in political science, and from the University of Virginia with a Juris Doctor degree. He has earned certificates in leadership from the Brookings Institution and in management from the American Management Association. Kryste Ferguson, M.Ed.Membership & Research DirectorFerguson has enjoyed working with the postdoc population since 2003. Currently she is the membership & research director for the NPA. Her responsibilities include active engagement with the NPA membership, leader of the NPA institutional policy survey and report, and working with NPA partners on various projects. Previously, Ferguson worked at the University of Pennsylvania biomedical postdoctoral programs office as their academic coordinator for seven years. While there she tripled the number of career and professional development programs offered to Penn's postdoc population. She holds a master's degree in education from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor's degree from Westminster College. When not helping postdocs she keeps busy with her family and enjoying the great outdoors in western New York state where they reside. Amy WilsonMarketing Director & Office ManagerWilson holds the position of marketing director and office manager at the NPA, developing marketing strategies to increase the visibility of the NPA, along with performing daily administrative tasks. Prior to moving to the area, she worked in state government as both an administrative assistant and a social service analyst with the Department of Children & Family Services in Baton Rouge, LA. In 2005, she received a bachelor's degree in mass communication with a concentration in public relations from Louisiana State University. Advisory Council
Diane Klotz, Ph.D.ChairKlotz is the director of the Office of Training & Academic Services at the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute. In this position she oversees scientific career education and training programs for Sanford-Burnham's scientists-in-training. In addition to her program development role, she participates in institute-wide efforts in strategic planning with respect to education and training initiatives, serves as an advisor to executive leadership on education and training issues, and collaborates with institute leaders to develop training policies. She received her doctorate degree in molecular and cellular biology from Tulane University. Klotz was a member and the chair of the NPA Policy Committee, and she subsequently served as a member and chair of the NPA Board of Directors. She remains active with the NPA as a member of the NPA Advisors. Prior to accepting her current position, she was the director of the Office of Fellows' Career Development at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Brendan Delaney, Esq.Delaney is a partner at the law firm of Frank & Delaney Immigration Law, LLC, an immigration law firm based in Bethesda, MD. A native of Northern Ireland, he joined the firm in December 2000. He went on to receive his Juris Doctor at The Catholic University of America in Washington D.C., and became a partner in January 2009. He has been invited to speak at the Annual Meeting of the NPA, and NAFSA, as well as conducting legal seminars at numerous universities and institutions across the United States on visa issues for postdocs. Delaney has co-authored numerous articles related to postdoctoral issues for The POSTDOCket, and currently serves as a NPA Advisor. Brian F. KeaneSince 2002 Keane has been president of SmartPower, a Washington, DC-based non-profit clean energy and energy efficiency marketing organization. Keane is also co-founder and CEO of the on-line residential solar platform WeeGreen (www.wee.green). Under Keane’s leadership SmartPower has been credited with driving the adoption of over $100 million in residential solar in just three years – transforming how customers use, adopt, and invest in clean energy. At the same time, Keane spearheaded WeeGreen’s efforts across the United States and its expansion into India. As a result, WeeGreen demonstrated how to dramatically reduce the customer acquisition costs of residential solar from 30 cents per watt to and astounding 11 cents per watt. Keane is the chairman of the board of the Vermont-based Clean Energy Group, and a recognized business leader at the Yale Center for Business and the Environment. He is co-chair of the ESG Pillar of the Denton’s Law Firm’s Smart Cities & Connected Communities Think Tank. Keane literally “wrote the book” on clean energy and energy efficiency advocacy with the publication of his book Green Is Good: Save Money, Make Money, and Help Your Community Profit from Clean Energy (Lyons Press, 2012). Ed Krug, Ph.D.Krug is the associate dean for postdoctoral affairs at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) with administrative oversight of over 200 postdoctoral scholars, fellows, and staff scientists. He is past co-director of the MUSC-Claflin Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Awards, and founding director of the South Carolina IDeA Networks for Biomedical Research Excellence Postdoctoral Academic Career Development Program. He served as a coach in the Academy for Future Science Faculty Program, an National Institute of General Medical Sciences-funded Pathfinder Award (Rick McGee, principal investigator) that tests a coaching-based, sociological model for promoting diversity in the STEM fields. He is currently a professional development coach in the National Institutes of Health-funded National Research Mentoring Network Steps Towards Academic Research Program. He is a member of the advisory boards of Diverse Scholar and MinorityPostdoc.org, and a regular attendee of diversity focused conferences including Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science, Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students, and Understanding Interventions that Broaden Participation in Research Careers. Rafael E. Luna, Ph.D.Luna is the head of biomedical education & innovation at the Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research. In addition to doing biomedical research, he is a dynamic speaker and has led lectures and workshops throughout the United States and Europe. Luna also believes in giving back to the community by serving as a little league coach for 10 years in inner-city Boston, and four years ago was elected as the president of Mission Hill Little League. Victoria P. McGovern, Ph.D.McGovern is a senior program officer at the Burroughs-Wellcome Fund where she runs the program in infectious disease and a new multidisciplinary program bringing together population and bench based approaches in the life sciences. The Burroughs-Wellcome Fund is a private foundation dedicated to advancing biomedical sciences through its support of research and other scientific activities. McGovern is a charter member of the NPA and has been on the NPA Advisors since 2007. She has been involved in writing and producing career development materials for early career scientists since she was a postdoc herself, first with Science's Next Wave (now Science Careers), and later with resources like the Burroughs-Wellcome Fund/Howard Hughes Medical Institute manual Making the Right Moves and the recently released Excellence Everywhere-- a resource for scientists launching research careers in emerging science centers. Postdoc Council
Alison McCarthy, Ph.D.ChairMcCarthy is a Penn Provost's postdoctoral fellow in mechanical engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from The College of New Jersey in 2017, and a doctoral degree in materials science and engineering from Stony Brook University in 2022 with a joint affiliation at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Her graduate research focused on the design and architecture of electrodes in lithium-ion batteries and beyond lithium-ion battery systems. Her postdoctoral research focuses on studying lithium metal mechanics within a battery. At Penn she works with the Penn postdoc associations advocacy committee and serves on the executive board as their NPA liaison. Florencia Anunziata, Ph.D.Vice ChairAnunziata is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba in Argentina in 2015, and a doctorate in psychology with a concentration in experimental psychobiology from the same institution in 2022. Her doctoral research, conducted using both animal and human models, focused on the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on neonatal learning, memory, and physiological development. Her postdoctoral research at UCSD focuses on human studies related to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, child development, and the impact of environmental exposures early in life. She is also involved in the Healthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study, contributing to multiple working groups and co-chairing the Spanish Language-Culture Committee. At UCSD, she serves as the NPA liaison and co-chair of the Career Development Committee at the UCSD Postdoctoral Association. Pallabi Bhowmick, Ph.D.Oversight OfficerBhowmick is a postdoctoral research associate at the Human Factors and Aging Lab in University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and an NIH-funded Diversity Fellow Award recipient in Aging Research. Her research leverages virtual reality to enhance cognitive and social engagement for older adults and also explores human-robot interaction to promote independent living. She earned her doctorate in health informatics/human-computer interaction from Indiana University Bloomington (IUB), focusing on innovative IoT technologies to reduce social isolation among older adults, combat ageism in technology design, and improve adoption. She holds a computer science and engineering Undergraduate degree from India, and a Master of Science in informatics from Technical University of Munich, Germany. She also worked as a software developer at Wipro, India, and Intel, Germany, before transitioning to academia. Having built her career across three continents she deeply values diverse cultures and perspectives. Actively involved in academic communities, Bhowmick has held leadership roles at institutional, and international levels, including serving as the international student ambassador at IUB, the elected representative for Informatics at the Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG) and leading the Luddy Graduate Ambassador Program. Through these roles, she has advocated for graduate students by bringing their perspectives and concerns to the table and contributed to key decisions affecting the broader student body. She has chaired and served on program committees of prestigious, high-impact international conferences and received the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Ambassador Recognition Award, 2023 from the Ubiquitous Computing community for her efforts in inclusivity and accessibility for all. She has also mentored undergraduates and K-12 educators, particularly women, as part of NSF-funded research programs to improve women participation in STEM. All these experiences have been personally fulfilling and rewarding. She is motivated to carry this commitment forward at the postdoctoral level, and as the Oversight Officer in the PDC leadership team, aims to contribute to strategic planning and governance to advance the mission of supporting postdoctoral scholars in the United States and play an active role in shaping initiatives that foster a more inclusive environment. On a personal front, she is an avid reader, loves the smell of books, has a passion for traveling, experiencing diverse cultures, and has thoroughly enjoyed her journeys to 22 countries across three continents so far. Azmi Ahmad, Ph.D.Ahmad is a postdoctoral fellow at the Yale School of Medicine, working in the Cardiovascular Molecular Imaging Laboratory. He received his doctoral degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Utah. His current postdoctoral training focuses on translational research investigating calcific aortic valve disease and assessing novel therapies, with the overall goal of using molecular imaging to develop in vivo approaches to visualize, characterize and quantify processes involved in cardiovascular diseases. Ahmad has always cared deeply about advocacy and social justice to help positively uplift and support underrepresented communities on issues beyond those that directly affect him. He is passionate about creating better working conditions and respect for underrepresented communities in biomedical research across the United States, with established leadership both at the local levels with the Yale Postdoctoral Association (YPA) and the Yale School of Medicine Black Postdoctoral Association (YBPA), as well as the national level with the NPA. Having previously held a co-coordinator position at the YPA advocacy committee, he organized events to promote mental health, work-life balance, and postdoc recognition. More recently Ahmad has co-founded a new belonging committee at the YPA, with the aim to increase programming related to diversity, inclusion, respect, and equity for the postdoctoral community. Ahmad also served as chair of the outreach committee at the YBPA, and more recently become co-chair, where he helps build a community for Black postdocs and allies at the school, while also giving back to the local community through volunteer efforts and fundraising for charity. While being an active member of the NPA Advocacy Committee, Ahmad was also elected to serve on the NPA Postdoctoral Council. Being familiar with NPA mission and working towards the goal of enhancing the postdoc experience, Ahmad is excited to further serve on the leadership of the NPA Advocacy Committee. He aims to maintain and expand the relationships with government and national organizations interested in postdoc policies, while establishing a bidirectional exchange of resources between the work on institutional and national levels. Christine Carney, Ph.D.Carney is a CRTA postdoctoral fellow within the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She received her Bachelor of Arts in biological sciences and women’s studies from the University of Delaware, after which she earned her Master of Science in cellular and molecular biomedical sciences and her doctorate in molecular medicine from University of Maryland School of Medicine. Her doctoral research was focused on development of tumor receptor-targeted nanotherapeutics for primary and metastatic breast cancer. During graduate school, she was passionate about advocating for students through her roles in student government and on the Maryland Higher Education Committee (MHEC) Student Advisory Council. As a postdoc, Carney studies the unique proteomic and metabolic features of breast cancer stem cells, and how these properties may be exploited for therapeutic intervention. At NCI/NIH, she is a Salie Rosen Kaplan Fellow and involved in the Center for Cancer Research Fellows & Young Investigators (CCR-FYI) Steering Committee. She is excited to work on the NPA Postdoc Council to help promote the careers and interests of young scientists, particularly women, throughout the country. Veronica Farrugia Drakard, Ph.D.Drakard is a CICOES postdoctoral fellow at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Juneau campus. She received her Bachelor of Science in chemistry and biology and a Master of Science in biology from the University of Malta, followed by a doctoral degree in marine biology from University College Dublin in 2022. Under the graduate mentorship of Tasman Crowe, Ph.D., and Paul Brooks, Ph.D., Drakard investigated the ecology of seaweeds on artificial structures and the potential applications of eco-engineering interventions to improve benthic biodiversity. Now working with Mike Stekoll, Ph.D. (UAF CFOS), and Jordan Hollarsmith, Ph.D. (NOAA AFSC), she studies the impacts of global and local climate stressors on the early life-stages of commercially important Alaskan kelp species. Her long-term career goal is to establish an academic lab to address questions concerned with applied seaweed biology and ecology. She strives to be an advocate for women and underrepresented minorities in STEM, and currently serves on UAF's Committee on the Status of Women. She looks forward to serving on the NPA Postdoc Council and working to promote the interests of female and international postdocs nationwide. Dylan Johnson, Ph.D.Johnson is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas Medical Branch and Galveston National Lab. He received his Bachelor of Science in microbiology from the University of Hawaii Manoa, a Master of Science in biology (vaccines) from Indiana State University, and a Master of Science and doctorate in microbiology and immunology (virology) from the University of Louisville. His research focuses on the development of medical countermeasures (vaccines and therapeutics) targeting emerging RNA viruses. His is a co-founder of BioRisk Reduction, a global network of infectious disease professionals who provide consulting, education, training, risk assessment, committee accreditation, and professional development. He currently serves as the president of UTMB’s postdoc association and as a member of the American Society for Virology Education & Career Development Committee. Courtney McClure, Ph.D.McClure is a current postdoctoral research associate at Delaware State University in Dover, Delaware. She received her Bachelor of Biological Sciences in 2016 from Delaware State University, and her doctorate from UCLA in 2023. Currently, McClure studies Alzheimer’s disease risk variants in African Americans using Drosophila. McClure’s long term goal is to establish an academic lab while mentoring underrepresented populations. She is passionate about mentorship and has worked on several mentorship initiatives. She has mentored five undergraduates throughout her career. In the past, she has served on numerous committees, including the Early Career Professionals of the American College of Toxicology, and the Graduate Student Leadership Committee of the Society of Toxicology. She is excited about serving on the Postdoc Council and advocating for the postdoc experience. Javaria Munir, Ph.D.Munir is a postdoc research associate at University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) in the Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences. She did her undergraduate and M.Phil in biochemistry/molecular biology from Quaid-i-Azam University, Pakistan, followed by a doctoral degree in integrated biomedical science from Soonchunhyang University, South Korea. Her doctoral research identified a glypican under an epigenetic modulator to influence breast cancer metastasis and cell migration. After her doctorate, she served as a visiting faculty in the Department of Biochemistry and National Center for Bioinformatics at Quaid-i-Azam University, Pakistan, teaching advanced courses at the undergraduate and graduate level. Before coming to the United States, she graduated from the National Academy of Higher Education Commission (NAHE), Pakistan. As a postdoc at UNL, she is serving as a member of the chancellor's commission for the status of women to recommend policies that will impact women's involvement on campus, particularly of under-represented groups. Her postdoc research focuses on using milk exosomes in nutrition, neonatal development and their use as drug delivery vehicles for brain-related pathologies, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Glioblastoma etc. She looks forward to utilising NPA as a platform to improve the experience of postdocs in the United States, particularly those of international origin. Claire Perrot, Ph.D.Perrott is the professional development postdoctoral fellow at Syracuse University. She develops resources and coordinates events tailored to the Syracuse University postdoctoral community, helping develop the newly created Syracuse University Office of Postdoctoral Affairs. This work encompasses connecting postdoctoral scholars with an array of campus resources, with a particular emphasis on fostering access to professional development opportunities. Perrott provides comprehensive support to postdoctoral scholars, ensuring their success during their time at Syracuse University and as they prepare for the next stage of their careers. Previously, she worked in various roles as a historian. She earned her doctorate in Latin American history from the University of Arizona, and a Bachelor of Arts in Latin American studies and Spanish from Lake Forest College. She pursued research in modern Mexican environmental history and contributed to the field of disaster studies. She taught history at various institutions and pivoted to higher ed. administration in 2023. Beyond work, she is an environmentalist and enjoys being a new mom. Amanda Shaver, Ph.D.Shaver is an NIH F32 postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins University. She received her Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Kansas in 2011, and a doctoral degree in genetics from the University of Georgia in 2022. Under the graduate mentorship of Arthur Edison, Ph.D., Shaver developed methods for identifying unknown metabolites in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. Now working under Erik Andersen, Ph.D., in the Department of Biology, she studies the genetic causes of resistance to anthelmintic drugs in nematodes. Globally, parasitic nematodes are one of the most destructive parasites of humans, infecting an estimated two billion people annually. She uses the natural diversity of C. elegans to identify resistance mechanisms conserved with parasitic roundworms to ultimately identify better treatments for people in developing countries. Shaver's long-term career goal is to establish an academic lab building on her postdoctoral work to continue investigating the genetic causes of anthelmintic resistance. She is a passionate advocate for women and first-generation college students in STEM. She has mentored 14 undergraduates and high school students throughout her research career. In the past, she has served on several committees, including the Early Career Scientist Career Development Subcommittee (co-chair) for the Genetics Society of America and the Genetics Graduate Student Association (co-president) at the University of Georgia, among others. She looks forward to serving as an NPA Council member and improving the postdoctoral associate experience nationwide. Alexandra Wynn, Ph.D.Wynn is a postdoctoral researcher in the Program of Epidemiology at the University of Delaware. She received her Bachelor of Science in health science from St. Bonaventure University in 2019 and a doctoral degree in health psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2024. During graduate school, her research focused on the psychosocial factors and systemic barriers influencing preventive receipt in Black emerging adults. Her postdoctoral research expands on this and seeks to examine how Black emerging adults' health care delivery influences their health utilization and engagement. Wynn’s long-term goals are to develop equitable interventions and policies to alleviate race and age-based disparities for Black emerging adults. At the University of Delaware, she collaborates with the Delaware Division of Public Health to facilitate the State Health Assessment and State Health Improvement Plan. |
10/28/2025
2025 NPA SmartSkills Registration