Illustration by Berwin Swami Vetha, Ph.D., POSTDOCket graphics editor.

March 13–14, 2026 | San Francisco, California

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) will host its annual conference on March 13–14, 2026, in San Francisco, California. This premier event brings together postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, administrators, and industry partners to engage in discussions focused on the postdoctoral experience.

Keynote & Awards Ceremony: Sethuraman Panchanathan, Ph.D.

A featured highlight of the conference will be the keynote and NPA awards ceremony, led by Sethuraman Panchanathan, Ph.D., former director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and professor at Arizona State University. A nationally recognized leader in innovation and research translation, Panchanathan played a central role in advancing U.S. scientific competitiveness through the creation of the NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships.

The awards ceremony will recognize both individuals and organizations for excellence in mentorship, service, leadership, and community impact across the postdoctoral ecosystem.

Programming Highlights

The agenda is organized around five core tracks: Advocacy, Building Community, International Issues, Mentoring, and Professional Development. Sessions are designed to provide practical training for postdocs and graduate students at different career stages, with emphasis on evolving career pathways, such as those shaped by AI and data-driven technologies.

Featured workshops include:

• GenAI for Career Readiness
• How to Land Your First Job in an AI-Obsessed World
• When Talk is Tough: Strategies for Handling Difficult Conversations

A dedicated track for postdoctoral office (PDO) administrators will focus on institutional best practices, competency-based assessments, and data-driven strategies to support researcher retention and well-being.

Advocacy & Equity

The 2026 conference emphasizes building a stronger, more equitable postdoctoral workforce. Sessions will address stipend adjustments, competitive salaries, and regional cost-of-living differences.

Programming will also focus on the needs of international scholars, who represent more than 69% of the U.S. postdoctoral population[¹], with sessions on visa navigation, access to federal career awards, and policy reforms aimed at supporting and retaining global research talent.

The conference will prioritize attendee well-being by offering daily yoga sessions, brief guided mindfulness activities, and scheduled pauses between sessions to encourage rest, reflection, and informal networking. Dedicated lactation, quiet, and prayer rooms will also be available.

San Francisco – the Host City

The conference will be held in one of the nation’s leading scientific and cultural hubs. Attendees will enjoy access to landmarks such as Golden Gate Park and Fisherman’s Wharf, while benefiting from proximity to universities, biotech companies, and innovation centers, providing a conducive environment for professional exchange and collaboration.

The Takeaway

Beyond its rich programming, the NPA conference is valued most for its community-building. As the only national meeting dedicated exclusively to postdoctoral affairs, it fosters an open and collaborative environment where attendees share strategies, address common challenges, and learn from peers across institutions. Whether you are exploring career options or working to strengthen institutional support for researchers, the conference offers a supportive professional network that encourages meaningful connections.

Register for the conference here

References:

[¹] Kahn, S., & MacGarvie, M. (2024). New evidence on international postdocs in the US: Less pay, different experiences. Research Policy, 53(9), 105077.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2024.105077

Illustration by Berwin Swami Vetha, Ph.D., POSTDOCket graphics editor.

Leadership Starts Before The Title

Leadership is a critical asset in research: it drives scientific productivity, collaboration, career progression, and personal growth. Historically, the roles of leader, manager, and mentor have often been conflated into a single individual, informally and inconsistently, among scientists. While closely related, these roles serve distinct purposes. Management focuses on organizing tasks, timelines, and resources. Mentorship centers on individual development and guidance. Leadership, in contrast, emphasizes influencing people, shaping vision, and creating momentum toward shared goals.

In industry and entrepreneurial environments, structured leadership training is commonly embedded into career development pipelines. Academia, however, is still catching up.

Finding Your Natural Leadership Style

Successful leadership begins with understanding both your natural leadership style and those of the people you work with. One way to do this is by identifying your leadership color: Red (decisive and results-driven), Yellow (idea-oriented and optimistic), Green (supportive and consensus-focused), and Blue (methodical and detail-oriented). Most people show a combination of these traits, with one or two usually more dominant [¹].

Knowing your tendencies helps anticipate how you react under pressure, give feedback, or make decisions. Recognizing different styles in others helps prevent common teamwork breakdowns, such as misinterpreting caution as resistance or enthusiasm as a lack of rigor. Leadership is not about having everyone think the same way, but about aligning different working styles toward a shared objective.

Recognizing The Leadership You Already Practice

Postdocs often overlook the leadership skills they develop daily. Managing manuscript submissions and balancing multiple projects requires strong time and project management skills. Mentoring undergraduates provides experience in guiding others, while cross-cultural and interdisciplinary collaborations demand adaptability. Learning to cope with rejection and uncertainty builds resilience, an essential but unrecognized leadership trait.

As careers progress, negotiation becomes vital, whether related to role expectations, authorship, or work-life balance. Leaders must also learn to present their work beyond their immediate research group, contributing to visibility and recognition. Communication underpins these responsibilities, from scholarly writing and conference presentations to broader engagement.

There is no “one-size-fits-all” checklist for leadership development. Some may excel in communication while struggling with time management. Self-assessment tools such as CliftonStrengths [²] can help identify strengths and areas for growth.

Building Leadership Intentionally

Institutional training and resources such as NPA workshops, LinkedIn Learning, and Coursera courses [^3,4] provide structured opportunities to build leadership skills, which can be reinforced through practice such as mentoring, organizing seminars, or convening conference sessions. Start with your university postdoc association, get involved in scholar-in-training or early-career committees of national societies, and look for online bootcamp supervising roles.

Additional growth can come from intentional reading and reflection. How to Win Friends and Influence People [⁵] emphasizes relationship-driven leadership, while Primal Leadership [⁶] highlights emotional intelligence. Equally important is identifying mentors who model effective leadership and support your success, independent of personal or institutional interests, ideally outside your direct supervisory chain. Leadership is a continuous practice, not a destination, and the postdoc period is ideal to start the journey.

References:

[¹] https://www.testgroup.com/management-colors/
[²] https://www.ischool.berkeley.edu/careers/students/cliftonstrengths
[³] https://www.coursera.org/specializations/leading-teams
[⁴] https://www.coursera.org/specializations/strategic-leadership
[⁵] Carnegie, D. How to Win Friends and Influence People. Revised edition. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster; 2009. (ISBN-13: 978-1439167342)
[⁶] Goleman, D., Boyatzis, R., & McKee, A. Primal Leadership: Learning to Lead with Emotional Intelligence. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press; 2002.(ISBN-13: 978-1578514861- Hard cover)

Illustration by Berwin Swami Vetha, Ph.D., POSTDOCket graphics editor.

The Academia–Industry Inflection Point

A low ratio of faculty openings to doctoral graduates has led to increased competition, prolonged postdoctoral training, and widespread burnout in academia [^1-3]. Surveys indicate that only 10-20% of doctoral graduates secure tenure-track positions, while more than 40% postdoctoral researchers leave academia [⁴]; consequently, many turn to industry careers. However, postdocs interested in industry careers often face uncertainty regarding the corporate work culture, job expectations, and career advancement opportunities, which can prolong the transition by several years. An understanding of these challenges, combined with deliberate planning and preparation, could streamline this transition.

Industry Expectations And Norms

Academia and industry differ substantially in work culture and professional expectations (Table 1). For postdocs trained in academic environments, aligning their knowledge and skillsets with corporate objectives is a fundamental challenge [⁵]. For example, switching priorities from scientific discovery to the development of marketable innovations is a huge shift. While technical skills, including product design, troubleshooting, and analytical capabilities, are highly valued in industry, equal emphasis is placed on communication, adaptability, leadership, and project coordination.

For industry career aspirants, internships provide experience, while employee review platforms (e.g., Glassdoor), alumni networks, and professional career organizations, including the National Postdoctoral Association, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, provide insight into corporate workflows and expectations.

Illustration created by author using Google AI.

Immigration And Foreign Policy Challenges

For non-resident postdocs, foreign policies and visa restrictions impede industry job prospects. In the United States, over 56% of postdocs hold temporary visas (e.g., J-1, H-1B), which often require employer sponsorship, extensive paperwork, and timely visa approval [⁶].

Limited immigration support at many institutions increases the financial burden on applicants seeking work authorization, while changing immigration policies that influence H1-B caps, J-1 waiver processing further constrain industry opportunities. For example, a pending H-1B approval may force a J-1 postdoc to choose between extending academic appointment or returning to their home country while seeking alternative visa options. Although certain visa categories, including O and L, are not subject to numerical caps, extensive documentation, job specificity, and limited visa duration can still restrict an applicant’s candidacy.

Geographic Influence

Industry career prospects are strongly influenced by geographic location. Specifically, the Boston, San Francisco, and Raleigh-Durham areas are pharmaceutical and biotech hubs. Proximity to industry hubs provides postdocs with increased opportunities for collaboration and industry exposure, often serving as entry points to corporate careers.

Postdocs at institutions with limited industry access can still leverage career fairs and virtual networking platforms like LinkedIn to showcase achievements, connect with potential recruiters, and understand the institution's culture.

Broader Outlook On Industry Careers

Despite challenges, industry roles can offer substantial rewards. Industry surveys indicate that approximately 62% of respondents have a positive perception of industry careers compared with academia. [⁷]. While industry roles often provide stability, competitive salaries, and career advancement opportunities, they may limit intellectual freedom and impose more rigid organizational hierarchies than academic positions.

Academia-to-industry transitions depend on strategic career positioning rather than replicating academic training; early awareness and realistic expectations can shorten transitions and improve outcomes.

Table 1. Key Difference Between Academia and Industry

References:

[¹] Larson RC, Ghaffarzadegan N, Xue Y. Too Many PhD Graduates or Too Few Academic Job Openings: The Basic Reproductive Number R0 in Academia. Syst Res Behav Sci. 2014. 31(6):745-750. doi: 10.1002/sres.2210.
[²] Diana K. How many PhDs does the world need? Doctoral graduates vastly outnumber jobs in academia. Nature. 2025; 643, 16-17. doi: 10.1038/d41586-025-01855-w
[³] Shannon H. How PhD students and other academics are fighting the mental-health crisis in science. Nature. 2024; 631, 496-498. doi: 10.1038/d41586-024-02225-8
[⁴] Jackson R. More than 40% of postdocs leave academia, study reveals. Nature. 2025. doi: 10.1038/d41586-025-00142-y
[⁵] The Transition from Academia to Industry as an Early Career Scientist: The Why, the How, and the What. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c00109
[⁶] Graduate Enrollment and Postdoctoral Appointments in Science, Engineering, and Health Rise, Driven Largely by Increases in the Number of Women and Temporary Visa Holders. https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf25316
[⁷] Industry scores higher than academia for job satisfaction. Nature. 2021; 600, 8. doi: 10.1038/d41586-021-03567-3

Illustration by Berwin Swami Vetha, Ph.D., POSTDOCket graphics editor.

Researchers today communicate science through various media outlets – podcasts, blogs, data visuals, social media, and policy briefs to reach audiences worldwide [¹]. These efforts have made research more accessible and engaging, helping communities, policymakers, and the public better understand and apply scientific findings.

The Changing Landscape of Science Communication

Science communication has shifted from traditional gatekeeping models to open, participatory platforms where knowledge is shared rapidly and widely. Beyond journals and conferences, researchers increasingly rely on preprints, open-access repositories, and social media to communicate in real time [²]. Digital storytelling, AI-assisted writing, and multimedia formats, including videos, podcasts, interactive graphics, and visual abstracts, make scientific ideas more accessible and engaging to an audience [³]. To maximize impact, scientists are now focused on tailoring their messages to diverse audiences in clear, inclusive, and engaging ways.

Why Postdocs Should Care

For postdoctoral scholars, strong communication skills are directly tied to career visibility, collaboration opportunities, and broader research impact [⁴]. Selecting appropriate platforms, such as blogs, podcasts, social media, or policy briefs, can amplify their work and foster interdisciplinary connections. Initiatives like three-minute thesis competitions highlight the importance of presenting complex research ideas concisely and effectively to non-specialist audiences.

Science communication is also emerging as a viable career pathway, offering opportunities in science journalism, public outreach, public affairs, and policy. Funding agencies and institutions are increasingly prioritizing outreach, open data practices, and public engagement in grant proposals, making effective communication a strategic advantage. Explaining research in non-technical language strengthens real-world relevance while building transferable skills in storytelling, leadership, and stakeholder engagement. By sharing science openly and responsibly, postdocs help build public trust, inspire future researchers, and reinforce the societal value of their work.

The Future: Tools and Trends

The future of science communication is being reshaped by new tools, rising expectations, and stronger commitments to accessibility. AI-assisted writing platforms like ChatGPT, Grammarly, and SciSpace, along with visualization tools such as BioRender and Canva, help researchers summarize findings, create graphics, and communicate in various languages. Together, these technologies contribute to a broader shift toward open and equitable science, making research more understandable to diverse audiences [ ^5,6]. However, researchers must vet AI-generated content and remain responsible for accuracy, given the risks of bias and misinformation [⁷].

Community science and citizen engagement are also expanding, enabling the public to contribute to data collection, interpretation, and advocacy. In parallel, funding agencies increasingly require broader-impact statements, public engagement plans, open data, and transparent reporting. Consequently, communication training is becoming a core component of postdoctoral programs and grant preparation.

At the same time, it is important to recognize the heavy workload postdocs already face. Learning and maintaining multiple communication platforms can feel overwhelming, so efforts should remain realistic and sustainable. Simple actions, like creating a visual abstract or writing a brief lay summary, can increase impact without undue strain.

As the field of science communication evolves, postdoctoral researchers are increasingly expected to engage responsibly with broader audiences, using practical and sustainable approaches that support an open and trustworthy research ecosystem.

References:

[¹] Krause NM, Freiling I, Scheufele DA. Our changing information ecosystem for science and why it matters for effective science communication. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 Jul 8;122(27):e2400928121. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2400928121
[²] Shujath J. Beyond Traditional Publishing: Social Media as a Catalyst for Biomedical Research Dissemination and Collaboration. J Interferon Cytokine Res. 2025 Jul;45(7):247-253. - https://doi.org/10.1089/jir.2025.0074
[³] Soltani N, Dietz T, Ochterbeck D, Dierkes J, Restel K, Christianson L, De Santis K, Zeeb H. Digital Information Exchange Between the Public and Researchers in Health Studies: Scoping Review.J Med Internet Res 2025;27:e63373. URL: https://doi.prg/10.2196/63373.
[⁴] Voicu, D. BRIEF RESEARCH REPORT Predictors of media engagement: Factors impacting materials scientists' intentions to communicate science. Frontiers in Communication, 10, 1568771
[⁵] Kessler, S. H., Mahl, D., Schäfer, M. S. and Volk, S. C. (2025). Science communication in the age of Artificial Intelligence JCOM 24(02), E. https://doi.org/10.22323/2.24020501
[⁶] Zhang, K. E., & Jenkinson, J. (2024). The Visual Science Communication Toolkit: Responding to the Need for Visual Science Communication Training in Undergraduate Life Sciences Education. Education Sciences, 14(3), 296. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14030296
[⁷] Huff, C. (2024). The Promise and Perils of Using AI for Research and Writing. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/topics/artificial-intelligence-machine-learning/ai-research-writing.

Illustration by Aswathy Shailaja, Ph.D., POSTDOCket editor in chief.

Entering a New Editorial Era

We are stepping into a new editorial era—one shaped not by the disappearance of human voices, but by their amplification. As technology rapidly transforms how we communicate and connect with each other, public communication remains fundamentally human, grounded in trust, clarity, and shared experience. Within the postdoctoral community, this shift carries particular significance.

Throughout The POSTDOCket’s 2025 conversations and the theme of National Postdoc Appreciation Week, a shared truth emerged: the essential role of postdocs as translators between science and society in today’s information climate, especially amid growing misinformation. How we tell our stories now matters as much as the discoveries we make.

Seen this way, artificial intelligence (AI) enters the editorial space not as a disruption, but as part of our ongoing evolution. AI is not a writer with a voice of its own, but a practical and efficient tool that can broaden access while reserving judgment, creativity, and authenticity firmly with humans. As The POSTDOCket has emphasized, postdocs sit at a unique intersection of discovery and dialogue. In a time when speed can challenge accuracy, human-centered storytelling remains indispensable.

AI as a Support Tool; Not an Author

Digital tools are a welcome addition to organizing, editing, and sharing our ideas, but they are not the source of them. Their value lies in supporting clarity, accessibility, and structure, not in generating original narratives. When used thoughtfully, these tools can simplify editorial workflows and handle repetitive tasks, allowing contributors to focus on analysis, insight, and intent. The POSTDOCket remains firmly committed to human-authored storytelling rooted in community and expertise. Technology may assist the process – meaning, voice and accountability remain human, where they belong.

Ethics in the Age of AI

As publications across the board continue to integrate AI tools and educate users about publications’ integrity, establishing strong, AI-proof editorial policies remains central to our publishing standards at The POSTDOCket. In fact, we encourage our contributing authors and editors to use these tools for outlining and refining ideas, while standing by our principle that facts must be verified and opinions can only be original.

How Can Postdocs Leverage the Benefits of AI in Their Writing?

We have undeniably entered an era in which responsible AI usage can support smaller research tasks. As postdocs are inherently proficient in adapting to new technology and cultures, they are well-positioned to engage with these tools in an unbiased manner. From visual communication aids to quick content design, AI can serve as a complementary tool to communicate our research to the public.

Looking Ahead into the Digital Age

Amidst the democratization of knowledge and global access to information, the digital age has also brought its own perils with it – misinformation, overreliance on automation, and a lack of authenticity. We urge our community to strongly advocate for correct, evidence-based information and to approach AI with curiosity, responsibility, and integrity. When thoughtfully integrated into the ways we communicate, these tools help elevate collective voices and drive positive changes in 2026 and beyond.