The Hidden Curriculum

January 23, 2024

Regardless of career stage, whether you are a student, postdoc, staff, faculty, or a non-academic professional, there almost always is a "hidden curriculum," otherwise known as the "unwritten rules," to navigate to achieve success. So how does one address things that are seemingly hidden? From building professional relationships to identifying champions for career growth, we will explore ways to demystify the hidden curriculum while improving equity, inclusion and belonging.

Speaker: Shoba Subramanian, Ph.D., principal manager, Amazon University Partnerships, NPA Board of Directors

The Industry Connection: Advancing Your Research & Career with Collaborative Partnerships

February 27, 2024

Industry collaboration is becoming a popular avenue for researchers seeking to bolster their funding and expand their programs in commercially applicable directions. Beyond the immediate research benefits, these collaborations provide invaluable industry exposure for your students and postdocs, preparing them for successful careers in the private sector. Join us to learn how to build connections with influential companies and help them see the value your research can being to them. We will outline a detailed plan you can implement to grow your own successful industry collaborations!

Speaker: David Giltner, Ph.D., founder/CEO, TurningScience

Effective Interpersonal Communication: the Foundation for Career Success

March 26, 2024

Interpersonal communication is the exchange of information, such as thoughts, feelings, and ideas, between two or more individuals. As a postdoc, effectively communicating information to peers, colleagues, and mentors is central to a productive training experience and future career success. In this workshop, we will discuss:

• the four types of interpersonal communication
• why effective interpersonal communication is important to career success
• approaches toward improving interpersonal communication skills
• examples of effective interpersonal communication in the workplace

Speaker: Lisa M. Schwiebert, Ph.D., professor and senior associate dean of graduate, postdoctoral and international education (retired), University of Alabama at Birmingham

Promoting Productive Postdoc Conversations: Giving and Receiving Effective Feedback

April 23, 2024

In this session, Sarah Hokanson, Ph.D. (Boston University, Postdoc Academy), will provide a framework for postdocs to use when preparing for different types of feedback conversations with supervisors and/or mentors. Postdocs will also reflect on ways to receive and take action on feedback effectively.

Speaker: Sarah Hokanson, Ph.D., Boston University

Conflict Resolution

May 28, 2024

Many people are conflict avoidant, but conflict can help us grow and learn. In this class we will explore our own styles, consider how we might align with different styles, and learn about some strategies for de-escalating and resolving pesky problems.

Speaker: Sofie Kleppner, Ph.D., Stanford University

Managing Yourself and Others: A Leadership Crash Course

June 25, 2024

Postdocs thrive in a highly diverse and competitive research landscape. To successfully navigate their career paths, trainees must be agile communicators, time/resource managers, and interpersonal relationship gurus. This workshop will provide insights on productively dealing with workplace challenges as well as learning how to manage themselves and others.

Speaker: James Gould, Ph.D., Harvard University

The Negotiator’s Edge: Empowering Communication & Collaboration

July 23, 2024

Unlock the secrets of negotiation in this dynamic workshop. Explore diverse scenarios from consensus building to conflict resolution, with a strategic, actionable framework. Dispelling misconceptions, we empower you to define and intentionally apply your negotiation style and help you understand the perspectives of all parties involved to ensure everyone’s needs are addressed.

Speaker: Stevie Eberle, M.Ed., Stanford University

Perfecting Presentation Skills

August 27, 2024

Creating an impactful presentation is an essential skill! In this class, we will provide participants with the tools and techniques needed to create presentations that will get the attention of their audience, covering topics such as keeping it simple, having a structure, practicing, and delivery. Participants will learn how to build a streamlined, organized outline for the presentation and receive tips to ensure slides are not overcrowded, tips to improve graphic appeal, and more. Participants will be able to identify components of compelling and impactful presentations that will help them communicate their research effectively.

Speaker: Tracy Costello, Ph.D., University of South Florida

Advocating for Public Policy

September 24, 2024

Everyone desires effective policy, but few truly understand the intricate process of crafting and passing legislation that shapes policy. Even fewer possess the determination needed to drive change. Advocacy and public policy are crucial components in the broader landscape of power dynamics. Embracing the adage that knowledge is power, we invite attendees to recognize their potential to influence public policy and realize they are far from powerless in enacting change.

Speaker: Richard Watkins, Ph.D., Span-Inc

Grantwriting

October 22, 2024

The art of grant writing is a transferable skill that has both immediate and long-term payoffs. For new postdocs, preparing a fellowship grant is an excellent venue for planning out research and professional development goals. It necessitates establishing goals, milestones, and activities on a postdoctoral training timeline, which might otherwise be ill-defined. Grantsmanship skills include identifying a significant question or unmet need, establishing a compelling rationale, developing a strategy that is most likely to yield informative results, anticipating outcomes and pitfalls, and convincing the reader that you are uniquely equipped to be successful. And when you fail to do so on the first grant submission, you can incorporate reviewer feedback to strengthen your case (and your science!) when you resubmit the grant.

In this session, attendees will gain insights into successful grantsmanship strategies in the competitive landscape of biomedical research funding. From developing a strong training plan and identifying significant research questions, to lessons learned during the resubmission process, this session will equip postdoctoral researchers with essential strategies to maximize their current and future impact in the grant application process.

Speakers: Sally McIver, Ph.D., St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Olivia Travis, Ph.D., St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Understanding Research Development Careers

November 19, 2024

Two roads diverged after a postdoc, and we took the one non-traditionally traveled. Research Development (RD) is a non-traditional career path. RD professionals (RDP) make team science happen by guiding researchers and teams through proposal development, team science, and strategic planning for research innovation and excellence. Postdoctoral training confers effective and highly transferrable skills that make postdocs valuable as RDP candidates.

Speaker: Samarpita Sengupta, Ph.D., assistant dean for research, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona; member, Board of Directors, National Organization of Research Development Professionals (NORDP); co-chair, iKNoW Affinity Group, NORDP; certified mentor trainer, CIMER. NORDP seeks to improve the visibility of RD as a viable, rewarding career path for scientists from all facets.

Identifying and Applying for Research and Training Opportunities at the NIH

December 17, 2024

Dr. Barr will provide information on the NIH intramural training, and job opportunities, as well as resources and strategies for identifying and applying for these opportunities at NICHD.

Speaker: Erika Barr, Ph.D., Office of Health Equity, NIH