UTEP Postdoctoral Researchers Form Association
Will help early-career researchers network, provide professional development opportunities
A group of postdoctoral fellows at UTEP have formed the Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é’s first Postdoctoral Association with the goal of professional development, networking, discovering research opportunities and meeting other colleagues who are looking to branch out from their professional careers.
Postdoctoral fellows are individuals who’ve completed a Ph.D. and are conducting advanced research to gain additional expertise. This role helps prepare them for independent academic or research careers, often involving publishing, mentoring and seeking grants.
Priscila Farani, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Biological Sciences, spearheaded the effort after talking to several of her peers and noticing an opportunity for greater community.
“Postdocs need to conduct research, and at the same time, look for opportunities to be independent to start their careers,” Farani said. “The opportunities available are limited, and that’s one thing we would like to help with in our association.”
Fellow researchers who were equally instrumental in the founding of the association include Yohannes Getahun, Ph.D. a postdoc in the Department of Physics; Katalina Salas, Ph.D., from the Department of Earth, Environment, and Resources Sciences; Md Zahirul Islam Khan, Ph.D., from biological sciences, as well as several other current postdocs.
“Postdocs do not take classes, and they are not faculty,” said Getahun. “Our association aims to gather all postdocs together for networking, training and to discuss current issues. We do not have a formal structure yet, but we hope that our efforts can spread the word to have more people participate.”
The Postdoctoral Association’s first meeting was this past August. The association welcomes all postdocs from any field. Monthly meetings are currently being scheduled, and in the coming months, the group hopes to establish leadership positions within the association.
“As the association grows bigger and better, we can get better at helping,” Getahun says, “We can hopefully teach things like grant writing and how to network and establish collaborations.”
For information on how to join the association and next meetings, contact Farani at psilvagrij@utep.edu.
Last Updated on October 07, 2024 at 12:00 AM | Originally published October 07, 2024
By MC Staff UTEP Marketing and Communications
