National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW) 2026
The National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW) is an initiative sponsored by the National Postdoctoral Association to recognize the significant contributions that postdoctoral scholars make to U.S.
research and institutions. The week starting at the third Monday in September was
officially recognized as NPAW by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010. Postdoctoral offices and associations
around the world hold special events throughout the week to raise awareness and express
gratitude for the great work of their postdoctoral scholars,
***RSVP Portal Now Open for All NPAW Events***
Schedule of Events for National Postdoc Appreciation Week 2026
- Monday, September 21st - Department, Center, or Unit-level appreciation celebrations
- Tuesday, September 22nd
Immigration and Visa Options for Postdocs
Time: 10am - 11am
Location: Marriott Library, Room 1110
The Office of General Counsel will be joining us to present information about employment-based
non-immigrant and immigrant visa options. This session will not be recorded.
NPAW Postdoc Lunch
Date: Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026, 12pm
Location: Coming Soon
Join us for a casual lunch celebrating National Postdoc Appreciation Week! Connect
with fellow postdocs, meet new people, and share experiences and advice with others
in the postdoc community. Lunch will be provided—we hope to see you there!
- Wednesday, September 23rd
Bagels, Coffee, and Photoshoot Event - Health Science Campus
Time: 9am to 11am
Location: Biomedical Polymers Research Building Atrium
Come join the UPDA for breakfast and get a free professional photoshoot to use with
your CV or Resume. The event is limited to the first 20 postdocs who reserve a time
slot.
Bagels, Coffee, and Photoshoot Event - Marriott Library
Time: 11am to 12pm
Location: Marriott Library 1725
Come join Postdoc Affairs for breakfast and get a free professional photoshoot to
use with your CV or Resume. The event is limited to the first 15 postdocs who sign
up for it. All postdocs are encouraged to arrive right at 11am.
Careers at the National Labs Virtual Panel
Time: 12pm - 1pm
Location: Zoom
RSVP: https://utah.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_edaMlxKERiuQtkVa7xXn5Q
Explore career opportunities beyond academia at our virtual Careers in the National Labs panel during National Postdoc Appreciation Week. Hear directly from researchers at
national laboratories about their career paths, experiences working in the labs, and
insights for postdocs considering this career pathway. Join fellow postdocs from across
the Intermountain West for a conversation featuring national lab professionals from
institutions including Idaho National Lab and National Lab of the Rockies.
- Thursday, September 24th
NPAW Postdoc Research Symposium
Date: Thursday, September 24th
Location: EHSEB 2600 (10am to 12pm), EHSEB 1700 (2pm – 4pm)
As part of National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW), the UPDA is excited to host
the UPDA Postdoc Symposium on Thursday, September 24th, 2026. This event will showcase the outstanding research being conducted by postdoctoral
scholars across the University of Utah and provide an opportunity to share your work
with the broader research community. We encourage all postdocs to participate and
help celebrate the incredible contributions that postdoctoral researchers make to
the University of Utah research community during NPAW.
Interested in presenting? Submit your abstract via this form!
NPAW Keynote Address: "Applying for a Tenure-Track Faculty Role: Understanding the
Application Process, Role Itself and Thriving in Your First Year" with Dr. Victoria
Hallinan
Time: 12pm - 1pm
Location: Zoom
RSVP: https://utah.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_U_5xDeorT7ilXPCAGVLVKg
Academia is both a very fulfilling and frequently shrouded employment context with
its own hidden curriculum. Even as a successful PhD, it is important to understand
the variety of faculty roles, the lengthy process of pursuing this kind of job, and
the expectations and ways to not only survive but thrive in your first year as a faculty
member. In this session, you’ll learn about where to find faculty job ads and understand
what the job ads tell you about a role, how to prepare effective materials and interviews,
as well as how to set yourself up for success in your first year as a faculty member.
Additionally, throughout the session you’ll be invited to reflect on why you wish
to consider a faculty role as your next step and ways to build in reflection to check
in on this career goal and diversify your career options to be resilient in this current
job hiring climate.
NPAW Keynote Address Watch Party
Time: 12pm - 1:30pm
Location: EHSEB 5100B
Come watch the 2026 NPAW Keynote address with other U of U postdocs! Lunch will be
provided. After her address, Dr. Hallinan will dial in for an exclusive extended Q&A
session, only for UofU postdocs!
NPAW Online Trivia Competition
Time: 6:30pm - 8pm
Location: Zoom
RSVP: https://utep-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/9s5nIoL3SyGzGkMxXSmGog
New for this year’s NPAW, the University of Utah is teaming up with institutions across
the mountain west to host an evening of virtual trivia for postdocs! Meet other postdocs
throughout the intermountain west and work together to claim the highest score in
this evening of humor and comradery! Sign up today and be a part of a fun new NPAW
tradition!
- Friday, September 25th
Postdocs Turn 150! – NPAW Birthday Party
Date: Friday, September 25th, 2026, 2pm-4pm
Location: Coming Soon
Help us close out National Postdoc Appreciation Week by celebrating 150 years of postdocs!
Join fellow postdocs for an outdoor birthday party with cake, ice cream, and plenty
of time to socialize and celebrate the postdoc community. Friends and family are welcome, so bring them along and join the celebration!
Other Virtual NPAW Events Open to University of Utah Postdocs
NPAW IDP Workshop
Details: September 22nd, 4:30-5:30pm MT
Register: https://isu.zoom.us/meeting/register/NRDBZ13QS0OMHeFiXOlXxA
For National Postdoc Appreciation Week 2026, Idaho State University, the University
of Idaho, and Boise State University are organizing a virtual IDP Workshop, hosted
by Heather Dillon, Career and Professional Development Program Manager at the University of California
San Diego. Individual Development Plans, or IDPs, are a customized way to manage your
own career development and navigate to where you want to go professionally. They are
broadly applicable to many fields and are a useful tool for setting goals and charting
your professional path. This workshop will walk you through the IDP process and provide
some general tips for getting the most out of an IDP.
Questions? Please email them to Dr. Neil Vander Most, Director of Postdoctoral Affairs,
at neil.vandermost@utah.edu or
the UPDA at UPDA@utah.edu.