Postdoctoral Research Symposium
Spotlighting postdoc research, highlighting career paths, and facilitating connections for 9+ years.
Postdoctoral Research Symposium
The annual Postdoctoral Research Symposium is a conference-style event hosted by the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) and the Postdoctoral Research Symposium Committee. The Symposium features the innovative research being conducted by postdoctoral scholars at NC State and around the Triangle. It is a great opportunity to foster collaboration within the Research Triangle Park community. The Postdoc Research Symposium is a free event and open to all interested parties.
2021 Postdoctoral Research Symposium
The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, Graduate School, and Postdoc Association held our first VIRTUAL PRS completely online the week of May 17th, 2021.
This year, we highlighted postdoc research and personal perspectives (advice and resource sharing) via pre-recorded 5-minute videos.
We had 17 postdoctoral scholars from across the state submit research videos.
Video Presentation Award Winners
After 800+ playlist views, voting from 50+ attendees and guests, and deliberation by the PRS Planning Committee, we are excited to announce the 5 winners of our postdoc research video presentations
Most Engaging Video Presentations
- Zeinab Alsmadi, Ph.D., postdoc in Nuclear Engineering at NC State
- Prabha Ranasinghe, Ph.D., postdoc at the Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University
Most Well-Produced Video Presentation
- Mario Fenech-Torres, Ph.D., postdoc in Plant & Microbial Biology at NC State
Most Interesting Research Topics
- Sarah Benish, Ph.D., ORISE postdoctoral fellow at the EPA
- Qingyang Wang, Ph.D., postdoc in Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences at NC State
Inaugural Postdoc Pack Service & Outstanding Faculty Mentor Awards Announced
- Postdoc Pack Service Award Winner: Edwin Dickinson, Ph.D., postdoctoral research scholar, Department of Biological Sciences
- Faculty mentor & nominator: Adam Hartstone-Rose, Ph.D.
- I have trained many postdocs – all of whom have gone onto tenure track jobs. However, Edwin is clearly the most outstanding postdoc I have ever worked with. He is a fantastic mentor for students, peers and all levels of colleagues.
- Edwin is diligent in the progress of his own career, the careers of his students and in helping create policy that benefits other scholars as well.
- Faculty mentor & nominator: Adam Hartstone-Rose, Ph.D.
- Outstanding Postdoc Mentorship Award Winner: Deepti Salvi, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Food, Bioprocessing & Nutrition Sciences
- Postdoc mentee & nominator: Qingyang Wang, Ph.D.
- During these difficult times, Dr. Salvi has been actively providing support to her mentees in both an educational setting and for general wellness.
- Her kindness and affection always made me feel at home while living overseas.
- Postdoc mentee & nominator: Qingyang Wang, Ph.D.
PRS 2021 Schedule at a Glance
Welcome & Keynote Address
Monday, May 17th, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
10:30 – 11:00 AM: Welcome & PRS Logistics
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM: Keynote
Envision a new future and unlock your success
Shalini Nag, Ph.D., Founder & People Strategist at EvidaSolve, will lead this workshop on helping you define success on your own terms
Workshops Led by NC State Postdocs
- Yuhan (Douglas) Rao, Ph.D., & Jesse Contreras, Ph.D., 2021 Strengthening The Impact of Research Impact Scholars, will discuss how to increase your research impact using resources available through the NC State Office of Outreach & Engagement
- Tuesday, May 18th, 12 – 1 PM
- Olgha Qaqish, Ph.D., will lead a workshop focused on Effective Mentoring Training for Postdocs
- Wednesday, May 19th, 9 – 10:30 AM
Live Postdoc Research Discussions
- Session 1 – Health, Disease, & Biochemistry Research
- Tuesday, May 18th, 10:30 – 11:30 AM
- Postdocs available for discussion:
- Sarah Benish, Ph.D., EPA
- Mario Fenech-Torres, Ph.D., NC State
- Jennifer Baltzegar, Ph.D., NC State
- Denitra Breuer, Ph.D., NC State
- Meredith Frazier, Ph.D., NIEHS
- Jia Xiong, Ph.D., NC State
- Session 2 – Physical Environment, Data Science, & Engineering Research + Personal Perspectives
- Wednesday, May 19th, 11 AM – 12 PM
- Postdocs available for discussion:
- Adrian Green, Ph.D., NC State
- Charles Hodgens, Ph.D., NC State
- Vivek Samu, Ph.D., NC State
- Yuhan (Douglas) Rao, Ph.D., NC State
- Zeinab Alsmadi, Ph.D., NC State
- Lindsay Jasperse, Ph.D., Duke
PRS 2021 Awards & Wrap-Up
Wednesday, May 19th, 12:30 – 1:00 PM
Best NC State Postdoc Research Presentation Awards will be announced in addition to our inaugural NC State Postdoc Pack Service Award & Outstanding NC State Postdoc Mentorship Award winners.
Virtual Postdoc Social
Thursday, May 20th, 4:30 – 5:30 PM
Add-On Events Open to the NC State Community
LinkedIn Workshop
Thursday, May 20th, 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Sara Lane, Director of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Career Services Office, will lead a workshop focused on
LinkedIn to help you get the most from the platform.
Navigating Career Challenges as an International Trainee
Thursday, May 20th, 3:00 – 4:30 PM
Sina Safayi, DVM, Ph.D., Director of Career Development and Industry Outreach at Rush University
International scholars have additional challenges to consider when it comes to career planning: cultural adjustment, immigration status, and research funding. This will be an interactive session to aid attendees in addressing the main challenges faced by international scholars in the US. It will provide practical ways to navigate these challenges in pursuing successful careers.
Relive Past Events!
2020 Postdoctoral Research Symposium
The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs & Postdoctoral Association pivoted quickly to move content online for 2020.
We held an online Ph.D. Professional Career Panel and spotlighted postdoctoral research on the Graduate School & OPA’s ImPACKful blog. Read more on our 2020 Postdoctoral Research Symposium webpage.
2019 Postdoctoral Research Symposium
The 2019 Postdoctoral Research Symposium was held on Friday, May 31st at the McKimmon Center at NC State. We had over 70 presenters from 45 distinct departments and centers at NC State, Duke, UNC, and NIEHS in attendance. Keynote speakers included Wayne Holden, Ph.D., President and CEO of RTI International and Tammy Collins, Ph.D., director of the NIEHS Office of Fellows’ Career Development.
For a synopsis of the event, including our 4 poster winners, and pictures from the day, see this Graduate School News piece. Also, check out our keynote speaker bios and poster abstracts from the day on the 2019 Postdoctoral Research Symposium webpage.
2018 Postdoctoral Research Symposium
The 2018 Postdoctoral Research Symposium was held on Friday, May 25th at the McKimmon Center at NC State. We had over 60 presenters from seven institutions and centers. Keynote speaker Jamie Vernon of Sigma Xi spoke to attendees about the importance of science communication. See below for pictures of the event.
For pictures and details of the day, please visit the 2018 Postdoctoral Research Symposium website.
2017 Postdoctoral Research Symposium
The 2017 Postdoctoral Research Symposium was held on Wednesday, May 24th at NC State’s Talley Ballroom. We had 56 postdoctoral scholars from NC State, UNC Chapel Hill, Duke University, and NIEHS present posters on their research. More than 120 attendees from NC State, UNC Chapel Hill, Duke University, NIEHS, and industry partners from around the Triangle joined in the day’s events.
For pictures and details of the day, please visit the 2017 Postdoctoral Research Symposium website.
2016 Postdoctoral Research Symposium
The 2016 Postdoctoral Research Symposium was held on Tuesday, May 17th at NC State’s Talley Ballroom. With more than 120 attendees and 58 postdoctoral scholars presenting, the event was a fantastic opportunity to highlight the contributions of that postdoctoral scholars make to NC State’s research and scholarship.
For pictures and details of the day, please visit the 2016 Postdoctoral Research Symposium website.