The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) is excited to announce the 2024 programming for National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW), taking place from Sept 15-20! In collaboration with campus partners, including the Postdoctoral Association (PDA), we are offering a range of exciting events throughout the week, including a Triangle BBQ, complimentary professional headshots, career panels, a free visit to the Morehead Planetarium, a postdoc appreciation lunch, and more! See below for a full list of activities, along with details for how to register. Happy NPAW!

Triangle Cross-Campus BBQ

Event: Triangle Cross-Campus Social
Date: Sunday, September 15th
Time: 3:30 – 6:00 pm
Where: Ritter Park (Rotary Shelter), 301 W Lochmere Dr, Cary, NC 27518.
Registration: https://go.unc.edu/TriangleBBQ

Details: All UNC postdocs are invited to attend a CROSS-CAMPUS SOCIAL from 3:30 – 6:00 pm on Sunday, 15th September. There will be plenty of FREE food, and family members are welcome to join! Following on from the success of last year’s Triangle Social, this event presents a unique opportunity to connect with postdocs across the Triangle area, with representation from North Carolina State University, Duke University, East Carolina University, North Carolina Central University, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). The event will take place at Ritter Park (Rotary Shelter), 301 W Lochmere Dr, Cary, NC 27518. To give us an idea of the numbers attending, and to facilitate ridesharing, we ask that you please register for the event in advance. We look forward to seeing everyone for BBQ, Pizza, and lots of fun!! Please note: Vegetarian options will be provided, and there will be a shelter to protect from sun exposure and bad weather.

Organizers: UNC Postdoc Association (PDA), North Carolina State University PDA, Duke University PDA. Sponsored by Bayer.

Immigration Advisor Cafe

Event: Immigration Advisor Cafe
Date: Monday September 16th
Time: 9:00-10:00 AM
Where: FedEx GEC 4th Floor
Registration: go.unc.edu/cafe

Details: Join ISSS and the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs for an informal drop-in advising hour during National Postdoc Appreciation Week! Join us to meet your international scholar advisor, the director of ISSS, and enjoy some light refreshments. Please note general questions will be answered, some inquiries may require a more thorough 1:1 meeting with your international scholar advisor. All university-sponsored international scholars and mentors are invited to attend. Coffee, tea, and light refreshments will be provided while supplies last.

Organizers: International Students and Scholars Services (ISSS) & Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA)

Postdoc Headshot Session

Event: Postdoc Headshot Session
Date: Monday September 16th
Time: 2:00-3:00 PM
Where: Medical Biomolecular Research Building (MBRB) 2nd Floor Lobby
Registration: https://go.unc.edu/Headshot

Details: Elevate your professional image with this FREE headshot session for UNC postdocs! A professionally captured image can leave a memorable mark on colleagues, hiring managers, and potential employers. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your portfolio! Spaces are limited so please sign up soon for one of the four sessions between 2:00-3:00 PM on Monday September 16th.

Organizers: Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) & UNC Office of Research Communications

Popsicle Social

Notice: Due to adverse weather forecast, the “International Hangout + Popsicles” event has been postponed to a day with more favorable weather conditions. Information for the rescheduled event will be communicated through e-mail.

Date: Monday, September 16th
Time: 5:00-7:00 PM (drop by any time!)
Where: Umstead Park
Registration: No Registration Required

Description: Beat the heat and unwind with the UNC Postdoc Association and International Postdoc Alliance (IPA) at our Popsicle Social! Drop by Umstead Park anytime between 5:00 and 7:00 PM for some fun yard games like cornhole, giant Jenga, and ring toss, while enjoying refreshing popsicles with fellow postdocs. Popsicles are first-come, first-served, so come early and bring your friends or family to this relaxing, friendly gathering. Look for the PDA sign on the lawn near the shelter—we can’t wait to see you there!

Organizers: UNC International Postdoc Alliance (IPA) & Postdoc Association (PDA)

Career Panel | From Training to Success

Event: Career Panel & Networking Event
Date: Tuesday September 17th
Time: Career Panel 1:00-2:00PM; Networking Reception 2:00-2:30PM
Where: Bioinformatics Building 1131 & Lobby
Registration: https://go.unc.edu/CareerTransitionPanel

Details: Join the UNC Postdoc Association for an insightful panel discussion featuring esteemed alumni who completed their graduate and/or postdoc training in the Triangle area and successfully transitioned into careers. Discover their unique journeys, learn how they navigated the job market, identify key industry keywords, and secure impactful references. From Training to Career, this panel will offer valuable insights to help you prepare for your own transition. Join us on Tuesday, September 17th, from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm in Conference Room 1131 (Bioinformatics), followed by a networking session in the lobby.

Organizers: UNC Postdoc Association (PDA), Training Initiatives in Biomedical and Biological Sciences (TIBBS), & the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA).

PDA-BIPOC Postdoc Alliance Unity Coffee Hour

Event: PDA-BIPOC Postdoc Alliance Unity Coffee Hour
Date: Wednesday September 18th
Time: 10:00 – 11:00 AM
Location: Sonja Hayes Stone Center for Research in Black Culture and History (Atrium)
Registration: https://go.unc.edu/UnityBIPOC

Details: Please join the BIPOC Postdoctoral Alliance for a coffee break to engage in meaningful conversations with faculty and staff across an array of departments and centers on UNC’s diverse campus. Enjoy refreshments, fresh air, and invaluable expertise from those who excel in their professions – prospective careers following your postdoctoral journey! Guests include leadership from the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, researchers in the biomedical, public health, and mental health fields, representatives from the American Indian Center, Latinx Center, and the Center for Student Success. Take home Postdoc Appreciation gift bags!

Organizers: UNC Postdoc Association’s BIPOC Alliance, The Carolina Postdoctoral Program for Faculty Diversity (CPPFD), The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, with generous sponsorship from UNC’s Peer Support Core.

Postdoc Research Café

Event: Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery: How Tumor Biology Informs Cancer Treatment
Date: Wednesday September 18th
Time: 6:00 – 7:00 PM
Where: Chapel Hill Public Library
Registration: None Required

Details: A cancer diagnosis can be life-altering, but ongoing research is making significant strides in developing new and more effective treatments. Understanding the unique biology of both the tumor and the patient is crucial in advancing anti-cancer therapies. In this second installment of our “Cells Gone Rogue” series, Dr. Travis Nelson and Dr. Patrick Raedler will discuss how insights into tumor biology and individual patient profiles are shaping cancer treatments. Join us on Wednesday, September 18, from 6:00 to 7:00 PM at the Chapel Hill Public Library for an engaging exploration of this critical topic. Join the Research Cafe Listserv here.

Organizers: UNC Postdoc Association (PDA) & Office of Postdoc Affairs

Thank You Thursday!

Event: Thank You Thursday!
Date: Thursday September 19th
Time: All Day

Details: “Thank You Thursday” is a day for faculty mentors to express their appreciation for the hard work and dedication of the postdocs in their research groups. Whether it’s hosting a small gathering, writing a thoughtful note, giving a shout-out on social media, or treating them to coffee or lunch, there are many meaningful ways to say “thank you.” Let’s use this opportunity to celebrate the talent, energy, and commitment that postdocs bring to our academic community!

Organizers: Faculty Mentors

Career Panel in the Social Sciences (Virtual)

Event: Career Panel in the Social Sciences (Virtual)
Date: Thursday September 19th
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Where: Virtual
Registration: https://go.unc.edu/Td9s2

Details: Join SPHERE for their second annual social sciences career panel. An online panel of speakers from throughout the country will discuss career paths for postdocs in the social sciences. Speakers will share tips for getting the most out of your social science postdoc, reflect on how they navigated the job market, and explore their views of what skills social scientists need to be successful in the future.

SPHERE is a community of higher education professionals focused on supporting the needs of postdoctoral scholars in non-biomedical disciplines across the United States. Find out more about SPHERE on their website.

Organizers: Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) & SPHERE (Community of Practice for Social and Physical Sciences, Humanities, Engineering Resources and Education)

Postdoc Planetarium Show | Carolina Skies

Event: Planetarium Show | Carolina Skies
Date: Thursday September 19th
Time: 4:45-6:00 PM
Where: UNC Morehead Planetarium
Registration: https://go.unc.edu/Planetarium2024

Details: The “Carolina Skies” tour is never the same twice! Led by a Morehead educator, this live star show offers a glimpse of the North Carolina night sky on that very evening. Discover how to identify stars, planets, and constellations, and unravel the ancient myths and legends inspired by the night sky. Brace yourself for an exhilarating “fly-out” experience that travels beyond our Solar System, through the Milky Way Galaxy, and into the vast universe. Secure Your Seats Today & Reach for the Stars! Arrive by 4:50 PM at Morehead Planetarium in Chapel Hill! If you have kids or a partner we would be happy to see them there!

Organizers: UNC Postdoc Association (PDA)

2024 Postdoc Appreciation Luncheon

Event: Postdoc Appreciation Lunch & Photobooth
Date: Friday September 20th
Time: 12:30-1:30 PM
Where: FedEx Global Education Center 301 Pittsboro Street
Registration: https://go.unc.edu/2024PostdocLuncheon

Details: Join the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs for the biggest event of National Postdoc Appreciation Week: the annual UNC Postdoc Appreciation Luncheon & Photobooth! From 12:30-1:30 PM on Friday 20th September, a FREE lunch will be served for all UNC postdocs at the FedEx Global Education! Center! Please note, registration is required by Sept 18th and a valid UNC One Card will be required at sign-in.

Organizers: Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) & International Students and Scholars Services (ISSS)

Postdoc Board Game Night

Event: Postdoc Board Game Night
Date: Friday September 20th
Time: 6:00 – 9:00 PM
Where: The Gathering Place
Registration: No Registration Required

Details: Come on out and socialize over some board games with your fellow postdocs! The PDA will be wrapping up NPAW with a Board Game Social at The Gathering Place in Chapel Hill at 6PM on Friday, September 20th! There’s no cost to participate and the board game library is vast! We hope to see you there!