PULSE for Faculty Mentors

Logo: PULSE

For the 2026 cohort, PULSE will provide salary support for all the time that a postdoc commits to the initiative during the first full month of their core project.

PULSE (Postdoc Upskilling in Laboratory & Specialized Expertise) connects UNC postdoctoral scholars with short-term professional development opportunities in Core Facilities. These structured opportunities allow postdocs to develop technical skills, explore career paths, and strengthen collaborations across campus. Faculty PIs play a critical role by supporting their postdocā€™s participation and approving the time commitment.

Why Faculty Support Matters

  • Professional Development: The postdoc is considered a training phase in a researcherā€™s career. National guidelines recommend postdocs dedicate 10ā€“20% of their time to career and skill-building activities. PULSE aligns with this best practice.
  • Enhanced Research Impact: Skills learned in Core Facilities help postdocs develop as skilled researchers and may directly improve the postdocā€™s contributions to your lab (e.g., new protocols, improved workflows, data analysis approaches) and open the possibility for increased collaboration.
  • Career Readiness: Faculty support positions you as an advocate for your traineeā€™s career success, whether in academia, industry, or beyond.
  • Institutional Visibility: Participation raises awareness of your labā€™s engagement in innovative training programs.
  • Trainee Satisfaction: Studies have shown that trainee participation in initiatives like PULSE do not negatively impact research productivity and improve a traineeā€™s experience.

What’s Expected of Faculty Mentors?

  • Approval of Time Commitment: Projects typically last up to 3 months, at ~4ā€“8 hours per week (10ā€“20% effort).
  • Signature on Memorandum of Agreement (MOA): Confirms mutual understanding between the postdoc, PI, and Core Facility.
  • Communication as Needed: Collaborate with the Core Facility if questions arise about scheduling or responsibilities.
  • Encouragement and Support: Recognize this as a professional development activity that benefits both your postdoc and your research group.

What’s Not Required of Faculty Mentors?

  • No Financial Commitment: The PULSE initiative does not require funds from your lab. Core Facilities cover supply costs; staff/instrument time dedicated to the internship is not billable to the postdocā€™s lab.
  • No Long-Term Release of Personnel: Time is capped, structured, and tracked. The primary research appointment remains the priority.

Key Documents and Links