This year’s National Postdoctoral Appreciation Week is set for September 21 to 25, 2026.
Since 2009, the National Postdoctoral Association has sponsored National Postdoc Appreciation Week to recognize the significant contributions that postdoctoral scholars make to U.S. research and discovery. In 2010, this week was officially recognized by the U.S. House of Representatives. Events are held throughout the week and across the country to create awareness of postdocs.
This year's theme is celebrating 150 years of the U.S. postdoc position.
Monday, September 21
NPAW Postdoc Welcome Breakfast
9:30 to 10:30 a.m. | Tempe, INTDS-B 280
Kick off National Postdoctoral Appreciation Week with a breakfast buffet and networking. Learn about resources offered by the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, invite your supervisor and connect with other postdocs and faculty members.
2026 NPAW Kickoff Panel: 150 Years of U.S. Postdocs: Issues of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
10 to 11 a.m. | Zoom
Presented by the National Postdoctoral Association
Dive into issues facing the postdoctoral community today, while keeping one eye toward the past and another toward the future. Leaders at institutions that house postdocs and postdoctoral scholars themselves will honor and celebrate the hard work being conducted today by researchers, explore the adversity faced by many, and imagine positive changes the future can bring through intentional collective efforts.
Postdoc Council: Tempe Postino Meetup
4 to 6 p.m. | Tempe, Postino Annex
Come meet the Postdoc Council and hang out with other ASU postdocs in a relaxed atmosphere.
Tuesday, September 22
Mentoring from the Middle: Setting the Stage for Success
9 to 10 a.m. | Zoom
Co-sponsored by the Graduate Career Consortium and National Postdoctoral Association
Mentoring from the Middle is a three-part workshop series designed for doctoral students and postdocs. The series provides practical strategies for building productive mentoring relationships, supporting learning, and addressing problems before they become unmanageable. The goal is to help you find balance between being a supportive mentor and protecting your own time, research, and professional development.
SmartSkills: Supporting the Whole Postdoc, Part I
Noon to 1 p.m. | Zoom
Presented by the National Postdoctoral Association
This workshop will introduce the “Postdoc Pillars of Support” within the Supporting the Whole Postdoc Toolkit framework. Participants will complete a needs assessment to identify areas where they will benefit from more support and learn about available resources.
Wednesday, September 23
Virtual Panel on Careers in the National Labs
11 a.m. to noon | Zoom
Explore career opportunities beyond academia at our virtual Careers in the National Labs panel hosted by the High Country Alliance for Postdoctoral Affairs. Hear directly from researchers at national laboratories about their career paths, experiences working in the labs, and insights for postdocs considering this career entryway. 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.
Dinner/Phoenix Art Museum with the Postdoc Council
4:30 to 7:30 p.m. | Downtown Phoenix
Join the Postdoc Council for dinner at Forno301 followed by a free tour of the Phoenix Art Museum at 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, September 24
Lunch and Learn: Design Your Life
Noon to 1 p.m. | Zoom
Build a life, not just a resume. Apply design-thinking principles to explore your goals, make intentional decisions and create a fulfilling academic and professional path.
Virtual Trivia Night
5:30 to 7:30 p.m. | Zoom
Join postdocs from universities and national labs from across the High Country Alliance for Postdoctoral Affairs for our inaugural virtual trivia night. Contact Maryanne Long with any questions.
Friday, September 25
Arizona Postdoctoral Research Conference
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Tucson University of Arizona Campus
An annual postdoc-run conference showcases the novel research conducted by Arizona postdoctoral scholars in and across all disciplines.
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Questions?
The folks in the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs are happy to hear from you. If you have any questions or are not receiving our email updates, please send an email to [email protected].
