16th Annual National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW)
The 16th Annual National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW) will be held September 15-19, 2025. NPAW was established to recognize and celebrate the significant contributions that postdocs make to research and discovery.
Please join us for these special BSD PDA NPAW events!
*All BSD PDA Events are listed in Blue. Postdocs are welcome to attend all events!*
Monday, September 15
Coffee Giveaway
9-11 AM | UChicagoGRAD Graduate Student Lounge | Register
First 50 registrants will receive a voucher for a free coffee! Pick up in the Graduate Student Lounge.
Sponsored by UChicagoGRAD
Virtual NPAW Kickoff
11 AM | Zoom | Register
The 2025 NPAW National Kickoff is brought to you by the National Postdoctoral Association. The 2025 kickoff will include remarks provided by leaders across the postdoc community, with a brief keynote by Gretchen Goldman, Ph.D., president of the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), a long-standing partner organization of the NPA.
Sponsored by the National Postdoctoral Association
Industry Careers Workshop: Tips for Job Hunting and Building a Top-Notch Resume
3-4 PM | KCBD 1st Floor Auditorium | Register
This training will cover tips for transitioning from academia to industry with a focus on curating a compelling resume that stands out to potential employers. Participants will learn how to navigate job hunting, essentials for making each resume section stand out, how to highlight skills and accomplishments, and best practices for formatting. Q&A will follow. *Coffee & Snacks provided*
Sponsored by BSD PDA & Proteintech
UChicago Argentine Tango Club
7-9pm | Logan Center Room 802 | RSVP here (optional)
All postdocs are invited to Celebrate NPAW with free donuts and dancing with the Argentine Tango Club!
✨ No partner or experience needed
🎶 Great music, fun people, and stress-free vibes
💬 Meet fellow researchers in a new way — through movement, not meetings!
Tuesday, September 16
Meet the BSD PDA Leadership Team!
12-1 PM | Zoom | Register
Meet the BSD Postdoctoral Association Steering Committee and find out how you can get involved!
Sponsored by BSD PDA
Headshots
1-3 PM | UChicagoGRAD | Sign Up
Stop by to get new headshots taken!
Sponsored by UChicagoGRAD
Paint and Sip
6:30-8 PM | UChicagoGRAD | Register
Enjoy a glass of something sparkling and relax while you paint the night away at Grad HQ!
Sponsored by UChicagoGRAD
Wednesday, September 17
UChicago BSD Postdoc Symposium: “Postdocs at the Forefront of Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship”
9 AM – 5 PM | GCIS Atrium | Register
The 2025 UChicago BSD Postdoc Symposium will be held at the Gordon Center for Integrative Sciences Atrium (3rd Floor) on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm. The Symposium is titled, “Postdocs at the Forefront of Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship” and is focused on navigating the next steps in the career development of BSD postdocs.
Symposium highlights include:
- Keynote Address by Dr. Anthony Kossiakoff: “In the Beginning: My Experience in Biotech Then and Now”
- Entrepreneurship Panels featuring UChicago Postdoc Alums
- Networking lunch
- Oral and poster presentations by BSD Postdocs with prizes for best presentations
Sponosred by BSD PDA and BSD Office of Postdoctoral Affairs.
Thursday, September 18
Tiny Plant Giveaway
9-11 AM | UChicagoGRAD HQ | Register
The first 200 registrants will receive a succulent.
Sponsored by UChicagoGRAD
Fisher Scientific Vendor Show
10:30 AM – 1:30 PM | GCIS, 3rd Floor
Come and meet with the Suppliers who support UChicago. See what new promotions are available currently to help reduce costs for your labs. Vendors who cover Safety, Life Science, Chemistry, Physics, Mass Spec, LC, and other areas will be there at this show. Lunch, Snacks, and Beverages will be served.
“Ask the Postdoc Council” Office Hours
12:00 PM | Zoom | Register
Join the the National Posdoctoral Association Postdoc Council (PDC) to ask the PDC leadership about topics of interest or concern, and learn about serving on the PDC next year!
Sponsored by the National Postdoctoral Association
Friday, September 19
Ice Cream Social
1-3 PM | UChicagoGRAD HQ | Register
Celebrate the end of NPAW with fellow postdocs!
Sponsored by UChicagoGRAD
PDA Happy Hour
5-7 PM | Woodlawn Tap | Register
The BSD PDA encourages all postdocs to take a break from lab work to hang out at Woodlawn Tap for drinks and snacks. Please note this event is cash only.
Sponsored by BSD PDA