Florida State University recently celebrated its 13th annual National Postdoctoral Appreciation Week with a series of events recognizing the research, mentorship and contributions of postdoctoral scholars.
Hosted by the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, the week included an adviser/mentor breakfast, a poster session, a research presentation competition and an awards ceremony.
“This week is about shining a spotlight on the incredible work our postdocs do,” said Debra Ann Fadool, distinguished research professor, associate dean and director of the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs. “They are the backbone of our research enterprise, and we’re proud to celebrate their achievements.”
The celebration began with a rooftop coffee and pastry social at the King Life Sciences Building, where postdocs and faculty mentors gathered for informal conversations and community building.
The Fall Postdoctoral Symposium, held at the College of Medicine, featured a poster session and the 5-Minute Research (5MR) Competition. Ten finalists presented their research in five minutes or less, covering topics across health, physics, engineering and public policy.
Ashley Allen Carr, from the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, won first place in the 5MR competition for her presentation “Living Glass in Space” while Ahirudh Lakshmi Narasimha Prasad, from the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, earned second place for “Taming Jet Roars with Tiny Lightning Zap,” both from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.
Evan Lloyd, a postdoctoral associate in biological science and neuroscience from the College of Arts and Sciences, took third for “How Evolution Shapes the Brain” and Yu-Jou Chou, from the Department of Health, Nutrition and Food Science, part of the Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, received the People’s Choice Award for “Plastic in Our Plates, Plastic in Our Body?”
In the poster session, Shekhar Chauhan, from the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, won the People’s Choice Award for “Memory and Math Across the Nations.”
“As postdocs, we’re always looking for opportunities to hone our public speaking skills, and this was just that,” Carr said. “Being able to be on the stage and get filmed was really great. The video will be a huge asset to my career. We found out about the competition a little over a month ago and we put in some serious hours of work. Just in the last three days, I gave this speech probably thirty times.”
Attendees voted for the People’s Choice winners, while a panel of judges from FSU and the Tallahassee community selected top presenters based on clarity, engagement and impact.
“Presenting my research in just five minutes was both a challenge and an opportunity,” said Buna Bhandari, College of Nursing postdoctoral student and contestant. “Making complex ideas understandable for everyone made me face my fears and realize that if I can do it, so can you. Thanks to the organizers for creating this valuable experience.”
The week concluded with an awards reception in the College of Medicine Atrium, sponsored by FSU President Richard McCullough, celebrating the pivotal role postdocs play in advancing FSU’s research mission.
“As postdocs, you play a vital role in advancing FSU’s teaching and research mission,” McCullough said. “You bring new ideas, fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to our research teams and labs. Your contributions help drive progress and discovery, and your dedication, passion and tireless efforts enrich our academic community as you hone your skills and move your disciplines forward.”
For more information about upcoming events and professional development opportunities for postdoctoral scholars, visit opda.fsu.edu.
