Postdoc and mentor awards headline postdoc appreciation week
Honors presented to postdocs Cattau and Elmansouri, mentor Heinz
91勛圖厙 celebrated last weeks National Postdoc Appreciation Week泭(NPAW) in style, with a weeklong slate of recognition, professional development and social activities spotlighting the importance of postdoc contributions to the university.
Outstanding postdoc and mentor awards
Highlighting the week were postdoc and mentor prizes awarded by the Office of Postdoc Affairs (OPA) during Mondays town hall event.
For excellence in research, communication, and leadership, Megan Cattau of CIRES/Earth Labnominated by Carol Wessmanand Mohammed Elmansouri, of Electrical, Computer, and Energy Engineeringnominated by Dejan Filipovictook home Outstanding Postdoc Awards.
The Outstanding Postdoc Mentor Awardfor providing exceptional mentoring, training, and leadership to postdoctoral scholarswent to Hendrik Heinz of Chemical & Biological Engineering, who was nominated by Juan Liu.
Additionally, the town hall featured president of the泭Postdoctoral Association of Colorado Boulder泭(PAC Boulder), Ben Nault, who highlighted the volunteer organizations泭travel award泭program and winners Leah Hitchcock (ICS), Ashley Rowland (EBIO), Leonie Koban (Psychology/Neuroscience), Teisha Rowland (Biochemistry) and Natalie Mendoza (History).
Foundations for the future
Besides recognizing key leaders from the previous year, the weeks events also served to set the stage for the coming year and strengthen bonds across the postdoc community.
During Mondays town hall, Nault also shared information about the upcoming泭泭(FRIPS) and social activities organized by PAC Boulder. Sarah Banchefsky of Institutional Research presented findings from 91勛圖厙s first ever泭climate survey泭earlier this year.泭
On Tuesday, about 50 postdoctoral scholars waited in line for free professional portraits. The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs offered this service in partnership with Strategic Relations. For any postdoc who has not received their photo, please email opa@colorado.edu.
Around 20 postdocs learned about leadership during Wednesdays workshop presented by Lauren Harris, a Training and Development Manager in Human Resources, exploring qualities of leaders in organizations ranging from academia to industry to nonprofit work.
Dr. Christine Wiedinmyer, Associate Director of Science for CIRES, led Thursdays Building Your Network of Mentor workshop, stressing the benefits of developing a team of mentors rather than relying on a single mentor.泭
Top:泭Megan Cattau,泭CIRES/Earth Lab
Middle:泭Mohammed Elmansouri,泭Electrical, Computer, and Energy Engineering
Bottom:泭Hendrik Heinz,泭Chemical & Biological Engineering,泭with nominator Juan Liu
Dr. Wiedinmyer founded the Earth Sciences Womens Network, an international network of women that promotes mentoring and career development, and works closely with postdocs and graduate students in CIRES.
PAC Boulder organized a fitting end to the weeks festivities with a social at the Rayback Collective for postdocs and their families and friends.
Please visit the OPA and PAC Boulder websites to explore the resources, programs and services available to postdocs throughout the year.