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Office of Postdoctoral Affairs

Welcome from the Dean and Vice Provost

Sarah Ades Headshot

Welcome to The University of Texas at Austin—one of the top universities in the world and a leader in postdoctoral research, scholarship and education. The more than 700 postdoctoral scholars, fellows and researchers across campus are vital contributors to the mission of the University. As a postdoc at UT Austin, you drive innovation by bringing new techniques, ideas and solutions through your research and by partnering with local communities, government and industry. You also advance the University’s teaching mission by working closely with undergraduate and graduate students and serving as team leaders and mentors.

The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs is here to support you during your time on campus. We provide key resources and information on policies and benefits to help you succeed, including career and professional development programming to enhance your research and career goals. We also advocate for the needs of postdocs in campus discussions and work with other offices to ensure you have access to the resources you need.

Additionally, our office seeks to build community among postdocs and with the larger University. We disseminate university-wide communications with postdocs—including information on policies, resources and events—and support the UT Postdoc Association to help build collaboration and community. 

We look forward to supporting you during your time at UT Austin and beyond and helping to make the University a top destination for postdoctoral researchers, scholars and fellows.

Sincerely,

Sarah Ades, Ph.D.
Dean of the Graduate School
Senior Vice Provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
The University of Texas at Austin

What is a postdoctoral scholar? Who do we serve? 

Scholar working in lab

A postdoctoral scholar is an individual who has received a doctoral degree (or equivalent) and is engaged in a temporary and defined period of mentored advanced training to enhance the professional skills and research independence needed to pursue their selected career path (NIH/NSF 2007). Although other terms have been used to refer to postdocs (i.e. trainee), this is the preferred definition emerging nationally. 

We believe that postdocs are essential members of our university as they contribute to the dynamic and rapid influx of highly skilled talent, trust our positioning as a top university to launch their careers and represent future thought leaders that can empower our society with important societal roles.

Postdocs are supervised by a faculty member (PI) and have the freedom to conduct and publish the results of their research, scholarship or creative endeavors during the period of appointment. Scholars may be internally funded, paid through their PIs grant, or they may be externally funded, paid by a source external to the university (e.g., NSF, NIH, government grants, etc). Regardless of the source of funding, all postdocs at UT Austin will be served by the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs.

Events for Postdocs

Event Status
Scheduled
Wednesday November 20, 2024, 11:00 am - 11:45 am
Virtual
Event Status
Scheduled
Wednesday November 20, 2024, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Recurs: Weekly on Wednesday, 12 - 1pm until Wed, Dec 11 2024
Virtual
Event Status
Scheduled
Wednesday November 20, 2024, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Recurs: Weekly on Wednesday, 3 - 4pm until Wed, Nov 20 2024
SSB 3.200K or Virtual
Event Status
Scheduled
Thursday November 21, 2024, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Texas Union Quadrangle Room
Event Status
Scheduled
Tuesday November 26, 2024, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Recurs: Weekly on Tuesday, 11am - 12pm until Tue, Dec 3 2024
Virtual
Event Status
Scheduled
Wednesday November 27, 2024, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Recurs: Weekly on Wednesday, 12 - 1pm until Wed, Dec 11 2024
Virtual
Event Status
Scheduled
Monday December 2, 2024, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Virtual
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Recent News

figure of research

Postdoc Research: How Potatoes, Corn and Beans Led to Smart Windows Breakthrough

Nov. 15, 2024
Smart windows are an exciting technology, potentially reducing energy costs of large buildings by making them more efficient. A study from researchers at UT Austin advances this work through a new type of electrochromic device and materials. The device uses building blocks such as amylose, a natural polymer found in corn, potatoes and beans.
Dr. Lydia Contreras and Dr. Del Watson

Postdoctoral Affairs Newsletter for October

Oct. 30, 2024
Welcome to the monthly Office of Postdoctoral Affairs newsletter! In this newsletter you will find news, November events, the importance of professional development in mentoring and professional development tips.
HHS logo

Postdoc Scholar wins Health and Human Services EDC Innovator Award Competition

Oct. 24, 2024
Dr. Emily Hilz won Phase 2 of the Health and Human Services EDC Innovator Award Competition for Endoscreen, a program that increases awareness of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in personal care products.
galaxy

Frontier Fellows Tackle Humanity’s Biggest Question: Where Do We Come From?

Oct. 23, 2024
This fall, The University of Texas at Austin’s Department of Astronomy welcomes the inaugural class of postdoctoral fellows to its Cosmic Frontier Center. The inaugural class of Cosmic Frontier Center postdoctoral fellows will study black holes in early galaxies and the formation of the first stars.
postdocs talking

Inaugural Postdoctoral Symposium Recognizes and Awards Postdocs

Sept. 25, 2024
The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs held the inaugural Postdoctoral Appreciation Week Symposium to showcase postdoctoral research and offer postdocs access to resources, networking opportunities and more.
Tower through trees with yellow leaves

Celebrating National Postdoc Appreciation Week

Sept. 16, 2024
Today marks the start of National Postdoc Appreciation Week, a celebration to recognize the significant contributions that postdoctoral scholars make to research and discovery. In honor of this week, The Graduate School wanted to take a moment to recognize your outstanding contributions as postdocs at The University of Texas at Austin.
Tower on the north side

Announcing New Postdoctoral Affairs Office in the Graduate School

Feb. 7, 2024
The Graduate School announces the establishment of the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs within the Graduate School’s portfolio at UT Austin. The new office will work to support the development and success of postdoctoral scholars across the University during their time on the Forty Acres.
postdoc scholar in lab

UT Postdoctoral Researcher Spreads Consumer Awareness on Chemicals Harmful to Hormones

Jan. 25, 2024
In UT’s Gore Lab, a group of researchers — affectionately called “The Gore Girls” — and their experimental rats collaborate with one another to understand how endocrine disruptors affect human hormones.
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