Full Orientation Session for New Postdoctoral Scholars on Campus
August 14, 2026
REGISTRATION Will open in early July!
All new postdoctoral scholars on campus are required to attend either the full Summer Orientation or a new postdoctoral scholar "Welcome" that occur in the months of October, January, and April. The "Welcome" format of orientation serves to give new postdocs the basics of the full required orientation program in the spans of an hour over the lunch period. It is designed for scholars that initiate their training during the year rather than in synchrony with the start of the school year in August. At both orientations, you can converse with Human Resources representatives about initiating your employee benefits within the 60-day onboarding window, learn about support for global engagements, join the leadership team of our postdoctoral association (PDA), and hear about opportunities for fellowships, travel awards, and professional development activities.
Please see the planned agenda below for the Full Orientation in August. At the orientation, we will distribute memory sticks with all professional development materials, the postdoc manual, annual review, the individual development plan, and all templates you might need throughout the year. The Full Orientation in August has two sesssion - the first is intended for new postdocs to learn of opportunities and resources on campus. If you are also a new faculty members on campus or have never supervised a postdoctoral scholar, then this session is also very helpful for you as well. A lunch is provided for postdoctoral scholars and their mentors to share time and meet others across the campus. In the second session, after lunch, you and your mentor have protected time (Session 2) to establish your Individual Development Plan (IDP) that is required as a component of NSF and NIH applications and funding renewals. Please bring a laptop with you to the second session so you can craft your plan. If your advisor cannot be present, you can work within a peer group to formulate your IDP, that you can then share with your advisor after the session.
Session 1 = 9 to 11:30 am (Postdocs, Main Orientation)
Lunch = 11:30 to 1 pm
Session 2 = 1 to 2:30 pm (Postdocs and Advisor, Individual Development Plans)
Debi, Director of the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs
Agenda:
Session I = For all Postdoctoral Scholars
Coffee/Tea Welcome and Registration - 9:00 - 9:30 am
International Engagements (Schaad/Lawson) - 9:30 - 9:45 am
Program in Instructional Excellence (Kelly) - 9:45 - 10:00 am
Join the PDA!! (Rivers) - 10:00 - 10:10 am
General PD Opportunities, Expectations, and Professional Development (Fadool) - 10:10 - 10:45 am
Break
Human Resources - Health Insurance and Retirement Benefits (Hoffman) - 11:00 - 11:30 am
Session II = For all Postdoctoral Scholars and Advisors
Introduction to the Individual Development Plan (IDP) (Fadool) - 1:00 - 1:30 pm
Planning your IDP in Partnership - 1:30 - 2:15 pm
Mentoring Compact (Fadool) - 2:15 - 2:30 pm
"Welcome" Mini-Orientation Sessions for New Postdoctoral Scholars on Campus
REGISTRATION will open in early fall for our Monday, October 26, 2026, New Postdoc Welcome, Honors Scholars and Fellows (HSF) Room 3008
All new postdoctoral scholars on campus are invited to the next upcoming new postdoctoral scholar "Welcome." The "Welcome" format of orientation serves to give new postdocs the basics of the full required orientation program in the spans of an hour over the lunch period. It is designed for scholars that initiate their training during the year rather than in synchrony with the start of the school year in August. You can converse with Human Resources representatives about initiating your employee benefits within the 60-day onboarding window, learn about support for global engagements, join the leadership team of our postdoctoral association (PDA), and hear about opportunities for fellowships, travel awards, and professional development activities.
Debi, Director of the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs
Agenda:
General PD Opportunities, Expectations, and Professional Development (Fadool)
International Engagements (Schaad/Lawson)
Program in Instructional Excellence (Kelly)
Human Resources - Health Insurance and Retirement Benefits (Hoffman)
Join the PDA!! (Carr)