The Postdoc Visibility Project emerged from a desire to increase the visibility of a population that is often invisible. What began as a tribute to Georgia Tech’s postdoctoral scholars during National Postdoc Appreciation Week last September quickly grew to a yearlong initiative. The Project concluded with a reception on May 8 where postdocs, staff, and faculty were invited for a luncheon.
The Postdoc Visibility Project emerged from a desire to increase the visibility of a population that is often invisible. What began as a tribute to Georgia Tech’s postdoctoral scholars during National Postdoc Appreciation Week last September quickly grew to a yearlong initiative.
Throughout the Spring 2024 semester, the Postdoc Visibility Project team released four articles and videos highlighting various aspects of postdoctoral life: demystifying what postdoc positions are and are not, facing and overcoming challenges in postdoc life, sharing ways to build a community of peers and mentors to support success, and meeting the women who are leading postdoctoral education at Tech.
Our goal was to highlight the diversity of the postdoc experiences, and I think we achieved that,” said Karena Nguyen, assistant director of Postdoctoral Services. “Many thanks to our postdocs Avery Davis Bell, Sam Gowland, Nicole Hellessey, Zita Hüsing, and Ida Su for sharing their personal stories so openly and honestly with the community. We could not have embarked on this project without them.
The Project concluded with a reception on May 8 where postdocs, staff, and faculty were invited for a luncheon.
At the reception, Nguyen introduced and thanked the dedicated team behind the project:
-Daniel Vallejo, NSF Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, who initiated the idea and led the filming and video editing
-Mike Evans, Teaching Faculty in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, who provided support on video editing and storyboarding
-Sara Franc, Communications Officer in the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Education, who led article development and social media campaigns
-Brittani Hill, Marketing and Communications Manager in the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Education, who provided support on storyboarding and facilitated internal and external communications
-Casey Hendricks, Program Support Coordinator in the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Education, who provided support on event planning and organizing
Nguyen concluded the event by expressing gratitude to all staff, faculty, and postdocs who contributed to the project and engaged with the Office of Postdoctoral Services. Special thanks were extended to the library staff who provided space and guidance on the filming and editing process.
The articles and videos from the Postdoc Visibility Project can be viewed in the “News” section of the Georgia Tech postdoctoral website at postdocs.gatech.edu.
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.