The UIPDA advocates for all Postdocs at the University of Iowa.
For postdocs, by postdocs.
Are you a postdoc at the University of Iowa? The Postdoctoral Association is here for you! Join us the second Wednesday of every month at 4 pm to find out how we can improve your experience and help you meet your goals. Email Secretary Jordan Mayberry for information about how to join in person or over Zoom.
Postdoc Spotlights
Maddie Mocchi, Psychiatry
UIPDA Postdoctoral Research Conference
Featured Community
Read about the UI postdoc population and find resources for our 2025-2026 featured population: Postdoc Parents
Get involved with UIPDA
We are looking for postdocs to serve as committee members and college reps.
Grad Postdoc Listserv
This Listserv is used to communicate news and events about the UIPDA.
Recent Events
Below are UIPDA events and activities during the 2025-26 academic year.
2026 UIPDA Conference
Date: June 26,2026
Location: Medical Education Research Facility (MERF) Atrium
Sponsors: Graduate College, Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, Carver College of Medicine, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, and Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
Details: Annual UIPDA Conference bringing together postdoctoral scholars for professional development, networking, and community engagement.
Attendance: 100 postdoctoral scholars
UIPDA Book Club
Dates: December 10, 2025 - Murder on the Christmas Express by Alexandra Benedict; January 30, 2026 - Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein; February 26, 2026 - The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden; March 26, 2026 - The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee; April 30, 2026 - The Road by Cormac McCarthy; May 28, 2026 - Becoming Real: Authenticity in an Age of Distractions by Robert (Bob) Sessions; June 9, 2026 - Not Quite Dead by Holly Jackson.
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: The Greenhouse
Details: UIPDA Book Club meetings are organized to foster community building, informal discussion, and connection among postdoctoral scholars through shared reading experiences.
Attendance: 5 participants
Career Ladder Postdoc Program (2026 Cohort)
Organizers: Meng Xiao and Jennifer Teitle, Graduate College
Dates: May 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, and 29, 2006
Time: 12-1 p.m.
Location: Medical Education Research Facility (MERF)
Details: Four-week professional development program designed to support postdoctoral scholars in career growth, skill development, and preparation for future career pathways.
Attendance: 30 participants
Scientific Writing Seminar Series
Dates: May 4-5, 2006
Time: 1:25-4:00 p.m.
Location: Zoom
Sessions and Speakers:
- Writing and Publishing Clinical Research in a High-Impact Journal - Dr. Marta Koch, Editor-in-Chief, The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology
- Scientific Writing Through an Editor's Lens - Dr. Jodi Gullicksrud, Editor, Immunity (Cell Press)
- Medical Writing - Dr. Stacey Peek, Medical Writer, Merck
- Science Writing That Pays: Turning Ideas into Stories--and Stories into Rent Monday - Dr. Anirban Mukhopadhyay, Independent Science Writer
- Science Writing of the Freelance Variety - Dr. Jacqueline Houtman, Freelance Writer and Editor
- Medical Writing - Dr. Lanikea King, Senior Regulatory Medical Writer, Aroga Biosciences
Postdoc Future Success Panel Discussion
Title: How to Be Competitive for Faculty Positions or Careers in Industry
Date: April 28, 2026
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Location: Medical Education Research Facility (MERF) Atrium
Details: Panel Discussion with academic and industry hiring leaders on preparing for faculty and industry career opportunities.
Panelists:
- Ellen Vander Bleek, Account Manager, Sciences and Healthcare, Actalent Services
- Garrett Rettig, PhD, Senior Director of Product Development, Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc.
- Tina Tootle, PhD. Departmental Executive Officer, Department of Biology, University of Iowa
UIPDA & UCS Support Space
Date: April 7, 2026
Time: 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Medical Education Research Facility (MERF), Room 2189
Details: Mental Health and wellness support event featuring Finn, the University of Iowa therapy dog, and his handler, Anna Holbrook.
Immigration and Visa Seminar
Speaker: John Goslow, Attorney, Ellis Porter Immigration Law
Date: March 19, 2026
Time: 3-5 p.m.
Location: Zoom
Details: Seminar focused on strengthening profiles for employment-based immigration pathways, including EB-1A, EB-1B, EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW), and O-1 visas for postdoctoral scholars.
Postdoctoral Panel
Date: March 5, 2026
Time: 12-2 p.m.
Sponsor/Collaboration: Association of Multicultural Scientists (AMS)
Details: Panel discussion featuring faculty members and current postdoctoral scholars sharing insights on the postdoctoral application process, selecting a research lab, and succeeding as a postdoc.
Moving Tech Beyond the Lab
Speaker: Dr. Andres J. Garcia, Executive Director, Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience
Dates: March 5, 2026
Time: 9:30-10:15 a.m.
Location: Room 257, College of Pharmacy Building (CPB)
Details: Professional development event focused on translating scientific discoveries into real-world applications and moving innovations beyond the laboratory. Open to all postdoctoral scholars.
Invited Industry Talk
Speaker: Justin Topp, Senior Manager, IDT
Date: December 12, 2025
Location: Seebohm Conference Room, EMRB
Sponsor: Graduate College
Book Club First Meetup
Date: December 10, 2025
Location: The Greenhouse
Organizer: Rachel Kehrberg
Attendance: 4 participants
UIPDA Holiday Party
Date: December 3, 2025
Attendance: 25 participants
Zoom Watch Party and Career Talk
Speaker: Chris Rader, CTO, Aethon Therapeutics
Date: November 3, 2025
Location: PBDB, Zoom watch party
Sponsors: CLAS, HCCC, INI, CoE
Attendance: 18 participants
2025 Career Ladder Program
Dates: September to October 2025
Format: Multi session career development series
Average attendance: 9 participants per session
Images: Screenshot may be available from Meng