At the University of Iowa, the UI Postdoctoral Association (UIPDA) has long advocated for postdoctoral scholars and fostered a sense of community. Throughout the years, UIPDA has worked to support postdocs through a variety of professional development, networking, and community-building initiatives.
This year was particularly noteworthy. In addition to hosting a range of successful events, including scientific writing workshops and an active postdoctoral book club, the UIPDA set out to create something even more impactful. The inaugural Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Conference, held on June 26, 2026 at the Medical Education and Research Facility (MERF), brought together postdoctoral scholars from across disciplines to showcase their research, exchange ideas, and strengthen the postdoctoral community at the UI.
The conference marked an important milestone for the University of Iowa postdoctoral community by creating a platform where researchers could not only showcase their scientific achievements but also engage with colleagues from different labs. By bringing together scholars from across campus, the event fostered interdisciplinary conversations and collaborations that are essential for scientific innovation and discovery.
The conference featured poster presentations in the MERF Atrium and oral presentations in the Prem Sahai Auditorium at the Carver College of Medicine.
International Students and Scholars Services (ISSS) and University Counseling Service each had resource booths. Dongwang Liu, ISSS advisor and associate director at the Center for Asian & Pacific Studies represented ISSS, while Holly Nicely, staff psychologist and Eating Disorder Services Coordinator at University Counseling Services, represented their respective organizations, sharing resources available to postdocs.
The event brought together 100 postdocs from departments across the University of Iowa, the majority from the Carver College of Medicine. The scientific program featured 40 posters and 23 oral presentations, highlighting the breadth and excellence of research being conducted by postdoctoral scholars.
In the poster competition, John-Mark Miller (Microbiology and Immunology) received first place, Paige T. Donovan (Microbiology and Immunology) second place, and Bertha Martin (Neuroscience and Pharmacology) third place.
For oral presentations, Yue Jia (Internal Medicine) received first place, and Salma Hassan (Ophthalmology), Shraddha Tripathi (Microbiology and Immunology), and Suryansh (Surgery) all shared second-place honors. Prabuddha Sarkar (Internal Medicine) was awarded third place. The awards were presented by Shelly Campo, Associate Dean for Administrative Affairs, Graduate College.
The success of the inaugural Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Conference reflects both the strength of the University's postdoctoral community and the growing need for opportunities that connect researchers across disciplines.
“The inaugural 2026 UIPDA Postdoc Conference successfully brought together the postdoctoral community at UIowa, with approximately one-third of postdocs participating," UIPDA President Divya Rathi says. "The strong turnout highlighted the community’s enthusiasm for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and professional growth. As a successful first step, this conference establishes an important foundation for continued connection and support, and we look forward to making it an annual event that further strengthens the postdoctoral experience across campus.”