Postdoctoral scholars are known to have a close relationship with the idea of “uncertainty.” They’ve earned their doctorates and now occupy a transitional professional space, adding substantial value to the labs in which they work while simultaneously trying to launch independent careers.
Postdoc Research Day (PDRD) is an event each summer that centers the postdoc experience and celebrates their contributions to the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. This year, the PDRD'25 planning committee chose to focus on bringing clarity to an ambiguous role with the theme “Navigating the Unknowns.”
“Our theme is essentially navigating the uncertainty trainees feel throughout their professional and also personal lives. I think those are happening in parallel, and we really wanted to make sure there was an opportunity for postdocs to feel they could have those peer conversations,” Dr. Autumn Doan, PDRD’25 event chair, said.
The event welcomed 250 faculty, staff, graduate students, and postdocs as an integrated research community on July 10, 2025, in the AHSB Don Elliman Conference Center. The conversations and programming included things like launching new research, planning new careers, and generally navigating life’s transitions. Throughout the day, postdocs were given more tools to bring their next steps into focus.
After a networking breakfast, the keynote address for PDRD’25 was given by Dr. Julia DiGangi, a neuropsychologist specializing in the connection between the brain, leadership, and emotion.
“Your brain is the most powerful tool you will ever use,” DiGangi said, kicking off a presentation geared toward her audience of scientists.
Her talk was titled “Building a Life of Extraordinary Power: The Neuroscience of Living Powerfully in Uncertain Times.” She spoke about what’s going on inside the brain when one encounters uncertainty, and how people can use that knowledge to better move forward in tumultuous circumstances.
“Honestly, I was really worried we weren't going to get [Dr. DiGangi],” Doan said. “But then we met with her and she was so enthusiastic about the keynote and she really resonated with the theme. Besides Dr. DiGangi, hearing from other administrators that they care about us, and just being present, was really nice to see.”
After the keynote, a poster session was held with 50 participating postdocs. Ten awards were presented during the afternoon happy hour at T-Street.
Dr. Bruce Mandt and Danielle Sukenik then hosted a Managing Career Anxiety Workshop in the afternoon, which Doan said received overwhelmingly positive reviews. While the morning's keynote focused on what's happening inside the brain and how to make sense of it, the workshop provided specific and tangible tools that postdocs can utilize to address uncertainty and anxiety in their professional lives.
“The big takeaway is, I feel like we accomplished the goals we set out to do,” Doan said. “Hopefully postdocs feel more united and more included; like they have a platform and a voice.”
Next up on for postdocs at CU Anschutz? National Postdoc Appreciation Week, which will be held September 15 – 19, 2025. The Postdoc Association has a week of events and celebrations planned on campus.
The Graduate School Dean’s Postdoctoral Research and Service Awards will be presented during the Networking Reception at T-Street on Thursday, September 18, at 4 p.m.
PDRD'25 Poster Session Winners
Early-Stage Projects
1st place: Anne Gresch
2nd place: Nikolas Bergum (tie)
2nd place: Lorien Salyer (tie)
2nd place: Sudikchya Shrestha (tie)
3rd place: Jessica BorgersEstablished Projects
1st place: Mark Althoff
2nd place: Shama Parween
3rd place: Timothy Jones (tie)
3rd place: Matthew McGregor (tie)
Honorable Mention: Marion Delaunay