Record Attendance at Postdoc Appreciation Week

At CU Anschutz, the best time to celebrate postdoctoral scholars is all the time. The second-best time is during National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW). 

NPAW was created in 2009 by the National Postdoctoral Association as a way to recognize the contributions postdoctoral scholars make to research and discovery. Across the country, institutions take part by organizing community building events to support and celebrate their own postdoc communities.  

This year’s festivities took place from September 15 – 19. Organized by the Postdoctoral Association, there were 12 events held throughout the week at CU Anschutz. Highlights included a scavenger hunt, ice cream social, and therapy dogs, with over 520 participants joining throughout the week.  

Check out the photo gallery below for a glimpse into the celebrations.  

NPAW kicked off with Coffee Hour held in the Graduate School Lounge. There were 100 attendees for free burritos, coffee, and swag.

The Plant and Book Swap event drew 20 attendees. Folks brought books and plants to swap and were also able to decorate a mini plant pot.

Run Club attracted 7 participants to arrive at 7 a.m. on a Tuesday. Left to right: Chase Wesley, Sudikchya Shrestha, Katie Ranard, Jigar Gosalia, Damayanti Yengkhom, Lingaonan He  

The seventh participant not pictured in the previous photo was Dr. Erin Golden, assistant director of the Postdoctoral Office. She is located front and center.  

Teams competed at trivia in the Bushnell Auditorium. Left to right: Andrea MacFadden (PRA), Sam Greenfield (PhD student), Natasia Paukovich (postdoc) 

A trivia team is deep in thought while vying for the trophy. Left to right: 

Trivia Night had a total of 25 participants. 

The winning team from 2025 NPAW Trivia Night at CU Anschutz. Left to right: Natasia Paukovich (postdoc), Sam Greenfield (PhD student), Andrea MacFadden (PRA), Mathieu Hénault (postdoc) 

The Ice Cream Social event drew 110 attendees to enjoy Hip Hop Gelato in front of the Fitzsimons Building.

Ice Cream Social attendees enjoy their gelato in the grass.  

Members of the planning committee Autumn Doan, PhD, and Sara Stoner, PhD, at the Therapy Dogs event.  

There were 100 attendees of the Therapy Dogs event held in the Bushnell Auditorium.

Autumn Doan, PhD and Jeff Chung, PhD, hang out with Ollie the Brussels Griffin.  

Participants were all smiles as they hung out with their new therapy dog friends. This is Denali the American Eskimo 

Planning committee member Danielle Siegel, PhD, with a therapy dog Nico the Newfoundland, who is 7 years old and 160 pounds! 

Graduate School Dean Jennifer Richer with Dr. Andrew Yee, winner of the Graduate School Award Dean’s Postdoctoral Research Award. The annual Graduate School Awards program was held during the NPAW Networking Reception and Awards Ceremony. 

Graduate School Dean Jennifer Richer with Dr. Sudikchya Shrestha, winner of the Graduate School Dean’s Postdoctoral Service Award. There were 40 attendees at the Networking Reception and Awards Ceremony.