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UNMC’s goal, however, is to further strengthen the environment and culture for outstanding mentoring and training of postdoctoral scholars.
As a result, a new postdoctoral education policy has been developed. The policy defines different postdoctoral positions at UNMC, obligations of postdoctoral scholars and mentors and structures oversight of scholars’ training and appointment/reappointment information.
“UNMC regards its postdoctoral scholars as one of its most valuable assets and one of the key driving forces behind its success story in biomedical research,” said Iqbal Ahmad, Ph.D., assistant dean and director of postdoctoral education at UNMC. “We are committed to offering scholars a research environment that is intellectually enriching and rewarding.
“This office is designed to promote their welfare on campus and offer training to them in such a way that they achieve independent positions in a timely fashion, whether that’s in academia, industry, undergrad teaching campuses, government, law or non-profit organizations. The only way that can happen is if there is a proactive approach about their aspirations, what they would like to do, and where they would like to go. We want their training structured to what they want to achieve.”
UNMC has approximately 140 postdoctoral scholars and research associates on campus at any given time. After three years, many continue their careers elsewhere, while a handful join the UNMC faculty.
Research institutions across the country are enhancing their postdoctoral training programs, said Jeanne Ferbrache, director of institutional research at UNMC and coordinator of the Postdoctoral Education Office.
“There is a focus, nationally, for providing better support for post docs,” Ferbrache said. “We’re ahead of the game but want to continue to broaden the horizons of our post docs and improve their experience at UNMC.”
Dr. Ahmad agreed. “Providing them with additional support outside the lab will make them better employees and stronger researchers. We are working on providing them with fellowships to attend national or international meetings. They’ll be better qualified when they leave to get an independent position.”
Under the new UNMC policy, postdoctoral scholars are encouraged to attend orientation workshops on intellectual properties and sponsored programs, which are offered twice each year. They also are encouraged to attend transferable skill training and career development workshops.
In addition, the Office of Postdoctoral Education is developing workshops on public speaking and scientific presentation for postdoctoral scholars. This past summer, UNMC approved a basic starting salary for postdoctoral scholars to create a level playing field across campus.