{"id":134209,"date":"2026-07-30T02:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/?p=134209"},"modified":"2026-07-29T08:04:16","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T13:04:16","slug":"unmc-postdocs-boost-the-institutions-research-mission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2026\/07\/30\/unmc-postdocs-boost-the-institutions-research-mission\/","title":{"rendered":"UNMC postdocs boost the institution’s research mission"},"content":{"rendered":"
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UNMC\u2019s postdoctoral scholars make essential contributions to the biomedical research mission of the research enterprise, a new survey shows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UNMC Office of Postdoctoral Education in February conducted a five-year survey into the publications of UNMC\u2019s postdocs, gaining insights into their research productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Going back to 2021, UNMC postdoctoral researchers published 548 first author, peer-reviewed papers \u2013 an authorship status that reflects the scholars\u2019 key role in projects and dissemination of the findings. In fiscal year 2024-25, postdocs published 116 first author, peer-reviewed papers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur postdoctoral scholars make an undeniably significant impact on UNMC\u2019s research efforts,\u201d said Iqbal Ahmad, PhD, associate dean and director of the UNMC Office of Postdoctoral Education. \u201cOur survey focused only on first author, peer-review publications, as they demonstrate the most significant and indispensable intellectual contributions of postdocs in the execution of the research project.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Said Ken Bayles, PhD, UNMC\u2019s vice chancellor for research, “Our post-doctoral fellows are one of the main drivers of any productive research program. The survey confirms what I already knew \u2013 that we have a fantastic postdoc program here at UNMC with a lot of very talented young investigators.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UNMC Office of Postdoctoral Education also undertook a separate, general survey of the postdoctoral education program. This survey, which was conducted in November and December 2025, was intended to capture feedback from postdocs about their experiences, challenges and needs, Dr. Ahmad said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The general survey was designed with the help of faculties and postdocs representatives on the postdoctoral education advisory council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the general survey findings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n