Postdoctoral Community and Leadership
Medical School Postdoctoral Council (MSPC)
The Medical School Postdoctoral Council (MSPC) was formed in 2023 to provide both support for Medical School postdoctoral scholars and to advise the Medical School leadership to the needs, resources and services required to maximize postdoctoral research education and training.
The committee meets with leadership monthly to relay concerns and provide invaluable feedback to direct policy, initiatives and program activities. The goal is to bolster shared governance in shaping postdoctoral training in the Medical School and maximize success outcomes for scholarly research productivity and career advancement.
To reach out to the MSPC directly, please use the following email address: [email protected]
MSPC Announcements
06/2026: MSPC Positions Available
06/2026: MSPC Positions Available
Leadership positions for MSPC for the upcoming 2026-2027 academic year are available and are in the process of being filled. Please reach out to the GPS office or the MSPC to learn more about getting involved!
Application open until June 30, 2026, at 11:59 pm CT
Currently available:
- Committee Representative
03/2026: MSPC Launches Annual Postdoc Retreat!
MSPC Launches Annual Postdoc Retreat!
Thank you to everyone who attended the inaugural Postdoctoral Retreat, hosted by the Medical School Postdoctoral Council (MSPC) and the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Our first-ever program included an interactive poster session, invited talks from industry representatives, and presentations from UMN postdocs from specialties across the biomedical sciences. A big congratulations to our four award winners!
2026 Outstanding Research Awardees - Poster Presentation:
Xin Zhou (Microbiology & Immunology) & Daniela Herrera Moro Chao (Neuroscience)
2026 Outstanding Research Awardees - Oral Presentation:
Natalia Ferreira de Araujo (Medicine) & Esha Bandyopadhyay (Genetics and Cellular Development)
Xin Zhou presenting her award-winning poster at the MSPC Retreat.
Swathy Babu (MSPC Committee Rep) presenting her research to Dr. Lanier, Director of the GPS Office.
11/2025: MSPC Election Results & New Members
11/2025: MSPC Election Results & New Members
MSPC recently reviewed new member applications and is excited to announce the following updates to its roster!
- Secretary: Aminat Imamfulani-Hassan (Neuroscience)
- Treasurer: Richa Kaushal (Medicine, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition)
- Communications Chair: Pardis Ziaeefar (Urology)
- Committee Representatives: Esha Bandyopadhyay (GCD), Swathy Babu (Neurology), Shilpi Singh (Neurosurgery)
Congratulations and welcome to MSPC!
05/2025: MSPC Positions Available
05/2025: MSPC Positions Available
Leadership positions are still available for the MSPC for the upcoming 2025-2026 year and are in the process of being filled. Please reach out to the GPS office or the MSPC to learn more about getting involved!
Currently available:
- Treasurer
- Secretary
- Communications Chair
MSPC Members
Committee Representative
Microbiology & Immunology
Committee Representative
Biochemistry
Postdoc Spotlight
Celebrating accomplished postdoctoral associates and fellows in areas such as community engagement, research innovation, and academic excellence.
Nidhi Joshi, PhD | Department of Pharmacology
Dr. Nidhi Joshi was recently awarded the UMN PDA (Postdoctoral Association) Postoc Award for Service to Our Academic Community. Dr. Joshi, a postdoctoral trainee in the Nicholas M. Levinson Lab, was recognized for her leadership at our university, serving two major positions as Vice President of the UMN Postdoctoral Association and Chair of the UMN Medical School Postdoctoral Council (MSPC). Congratulations and thank you for your contributions to our postdoc community and beyond!
Institutional Affiliation Memberships
Note: Register for the following with your institutional ("@umn.edu") email address--free!
Postdoctoral Association at the University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota Postdoctoral Association got its start in Fall 2002, initiated by a small group of postdocs on the Twin Cities campus who were interested in helping to improve conditions for postdocs at this university. Open to all postdocs at the university, the PDA is a channel through which postdocs can express their views to the university administration, and also from which they can find help and proactive support on issues of employment, professional development, and life at this university.
National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity
The National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD) is an independent professional development, training, and mentoring community of faculty, postdocs, & graduate students from over 450 colleges and universities. They host regular online programming accessible through your UMN institutional affiliate membership!
National Postdoctoral Association
The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) is a dedicated organization committed to enhancing the postdoctoral experience across the United States.
- Comprehensive Resource Library: Access materials (including publications, and webinars) covering topics such as advocacy, career development, diversity, international postdoc support, and mentoring.
- Career Center: Explore job opportunities and receive tailored career advice to navigate your professional journey effectively.
- Core Competencies: Utilize the NPA's guide to develop essential skills and competencies vital for postdoctoral success.
Diversity and Inclusion
GPS Diversity and Inclusion Statement
The University of Minnesota Medical School is dedicated to providing excellence across our mission - high-quality education and training for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars of all backgrounds; innovative and cutting-edge research and exceptional clinical outcomes that promote health equity. Through a variety of services and programs, we aim to engage everyone in our collective work toward inclusive excellence, promote equity in access to learning, scientific inquiry, care delivery, and celebrate our diversity through cultural experiences and opportunities on and off campus.
The Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, biomedical Sciences graduate programs and our Centers, Institutes and Programs (CIPs) are committed to increasing the impact, value and quality of faculty, graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and staff members by fostering a diverse, collaborative environment that promotes respect and civility, provides equal access to opportunities, and free from harassment, bullying, intimidation, and threatening behavior that interferes/impedes the ability to maximize success outcomes.
The contributions of scientists whose backgrounds encompass diversity including culture, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, neurodiversity, and economic background are vital to our creative and productive research environment. Incorporating diversity in our community, curriculum, and research are essential for improving the health and knowledge of all.
The Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies strives to increase the quality and diversity of trainees and provide a learning environment that supports inclusivity, equality and excellence. As such, we employ innovative and best practice approaches in recruitment and retention efforts to maximally contribute to diversifying the workforce in biomedical research enterprise.
The GPS Office engages in best practices to maximally support our graduate student and postdoctoral scholar training environments by embracing the NIH expanded definition of Diversity in the Biomedical Sciences, by including individuals that are: (1) of ethnicity/race traditional underrepresented in the biomedical sciences, (2) first-generation college students, Pell grant recipients and/or socioeconomic disadvantaged, (3) disabled and (4) women.