USM Postdoctoral Research Symposium 2024

Postdocs have two options for sharing their work at the Postdoc Research Symposium: in a poster session or a five-minute flash talk. On this form, please indicate which format (either the poster presentation or flash talk) you would like to sign up for. Regardless of the format you choose, please submit an abstract summarizing the research you will be presenting at the Postdoc Research Symposium. Your abstract should be brief, clear, and concise. It should not exceed 300 words. If you have any questions, please reach out to Anne-Charlotte Mecklenburg at amecklen@umd.edu.

Deadline: Sunday, September 1st

The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs in the Graduate School at the University of Maryland is excited to host the 8th Annual Postdoctoral Research Symposium on Friday, September 27, as the culmination of our activities during National Postdoctoral Appreciation Month.

This year, for the first time, the symposium is a system-wide initiative, representing the collective efforts and collaborative spirit of the entire University System of Maryland (USM). This milestone event is made possible by the invaluable support of LaKeisha Harris, Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and Jennifer Aumiller, Director of the Office of Postdoctoral Scholars and Director of the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Career and Professional Development at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. We are also delighted to recognize the RISE UPP Alliance, an NSF’s Eddie Bernice Johnson INCLUDES Initiative, for its outstanding efforts to diversify STEM faculty through postdoctoral pathways.

The symposium will feature a traditional poster presentation session and an exciting new addition: a Flash Talk session, providing a dynamic platform for postdocs to present their work and network with peers, faculty, and staff!

Symposium Goals

To recognize and showcase the cutting-edge research conducted by postdocs at the University of Maryland.
To provide opportunities for postdocs to develop their presentation skills through Flash Talk.
To foster networking and interaction among postdocs, as well as with faculty and staff from across campus.

Event Highlights

Keynote Address
Delivered by Jay A. Perman, MD, Chancellor of the University System of Maryland.

Poster Presentation
A tradition that highlights the diverse research undertaken by our postdoctoral community.

Flash Talk Session
A new addition where postdocs present their research in dynamic, concise talks.

Lunch & Panel Discussion
Featuring early-career faculty members, offering insights and advice on academic career progression.

Ice Cream Social🍧
Concluding the event with a fun and refreshing ice cream social, perfect for mingling and networking!

Event Details

Date: Friday, September 27, 2024
Time: Registration begins at 9:00 am, and the event concludes at 3:00 pm
Location: Stamp Student Union

In addition to our month-long celebration, we strongly encourage you to explore the resources and program offered by the National Postdoctoral Association for their Appreciation Week between September 16 and 20.

Symposium Agenda

9:00 am - Registration and Breakfast

9:30 am - Welcome

Blessing Enekwe, Program Director, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs
Anne-Charlotte Mecklenburg, Postdoctoral Associate for Academic Support
Stephen Roth, Associate Provost and Dean, The Graduate School

9:45 am - Keynote

Jay A. Perman, Chancellor of the University System of Maryland

Jay A. Perman was named the fifth chancellor of the University System of Maryland (USM) in January 2020. Prior to this appointment, he served as president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore—the state’s only public health and human services university—for nearly a decade. A pediatric gastroenterologist, he still practices medicine once a week, teaching team-based health care to students from across the USM. As chancellor, Dr. Perman is committed to advancing higher education access for all Marylanders. He is building on the USM’s reputation for innovation, particularly in R&D, economic development, and community engagement. Above all, he seeks to fulfill what he sees as his most fundamental obligation: ensuring that every person in Maryland who wants a college education can get one. Dr. Perman received his Doctor of Medicine degree—with distinction—from Northwestern University. After his residency in pediatrics at Northwestern’s Children’s Memorial Hospital, he completed a fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology at Harvard Medical School and the Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Boston. Dr. Perman has held faculty and leadership positions at UCSF, Johns Hopkins University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and the University of Kentucky, where he served as dean of the College of Medicine.

10:30 am - Flash Talk Session

11:15 am - Posters: Session A

12:00 pm - Lunch and Panel Discussion: Insights from Emerging Scholars

1:45 pm - Posters: Session B

2:30 pm - Event Conclusion

Closing Remarks
Poster / Flash Talk / Mentor of the Year Awards
Ice Cream Social

This symposium was funded in part by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Eddie Bernice Johnson INCLUDES initiative, Re-Imagining STEM Equity Utilizing Postdoc Pathways (RISE UPP), award #2217329.

2024 Postdoctoral Symposium Planning Committee Members

Blessing Enekwe, Program Director, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (Symposium Co-Chair)
Anne-Charlotte Mecklenburg, Postdoctoral Associate for Academic Support (Symposium Co-Chair)
Thiago Pezzuto, Graduate Assistant, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (Symposium Co-Chair)
LaKeisha Harris, Dean, School of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Jennifer Aumiller, Director, Office of Postdoctoral Scholars, and Director of the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Career and Professional Development, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Spencer Benson, Graduate School Consultant, Retired UMD CMBG faculty member, Former director of UMD’s Teaching and Learning Center
Aprajeeta Jha, Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Nutrition and Food Science
Sijil Vijayan Puthur, Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Cell Biology & Molecular Genetics
Taj Kumari Yeruva, Postdoctoral Associate, Fischell Department of Bioengineering