Welcome to the UCSC STEM Postdocs webpage!

The USPA is a postdoctoral-led organization that aims to provide career training and resources to postdoctoral scholars here at UC Santa Cruz. Each year the USPA organizes a symposium, and a series of workshops to highlight postdoctoral research, provides postdocs with career planning support, and build a stronger postdoc community.  Our goal is to create a welcoming environment for new postdocs and a supportive group of peers to navigate this pivotal career stage together.

Activities of USPA include:
- monthly postdoc science and social hour
- career development workshops
- annual symposium

Coming soon: 3rd Annual Postdoc Symposium on March 1st 2018!

Contact us: uspa@ucsc.edu

Check out our upcoming events and join us:

Facebook group

UCSC Google Group

The USPA is sponsored by the following departments, divisions and institutes:

Division of Physical & Biological Sciences

Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology

Latest from USPA

It’s National Postdoc Appreciation Week!

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This week is the National Postdoc Appreciation Week!

Being a postdoctoral scholar requires support from mentors and institutions, to continue to work towards the dual role of providing contributions to the research enterprise and career development training. With the start of National Postdoc Appreciation Week, we are reminded of the importance of protected time for postdocs to explore opportunities, network, and connect with fellow postdocs. The National Postdoctoral Association identified six core competencies that all postdocs should develop during their training.

The UCSC STEM Postdocs Association (USPA), run by postdoc volunteers, is dedicated to provide career training and networking opportunities for our own community. Subscribe to our google group to receive emails and check our website for events!

What type of career are you planning for? What kind of career training do you wish to receive? Let us know! Join us for lunch and chat:

Special Science and Social Hour for Postdoc Appreciation Week

Sep 21st (Thu) 1-2PM

Biomed 300

Free lunch and ping pong for fun!

Grant Writing Workshop

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We are hosting a grant writing workshop for postdocs on Jul 24th!

  • Proposal writing is an essential skill for a postdoc, especially if you are planning to stay in academia.
  • Successful grant proposal can open many doors for you. Receiving a K99 award greatly increases your chance in securing a faculty position.
  • These programs are also highly competitive, with success rates around 20-30%.

We hope this workshop can provide you the tools to write a successful proposal. The speakers, David States, Carrie Partch and Jordan Ward, will discuss:

What types of grants are available to postdocs/ How to structure your paragraphs and sections/ How to convey your science/ How to apply for K99… and any topics you are interested in.

Continue Reading Grant Writing Workshop