Postdoc Appreciation Week

Read about the background to Postdoc Appreciation Week (PAW), see the events and activities taking place this year, and access on-demand content from previous years.

Background

Postdoc Appreciation Week (PAW) acknowledges, recognises and celebrates all of the hard work that postdocs and researchers dedicate to research, teaching, mentoring, outreach and so much more!

Originating in North America, UK research institutions have started to take on this celebratory practice in recent years.

As well as events organised specifically for TUoS postdocs, following on from the successful inaugural National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW) events held in 2020, postdocs and researcher development managers from different institutions across the country come together to hold events open to researchers from across the country. You can find further details about NPAW through their website and social media accounts below.

Visit the UK NPAW website

Follow UK NPAW on Twitter

Follow UK NPAW on Instagram

Postdoc Appreciation Week 2025

See some of our key events for Postdoc Appreciation Week 2025!

From surviving to thriving: planning your future
15th, 10:30 - 12:30, online

This national session will explore how we can take control of our futures through self-leadership and navigate uncertainties of the future. We will hear from a panel of diverse ex/academics on how they navigated (and motivated themselves) through their own careers. We will also have a special showing of "Postdoc: The Musical", a musical number aimed at showcasing Postdoc lives and achievements.

Explore Prosper
16th, 11:30 -12:15, online

Prosper is an innovative approach to postdoc career development that seeks to unlock postdocs’ potential to thrive across multiple career pathways – both within and beyond academia.

The Prosper Portal can help you to figure out what you want from your career, explore opportunities beyond academia, and develop in-demand skills.

Join this short session delivered by Prosper to find out how to maximise the portal for your benefit.

Inside Academia
17th, 12:00 - 12:45, online

The first in a new monthly online lunchtime series 'Inside Academia', designed specifically for research staff to give a behind-the-scenes perspective of academic life beyond your research.

Join Deputy VP for Research, Professor John Flint, and Head of Researcher Development, Dr. Lucy Lee, to explore the new Development Guidance for Grade 6 and Grade 7 Researchers. Created by the University ECR Committee, this guidance outlines professional development activities and opportunities you may wish to consider. We'll also discuss the newly launched Researcher Development Framework, a sector wide tool designed to help you strategically plan your development and career transitions effectively.

Nominate an Outstanding postdoc!
Open now! (Closes 26th August)

We are excited to announce the return our Outstanding Postdoc nominations! We started this initiative in Postdoc Appreciation Week 2020 as an opportunity to recognise the exceptional contributions of postdocs here at The University of Sheffield. Designed to complement the National Postdoc Appreciation Week event, our nomination initiative is a great opportunity to formally recognise the contributions or actions of a postdoc you think deserves nominating!

Nominate a postdoc for recognition here!

Previous events and on-demand videos

National Postdoc Appreciation Week 2021

As part of NPAW in 2021, several events were run and recorded so they could be accessed after the event.

These sessions included;

Celebrating successes - exploring diverse careers in the Postdoc afterlife
Recognition of Research Talents
Careers in Academia and beyond

View on-demand videos from the event

UK National Postdoc Conference (NPDC21)

Hosted by the University of Liverpool, the wholly virtual NPDC21 was an opportunity for postdoctoral researchers to engage with industry stakeholders, funding agencies, policy influencers, researcher developers and career development professionals.

The NPDC21 keynote was given by the CEO of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser. A panel on Collaborative Research Practices included Professor Julia Buckingham CBE, Former President of Universities UK.

All registrations were free of charge.

See the full programme from Liverpool and on-demand videos here.

NPDC21 poster competition

Postdocs were invited to either create a new poster or re-share an existing one, showcasing what they research or an aspect of the conference theme "New Realities, Stronger Connections, Successful Futures".

Find out more and see the 2021 winners here.

National Postdoc Appreciation Week 2022

The Postdoc Toolbox:

Career progression beyond a postdoc position, whatever shape it takes, relies on postdocs using the range of tools at their disposal that they knowingly (or unknowingly!) acquired. In this event, each of our guest speakers will highlight a different item from the ‘Postdoc Toolbox’.

Steve Cross will discuss the ups and down of postdoc life, what he has in his own personal toolbox, and how you can equip your own. Sarah Ashworth will provide useful information on developing an effective CV, and tips on how to avoid common mistakes. And finally, we will have sneak peeks of the new ‘Prosper’ portal, designed to enable postdocs to reach their career potential, and discuss key findings and take-home thoughts based on knowledge gained from the initial cohorts.

On-demand recording available here.

National showcase of postdocs

Showcasing the profile of Postdocs and Postdoc Developers who are doing an amazing job across the UK & Ireland through the National Postdoc Appreciation Week Instagram account.

You can see showcased postdoc during NPAW 2021 on the NPAW Instagram account here.

Additional events held during Postdoc Appreciation Week 2022

- Intentional Careers: How to accelerate your career even if you don't know 'what's next?'. Facilitated by Dr Hannah Roberts.

- Open Research: What do postdocs need to know? Facilitated by Dr Adam Partridge, UoS Open Research Training Lead

- Develop your creative thinking skills with CLEAR IDEAS. Developed and faciliated by Prof. Kamal Birdi

National Postdoc Appreciation Week 2023

Creating connections and rediscovering joy - UK National Postdoc Appreciation Week event.

Monday 18th September, 10.30 - 12.00, Online

Session description: How similar/different is this across different disciplines, and with the increased focus on interdisciplinary research, how can we communicate and connect across divides?

Come explore with us in this event, kicking start with a comedic take on this topic by Dave Chawner, followed by conversations and discussion panel led by Prof Ian Sabroe and Dr Dieter Declercq, hosts of the podcast 'Conversations about Arts, Humanities and Health', on how to create collaborative environments, break preconceived ideologies, and rediscover the joy that drives us forward with what we do!

National Postdoc Conference 2023 - Over 20 sessions and events! Hosted by C-DICE and Loughborough University

Tuesday 19th September

Session description: The National Postdoc Conference 2023 is the only conference in the UK dedicated solely to the celebration of postdoctoral researchers from any university, in any discipline. It aims to bring together the postdoctoral community to navigate the postdoc journey and equip them to thrive in their current role and beyond. The conference is free to attend for all Postdocs and will be hosted at James France Building, Loughborough University.

Additional events held during Postdoc Appreciation Week 2023

- Charting Pathways for Postdoctoral Success: Unlocking the Researcher Development Concordat's Potential

- Develop your creative thinking skills with CLEAR ideas

- How does mentoring and coaching fit in your future?

- Research Staff Induction: ‘Making the most of your research contract’

- Pint of Science: Postdoc Appreciation Week Bonanza

National Postdoc Appreciation Week 2024

A flagship national event - Into the Postdoc-verse: building relationships across dimensions explored how to authentically network, build long-lasting relationships across disciplines/sectors. As part of this event we held a live networking sessions for the audience to practice and expand their horizons right away!

CV and career development clinic: To celebrate the 5th anniversary, we offered free online 1-2-1 careers sessions for career development and as CV clinic.