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Current Postdocs

Postdoc Association

Welcome to the Postdoctoral Association
By the Postdocs, For the Postdocs -

Welcome to the Postdoctoral Association: We represent all postdocs who conduct their cutting edge research at the McGovern Medical School, School of Bioinformatics, School of Dentistry, School of Nursing and the School of Public Health. We extend across the campus of the Texas Medical Center, which is the world's largest medical complex.

We work closely with the UTHealth Houston Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, which provides support to our association. The Postdoctoral Association is a postdoc-led organization that provides social, educational and professional opportunities for our postdoc colleagues throughout the academic year.

Our mission is to provide resources for your professional development, to foster a sense of community among postdocs, and to ensure all postdoctoral fellows at UTHealth Houston are treated equally and fairly.

Our executive committee encourages and invites all postdocs to join us in our frequent social and professional events. On these pages we will list upcoming events, as well as career development opportunities and awards dedicated to UTHealth Houston postdocs.

Postdoctoral Travel Awards 

The Postdoctoral Travel Award is a competitive award for UTH postdocs who are presenting at conferences. Recipients of these awards are selected by postdoc peer reviewers. Application announcements for postdoc reviewers and potential award recipients are sent to the UTH Houston postdoc community periodically.

Executive Committee

  • Chair: Neha Arora, PhD 
  • Vice Chair: Kyle Buchan, PhD
  • Secretary: Diana Rodriguez, PhD
  • Program Coordinator: Shafeeque Mohammed Ali, PhD
  • Travel Award Director: Susana Rodriguez Rojas Vertiz, PhD
  • Social Outreach: Camille Marion Godreuil, PhD & Tirthankar Sinha PhD

  • Officers

    Executive Committee

    • Chair: Neha Arora, PhD 
    • Vice Chair: Kyle Buchan, PhD
    • Secretary: Diana Rodriguez, PhD
    • Program Coordinator: Shafeeque Mohammed Ali, PhD
    • Travel Award Director: Susana Rodriguez Rojas Vertiz, PhD
    • Social Outreach: Camille Marion Godreuil, PhD & Tirthankar Sinha PhD

  • Meetings and Events

    Upcoming Events

    Monthly Postdoc Association Meeting: 
    • When: 3rd Tuesday of every month at 4 pm. 
    • Where: McGovern Medical School, MSB B.620 
    • Contact ms-pda@uth.tmc.edu to confirm meeting occurance. 
    Upcoming Event: 

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  • Travel Awards

    Travel Award Cycles 

    Dates and Deadlines for 2023/2024

    Award Cycle

    Application Deadline         

    Review Session

    Conference Dates

    Fall 2023 (Cycle I) 

    November 15, 2023        

    December 4 – 8, 2023

    Jan 1 - May 31, 2024

    Winter 2024 (Cycle II) 

    January 15, 2024                

    January 29 – Feb 2, 2024

    March 1 – August 31, 2024

    Spring 2024 (Cycle III)

    April 15, 2024                    

    April 29 - May 3, 2024

    June 1 – November 30, 2024

    Summer 2024 (Cycle IV)

    July 15, 2024                   

     July 29 - August 2, 2024

    September 1, 2024 – February 29, 2025
  • President’s Excellence in Postdoctoral Research Award

    2023 UTHealth Houston President’s Excellence in Postdoctoral Research Award 

    The Postdoctoral Association invites all to attend the 2023 President’s Excellence in Postdoctoral Research Symposium

    Five finalists will give 10 minute presentations with 5 minute Q&A. Faculty judges will select 1st place ($3,000), 2nd place ($2,000), 3rd place ($1,000) winners and two finalists ($500 each)

    When: Thursday, August 17, 2023, 3 - 5 pm.

    Where: McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin St, Houston, TX. MSB 2.103  

    Finalists: 

    • Neha Arora, PhD; Integrative Biology and Pharmacology; Faculty Mentor: Yong Zhou, PhD
    • Abhijnan Chattopadhyay, PhD; Internal Medicine; Faculty Mentor: Dianna M. Milewicz, MD, PhD
    • Kyrylo Pyrshev, PhD; Integrative Biology and Pharmacology; Faculty Mentor: Oleh M. Pochynyuk, PhD
    • Sarah Surrain, PhD; Pediatrics - Children’s Learning Institute; Faculty Mentor: Tricia Zucker, PhD
    • Xiaolei (Sherry) Zhao, PhD; Pediatrics; Faculty Mentor: Jun Wang, PhD

    Come early as seating capacity is limited to 70. Refreshments will be served.