Nationalpostdoc

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership organization supporting postdoctoral scholars and the research institutions that work with them. It advocates for the needs of postdocs and institutional communities, while promoting professional development, inclusion, and effective organizational practices. Its resources include publications, toolkits, webinar archives, a resource library, and career information.

Members can access NPA SmartSkills, a free virtual course offering expert-led monthly classes on skills for career and personal success. The NPA also runs the IMPACT Fellowship Program, which helps marginalized early-career research trainees build skills, recognize strengths, and develop networks, and its Excellence Recognition Program highlights achievements and best practices in the postdoctoral community. Since 2009, the association has sponsored National Postdoc Appreciation Week to recognize postdoctoral scholars’ contributions to research and discovery.

Other offerings include an online Career Center for job seekers and employers, events, community engagement opportunities, and volunteer programs. Through advocacy, education, and connection, the NPA works to strengthen support for postdocs and the institutions that enable their research