Grad Gator News
The latest word from Grinter Hall — home base of the UF Graduate School
September 18, 2026
NPAW 2026: Celebrating UF Postdocs
Behind the scenes and too often unsung, UF postdocs drive Gator greatness on many fronts
The University of Florida celebrates its postdocs September 20-24, 2026 in tandem with National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW).
UF is home to 800-plus postdocs (short for postdoctoral associates or fellows) — individuals who have already earned a doctoral degree and are engaging in paid research training and professional development under faculty mentors to build their skill sets, publishing portfolios, and résumés for careers within or outside of academia.
But postdocs’ pursuits are about more than personal growth. They fuel major institutional impacts too, bringing fresh perspectives to the table and contributing to new discoveries and inventions in the higher education ecosystem. Their ingenuity, imagination, and initiative push boundaries and advance breakthroughs that earn UF its rightful reputation as a powerhouse of innovative scholarship and entrepreneurship.
Launched by the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) in 2009, National Postdoc Appreciation Week spotlights postdocs and their contributions to their host institutions through seminars, socials, and networking events held in their honor. To learn more about the lineup of NPAW 2026 activities at UF, the UF Postdoctoral Association (UFPDA), and the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA), click these links:
- NPAW 2026 Activities at UF
- University of Florida Postdoctoral Association (UFPDA)
- National Postdoctoral Association (NPA)
To learn more about postdoc life and opportunities at UF, go online to grad.ufl.edu/postdoc.
