Get Connected

Get Connected with one of VSPA's Sponsored Groups

One of the best ways to enrich your experience at UC Berkeley is to get involved in a VSPA-sponsored association or program. Whether you’re a postdoc, visiting scholar, or visiting student researcher, these groups offer opportunities to connect with peers, build professional and social networks, and strengthen your sense of community on campus.

Sign up today to get involved, share your ideas, and help shape the vibrant academic and cultural life of Berkeley’s visiting scholar and postdoctoral community.

2019-2020 Berkeley Postdoctoral Association Board at Sproul Steps

19-20 BPA Board on Sproul Steps

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Berkeley Postdoc Association (BPA)

The BPA is a volunteer organization run by postdocs to support and advocate for UC Berkeley’s postdoc and visiting scholar community. Through workshops, social events, and seminars, the BPA helps you build connections, grow professionally, and be part of a vibrant community of scholars across disciplines.

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Berkeley Postdoctoral Entrepreneurship Program (BPEP)

BPEP empowers UC Berkeley graduate students, postdocs and visiting scholars to explore entrepreneurship. Through hands-on instruction, mentorship, and a supportive platform, BPEP helps you refine your ideas, showcase your research, and turn innovative concepts into real-world impact.

Visit BPEP →

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Postdoc Industry Exploration Program (PIEP)

PIEP helps postdocs and graduate students make informed decisions about their careers by arranging visits to private companies, teaching scholars and students how to market themselves and offering information about different career opportunities. 

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Humanities & Social Sciences Association (HSSA)

HSSA fosters a community for postdocs, visiting scholars, and visiting student researchers in the humanities, arts, and social sciences, offering career development workshops, research opportunities, and social events to support integration into campus life.

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Postdoc Teaching Opportunities Program (PTOP)

PTOP provides UC Berkeley postdocs with valuable information about college-level teaching experience. The program also offers teaching resources, skill-building opportunities, and helpful information through webinars, panels, and information sessions to prepare postdocs for tenure-track and faculty positions.

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Berkeley Spouses, Partners & Parents Association

BSPPA is a support network for spouses and partners of postdoctoral scholars, visiting scholars, and visiting student researchers, offering informational sessions, social events such as happy hours, pizza picnics, and family gatherings to foster a sense of community.