National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW) September 14-18, 2026
National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW) is an annual celebration that recognizes the significant research contributions postdoctoral scholars make to U.S. research and discovery. This year marks a historic milestone: celebrating 150 years of postdoc excellence in America since the first postdoctoral fellowships were established in 1876.
While institutions across the globe will be participating, UC Berkeley is proud to start the celebration early! The VSPA is honored to recognize our campus postdocs for their research brilliance, dedication, and impact during our local landmark NPAW week, September 14–18, 2026. Join us as we honor both our current innovators and the century-and-a-half legacy of breakthrough discovery that paved the way.
Visit the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) NPAW website to learn more about their events the week of September 21 - 25, 2026. Postdocs who have not yet registered for their free membership, courtesy of VSPA, are encouraged to sign up today!
NPAW 2026 events include:
Article from last year's PostdocFest: https://vspa.berkeley.edu/news/food-music-and-celebration-postdocfest-wr...
#Shoutoutyourpostdoc Social Media Campaign: AttentionFaculty Supervisors of Postdocs, during the week of NPAW, be sure to participate in our #ShoutOutYourPostdoc campaign on your social media platforms as another way to recognize your postdoc on this special occasion. For more information on this campaign, please click here.
Stay tuned for the week's events in your newsletter!
Monday, 9/21,
Tuesday, 9/22,
Wednesday, 9/23
Thursday, 9/24
Friday, 9/25,
Past NPAW celebrations include:
2025
Sunday, 9/14, 2 pm FREE!: Cal Men's Soccer Game versus Duke University at the Edwards Stadium on campus; no tickets necessary! Just show up.
Tuesday, 9/16, 12 pm - 1:30 pm (PT): Panel moderated by BPA "Careers After Your Cal Postdoc: Berkeley Postdoc Alumni Career Panel" (virtual; hear from alumni across fields)
Thursday, 9/18, 12 -2 PM (PT): Workshop: "From Academia into Industry: Successful Communication for Scholars and Researchers in Business" (virtual)
Friday, 9/19, 4 pm-7 pm: PostdocFest: Faculty Mentor Award and Postdoc Achievement Award Presentation and Dinner (in-person)
Friday, 9/19, 4 pm - 7 pm: PostdocFest Professional Headshots
Saturday, 9/20, 4 PM FREE!: Cal Women's Soccer Game versus Santa Clara University at the Edwards Stadium on campus; no tickets necessary!
Click here to check out our article on the PostdocFest and photos!
2024
Saturday, 9/14 - Cal Football Game: San Diego State vs UC Berkeley
Monday, 9/16 - Postdocs, We Love You a Latte (coffee social) and a Professional Photography Session
Wednesday, 9/18 - PostdocFest (dinner & awards presentation) and a Professional Photography Session
Thursday, 9/19 - Careers After Your Cal Postdoc: UC Berkeley Postdoc Alumni Career Panel
Friday, 9/20 - Special Guest Speaker Leadership Session
Saturday, 9/21 - Cal Women's Volleyball Game: UC Los Angeles vs UC Berkeley
Click here to check out our article on the PostdocFest and photos!
2023
September 18th - Postdocs, We Love you a Latte (faculty supervisors welcome!) and a Professional Photography Session
September 19th - Careers After Your Cal Postdoc: Berkeley Postdoc Alumni Career Panel Co-sponsored with the Berkeley Postdoctoral Association (BPA)
September 20th - PostdocFest and a Professional Photography Session
September 21st - Cal Night with the Oakland A’s (special registration for UCB postdocs)
Click here to check out photos from 2023's in-person events!
2022
September 8th - Cal Night with the Oakland A’s
September 19th - Postdocs, We Love you a Latte and Professional Photography Session
September 20th - Careers After Your Cal Postdoc: Berkeley Postdoc Alumni Career Panel (Virtual Event)
September 21st - PostdocFest and Professional Photography Session
Click here to check out photos from 2022's in-person events!
2021
September 20 - Postdocs, We Love you a Latte and Professional Photography Session
September 21 - Virtual Professional Development Workshop "Thriving Through Imposter Syndrome"
September 22 - PostdocFest and Professional Photography Session
September 23 - Careers After Your Cal Postdoc: Berkeley Postdoc Alumni Career Panel, co-sponsored by the Berkeley Postdoc Association (BPA)
September 24 - Professional Photography Session
2020
September 21-25, 2020 - NPAW Postdoc Surprise Pack
September 22, 2020 - Tahitian Dance Lesson and Get Creative! Paint Party
September 23, 2020 - Careers After Your Cal Postdoc: Berkeley Postdoc Alumni Career Panel
September 24, 2020 - Tahitian Dance Lesson and Live Band Concert
September 25, 2020 - Guided Beer Tasting Event
2019
September 16, 2019 - Postdocs, We Love you a Latte
September 17, 2019 - Let's Chill: Postdoc Ice Cream Social
September 18, 2019 - PostdocFest, co-sponsored by the Berkeley Postdoctoral Association
September 19, 2019 - NPAW Seminar: "How to Make Stress your Friend" presented by Dr. Kelly McGonigal
September 19, 2019 - Say Cheese: Professional Photography Session, co-sponsored by the Berkeley Postdoctoral Association
NPAW 2025 PostdocFest: VSPA Team: Seated left to right: Iana Peralta, Sherry Chen, Daniel Lee, Kylee Wiens. Back row: Vannessa Olague, Oski the Bear, Mandy Guan. Photo Credit: Brittany Hosea-Small
NPAW 2024 PostdocFest: VSPA Team: Vannessa Olague De La Cruz, Mandy Guan, Jester DiCicco, Canon Stringer, Ryan Chang. Photo Credit: Brittany Hosea-Small
NPAW 2023 Postdocs, we love you a latte: VSPA Team: Lea Huynh, Simmer Kaur, Oski the Bear, Vy Ho, Bella Sanford. Photo Credit: Brittany Hosea-Small
