Comprehensive professional development

While the postdoctoral experience is first and foremost a research program, we also provide multiple and varied opportunities for our Postdoctoral Fellows to develop the communication skills essential to their future as research scientists. Numerous informal journal clubs and seminar series allow Postdoctoral Fellows to polish their presentation skills while keeping up with the latest research results. Our departmental Research Retreat is a splendid annual forum for oral and poster presentations. Faculty mentors provide financial support for Postdoctoral Fellows to attend national meetings to present their research results.

Meeting and working with world-class professionals strengthens the postdoctoral experience immeasurably. A number of specialty seminar series and the annual Life Sciences Week Symposium, the Plant Biochemistry/Physiology Symposium, and the Stadler Genetics Symposium bring internationally recognized scientists to campus. We include special opportunities for our postdoctoral fellows to meet informally with all these speakers to discuss research interests and exchange ideas.

Fall Picnic The MU Postdoctoral Association, organized and operated by MU postdoctoral fellows, addresses the needs and concerns of postdoctoral fellows across campus as it improves the quality of the postdoctoral experience, serves as advocate and liaison for postdoctoral scholars to the university and organizations within the university, fosters a sense of community among postdoctoral scholars, and provides resources for professional development of postdoctoral scholars.

The MU campus, through the MU Office of Postdoctoral Education, has developed an Orientation Guide for new Postdocs, and the Division of Biological Sciences has adopted Policies for the Postdoctoral Fellows Program in the Division (in Word). MU is also a member organization of the National Postdoctoral Association gaining access for all our postdoctoral fellows to the NPA site and resources.