Postdocs

Industry Insights

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The Graduate School, together with the Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills, invites you to attend Industry Insights, a series of virtual events designed to introduce graduate students and postdocs to a variety of industries. Each series will be held online and will feature working professionals from different industries. The discussions will be based on the skills required to enter and succeed in these industries.

The first series of the program, taking place in the spring of 2026, will focus on the biotech and pharmaceutical industries.

The online events will take place:

  • Friday, January 30, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (NOTE: Date change)
  • Monday, February 23, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
  • Monday, March 30, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
  • Monday, April 27, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

To register for any of the events, please visit this link. Once registered, you will receive the link to attend virtually.

First Session: Friday, January 30, 2026, 12:00 – 1:00 PM (NOTE: Date Change)

Speakers include:

Manisha Sinha, Founder of Clarity Bio

Manisha Sinha, Ph.D., is a strategic R&D leader, a well-published translational biologist, founder of Clarity Bio, and an adjunct faculty member with a proven track record of advancing programs from target validation to clinical candidates. With 12+ years of experience at Biogen and high-growth biotechs, she leads multi-disciplinary teams to advance complex therapies while mentoring the next generation of scientists to lead with data-driven rigor and operational excellence in the life sciences industry.

Cassandra Tierney, Senior Principal Scientist and Lab Head, Pfizer

Cassandra Tierney, PhD is a Senior Principal Scientist and Lab Head at Pfizer, where she leads a CLIA‑regulated genomics laboratory dedicated to advancing biomarker strategies and delivering pharmacogenomics insights that inform drug exposure in clinical trials. With deep expertise in qPCR, NGS, digital PCR, and the development of laboratory‑developed tests, Cassandra combines scientific rigor with a passion for mentorship. She actively supports early‑career scientists through her role as a mentor in Pfizer’s R&D rotational program and continues to teach as an adjunct instructor in human biology. Cassandra earned her PhD in Molecular & Cell Biology (Genetics) from the University of Connecticut.

To register: Visit this link.

 

Creating Effective Presentations: 11/13

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Leading up to Postdoc Research Day on December 11, 2025 (Student Union Theatre), University of Connecticut’s Postdoc Working Group, in collaboration with The Graduate School, invites all postdocs and graduate students to attend a workshop on Creating Effective Presentations, taught by Dr. Faye Assanah, Assistant Professor in Residence, UConn College of Engineering.  

This workshop will take place in Homer Babbidge Library, Room 2118C, Storrs Campus, on Thursday, November 13, 2025, from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM. 

What You’ll Learn: 

  • How to translate your research for a general audience 
  • Tips for oral presentations
  • Opportunities for graduate students to connect with current postdocs in related fields 

Who Should Attend: Postdocs, graduate students, and anyone interested in improving their presentation skills. Bring a friend or colleague when attending! 

Register Now

You can read more about Postdoc Research Day here, and if you plan to attend the December 11 program, please sign up here as an attendee. For any questions related to Postdoc Research Day or this event, please contact: Melanie V. Sinche, Director of Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Success, at Melanie.sinche@uconn.edu or Michael I. Nyarko, Graduate Assistant, at rdu25001work@uconn.edu 

Postdoc Research Day: 12/11/2025

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The University of Connecticut’s Postdoc Working Group, in partnership with The Graduate School, invites you to attend Postdoc Research Day. This one-day research event will be held in the Student Union Theater, Storrs Campus on Thursday, December 11, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 5:30 PM.

Goals for the Program:

  • Provide an opportunity for postdocs to present their research to a general audience.
  • Offer professional development training to prepare postdocs for the next steps in their careers.

As part of the event, 18 postdoctoral scholars presented their research in 3-minute talks designed for a general audience, and 8 additional postdocs presented posters.

The following postdocs received awards for their 3-minute talks:

  • First Place ($2,000 in research funding): Cao Thuy Giang Nguyen, Biomedical Engineering, “Innovative Material Platforms for Precision Therapeutics in Brain Tumors and Neurological Disorders”
  • Second Place ($500 in research funding): Shadi Izadidehkordi, Allied Health, “Preventing HIV among People Who Use Drugs in a Methadone Clinic”
  • People’s Choice Award ($500 in research funding): Hoang Quan Truong, Biomedical Engineering, “Novel Lipid-Based Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications”

Three postdoc winners

(Left to right: Shadi Izadidehkordi, Cao Thuy Giang Nguyen, Hoang Quan Truong)

The complete program, including the agenda, presentation titles, participating departments, and presenter information, is available in the event booklet. The booklet is available for viewing and download below.

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The general university community is invited to sign up for Postdoc Research Day. We encourage faculty, staff, and students to REGISTER HERE and attend in support of their postdocs.

Employers interested in connecting, exploring collaborations, and discovering talented postdoctoral researchers across diverse disciplines are encouraged to REGISTER HERE. 

Leading up to this event, The Graduate School is organizing a workshop titled “Creating Effective Presentations” for all postdocs and graduate students on November 13. This in-person session will be held from 4:30-6pm in 2118C Homer Babbidge Library and will be led by Dr. Faye Assanah. Click here for more details.

Additional details regarding directions and other resources will be shared with registrants soon. For questions about Postdoc Research Day, please contact: