Postdoc Appreciation Week 2026
The University of Connecticut Postdoc Working Group, in partnership with The Graduate School, UConn Health (Farmington), and the Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills, is excited to announce National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW26) 2026, taking place from Monday, September 21, through Friday, September 25, on the Storrs campus.
This year’s theme, “Celebrating 150 Years of the U.S. Postdoc Position,” recognizes the important role postdoctoral scholars have played in advancing research, innovation, and higher education. It also reflects the purpose of National Postdoc Appreciation Week, which is dedicated to recognizing and supporting postdoctoral researchers across institutions nationwide.
Throughout the week, postdocs from all UConn campuses are invited to participate in a variety of events focused on professional development, networking, and community building. These events provide opportunities for postdocs to connect with colleagues, learn about available resources, and celebrate their contributions to the UConn community.
This year’s NPAW26 will also feature the Second Annual Postdoc Research Day. Postdocs interested in participating in the Postdoc Research Day should read more HERE and register once the application opens on July 20, 2026. Postdocs, Faculty, staff, graduate students, and all other attendees should use the general RSVP form to register for the week's events. Please see below for more information about the scheduled events and activities.
2026 Postdoc Research Day
The University of Connecticut's Postdoc Working Group, in partnership with The Graduate School, invites you to register and participate in the Second Annual Postdoc Research Day as part of the 2026 National Postdoc Appreciation Week. This one-day research event will be held at the Rome Ball Room, Storrs Campus, on Wednesday September 23, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This event is designed to provide postdoctoral scholars with an opportunity to present their research to a general audience while participating in professional development training that prepares them for the next steps in their careers.
Timeline:
| Monday, July 20, 2026 | Application opens |
| Friday, August 7, 2026 | Application deadline for postdoctoral researchers. |
| Wednesday, August 12, 2026 | Designing Engaging Presentations workshop |
| Mon-Fri, August 17-21, 2026 | Presentation Week for Postdocs |
| Friday, September 4, 2026 | Creating Effective Presentations workshop |
| Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | Final competition |
Postdocs from all UConn campuses, with the exception of UConn Health, are encouraged to register and participate in the 2026 Postdoc Research Day. The competition will feature a maximum of 30 poster presentations. In addition, up to 20 postdocs will be selected to deliver a three-minute presentation about their research to a general audience. All postdocs are welcome to present their research.
Since space is limited, participation will be determined on a first-come, first-served basis upon receipt of a complete application. Selections will also take into consideration equitable representation across UConn's schools, colleges, departments, and institutes.
To help participants prepare for the competition, all selected presenters will be required to attend a mandatory practice session, either in person at the Whetten Graduate Center, Giolas Conference Room, second floor or virtually via Microsoft Teams from Monday August 17 through Friday August 21. During the practice session, judges will provide constructive feedback to help presenters strengthen their presentations before the competition.
Please note that all oral presentations must be no longer than three minutes. Interested postdocs are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as registration opens, as available presentation spots will be filled on a rolling basis.
Applicants who submit their applications after all oral presentation slots have been filled may be placed on a waitlist and will be notified if an oral presentation opportunity becomes available. Selected postdocs will have the opportunity to present their research through a three-minute oral presentation. All interested postdocs are also welcome to participate in the poster presentation session.
On the registration form, please indicate whether you would like to be considered for an oral presentation, a poster presentation only, or both. Postdocs participating only in the poster presentation are encouraged to drop off their posters at The Graduate School front desk by September 22, 2026. Alternatively, posters may be dropped off at the registration desk on the day of the event before the poster session begins.
For postdocs (if you are not presenting), faculty members, staff, graduate students, and members of the UConn community who wish to attend the event to support their colleagues, lab mates, or department's representation, please RSVP for the event using this link.
Leading up to the event, The Graduate School will host two presentation workshops, including Designing Effective Presentations for postdocs. These workshops will also be open to graduate students. Additional information regarding directions, parking, and other event resources will be shared closer to the event date.
If you have questions about the Second Annual Postdoc Research Day, please contact The Graduate School by reaching out to Melanie V. Sinche at melanie.sinche@uconn.edu or Michael Inkoom Nyarko at rdu25001work@uconn.edu.
Connect with The Graduate School at UConn on LinkedIn, Instagram, X (formally Twitter) and Facebook for more event updates.
Three-Minute Thesis (3MT®) and Graduate Student Showcase : Fall 2026
The Graduate School at UConn invites you to apply for and participate in the second annual Three-Minute Thesis (3MT®) and Graduate Student Showcase. This event celebrates the impact, creativity, and purpose behind graduate students’ work through brief, engaging presentations designed for a general audience. The showcase will take place on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Konover Auditorium in The Dodd Center for Human Rights and is open to degree-seeking graduate students from all UConn campuses.
The goal of the event is to provide eligible graduate students with an opportunity to gain experience communicating the significance of their work to a non-specialist audience in three minutes or less. Prior to the event, participants will have the opportunity to attend two presentation workshops, as outlined in the table below.
Timeline:
| Monday, July 20, 2026 | Application opens |
| Friday, August 7, 2026 | Application deadline for graduate students |
| Wednesday, August 12, 2026 | Designing Engaging Presentations workshop |
| Friday, August 21, 2026 | Decisions made, graduate students notified |
| Friday, September 4, 2026 | Creating Effective Presentations workshop |
| September 7-18, 2026 | Preliminary round |
| Wednesday, October 7, 2026 | Final competition |
Eligibility Criteria:
- Category 1: All Master's degrees; Professional and clinical doctoral degrees
- Category 2: Arts, Humanities, and Social Science doctoral degrees (PhD candidates only)
- Category 3: STEM doctoral degrees (PhD candidates only)
Please note:
Students must be enrolled in a degree-seeking graduate program during the Fall 2026 semester to participate in the competition. While students from both thesis-based and non-thesis-based programs are eligible to compete and win at the UConn level, only students enrolled in thesis-based programs are eligible to advance to the national and international Three-Minute Thesis (3MT®) competitions. We encourage all eligible graduate students, regardless of program type, to apply and participate in the UConn 3MT® and Graduate Student Showcase competition. The Graduate School will also host a poster competition during the Spring 2027 semester. While the poster competition is open to all graduate students, those who may not be eligible to participate in the Fall 2026 3MT® and Graduate Student Showcase competition are especially encouraged to apply. Additional details about the Spring 2027 poster competition will be shared as they become available.
To participate in Categories 2 or 3 above:
- The applicant must be a doctoral student enrolled in a program with a dissertation requirement.
- The applicant must be an active student when they apply and compete. Applicants who complete their degree during the prior semester cannot compete.
- The applicant must have documented successful completion of the General Examination by submitting the Report on the General Exam to the Office of the Registrar Degree Audit Team no later than Sept 30, 2026.
- The applicant must have documented successful completion and submission of the dissertation proposal by submitting the Dissertation Proposal Form to the Office of the Registrar Degree Audit Team no later than Sept 30, 2026.
- The Dissertation Proposal Form may be submitted to Degree Audit without approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB)/Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The milestone will be posted as "in progress" and will meet the eligibility requirements for this application. IRB/IACUC approval must be submitted to Degree Audit once received to ensure that the milestone is updated to "complete" on the student record.
Prizes:
Ten (10) finalists in each of the categories listed above will be selected to compete on Wednesday, Oct 7, 2026. Cash prizes, in the form of scholarship funds, will be awarded to the winners of each category, as well as to the overall winner. The institution's representative for the national and international 3MT competitions will also be determined based on the eligibility criteria outlined above (check please note).
Application Process:
Once applications go live on Monday, July 20, submit your application for the competition, ensuring that you answer all questions fully and to the best of your ability, using language that a general audience can understand. If selected to participate in the preliminary round, you must present your three-minute talk to a panel of judges between September 7 and September 18. This presentation may be conducted virtually or in person. From those who participate in the preliminary round, ten finalists from each category will be selected to compete in the final competition.
Judging Criteria: To select applicants to advance on to the preliminary round in September, readers will use the following criteria:
- Clarity and accessibility of the description of your work
- Problem, question, or challenge addressed
- Connection between your degree program and your future goals
- Broader impact of your work
Rules for the 3-minute presentation:
- A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or 'movement' of any description, the slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration).
- No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
- No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
- Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
- Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps, or songs).
- Presentations are to commence from the stage.
- Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through movement or speech.
- The competition is judged by a panel of professionals with wide ranging academic and non-academic expertise.
- The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.
