Annual reports are a good way to showcase postdocs and postdoc office (PDO) efforts in providing a supportive training environment. In this webinar, we will share information on the value, design, content ideas and efforts in creating such reports. We will also discuss the limitations and how one-person offices, or units can create and consolidate information to share with your audience.

Speakers: Pallavi Eswara, M.S., director of postdoctoral affairs, Boston University

Eswara is the director of postdoctoral affairs at Boston University where she creates and implements professional development programs and community building programs for postdocs. Additionally, she is also responsible for policy and administrative aspects of postdoc training at Boston University. She was the founding staff member and created the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs in 2007 at the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, serving in various roles including as the director from 2016 to 2021. She worked to extensively revise the postdoc policy to include more equity and transparency. Eswara also worked in graduate level educational equity programs at Penn State (2011-14) and graduate operations at Northeastern University briefly prior to joining BU. She has facilitated workshops for faculty on mentoring, diversity statements, postdoc policy and worked with postdocs, faculty, and postdoc alumni in creating relevant professional development and learning opportunities. She has served as a member of various committees in the NPA and Graduate Career Consortium (GCC). She was NPA’s Resource Development chair from 2009-11, and GCC executive committee member from 2019-21, in addition to participation in various committees and task forces.

Erin Heckler, Ph.D., associate provost for postdoctoral affairs, Yale University

Heckler is the associate provost for postdoctoral affairs at Yale University. She received her doctorate from the University of Delaware and completed postdoc training at Rutgers University – New Jersey Medical School. She was previously the postdoctoral affairs administrator at the University of Chicago in the Biological Sciences Division and director of the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at Washington University in St. Louis. She is a past co-chair of the NPA Resource Development Committee and previously served on the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) Graduate Research Education and Training (GREAT) Group Postdoctorate Leaders Section Steering Committee. She is a member of the AAMC GREAT working groups on the Appropriate Treatment of Research Trainees and a member of the NPA Board of Directors.