Karena Nguyen, Ph.D.
Assistant Director of Postdoctoral Services
Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Education | Georgia Institute of Technology
Leadership and Service
Graduate students and postdoctoral scholars ("postdocs") are a diversifying workforce, and there are a growing number of professionals in graduate and postdoctoral offices who are dedicated to serving these populations. I am a part of the following organizations that work to advance graduate and postdoctoral training and support.
The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) was founded in 2003 in recognition that postdocs needed advocacy at the national level. Largely a volunteer-based organization, its members work collaboratively to support and improve the postdoc experience, share programming and other materials, and connect postdocs across the globe.
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I currently serve as Chair Emeritus of the Resource Development Committee, where we curate career resources for postdocs and support postdoctoral offices.
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Resources I have helped develop include: a searchable archive of previous webinars, a contact list for postdoc offices and postdoc associations, and others.
SPHERE (Social Sciences, Physical and Natural Sciences, Humanities, and Engineering Resources and Education) is a community of practice dedicated to the experiences and needs of postdocs in non-biomedical disciplines.
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I am Chair of the Engineering Group, where we have collected a list of fellowships for postdocs in engineering disciplines. We are seeking new members to help develop an individual development plan for graduate students and postdocs in engineering.
The Graduate Career Consortium (GCC) is a volunteer-based organization that works to advance graduate and postdoctoral career and professional development. It is comprised of professionals from graduate and postdoctoral offices across the country.