UW-Madison Postdoctoral Association
A community by and for postdocs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

2026 Postdoctoral Research Symposium

11th Annual UW-Madison Postdoctoral Research Symposium

Friday, September 25, 2026. HF DeLuca Forum, Discovery Building.

Organized in honor of 2026 National Postdoc Appreciation Week, the symposium offers opportunities for community building among postdocs, robust professional development activities, and recognition of the critical role postdocs perform in UW–Madison research. Registration is free and open to all. Questions? Contact the Postdoc Symposium Committee (uwpa@postdoc.wisc.edu).

Register for the Symposium (closes September 17)

Symposium Schedule

8.30 AM Registration & Check-in opens
9.00 AM Welcome & Opening Remarks
9.15 AM Panel Discussion: AI for Postdocs
10.45 AM Break  &  Resource Fair
11.00 AM Poster Session I  &  Resource Fair
12.00 PM Lunch
1.00 PM Research Communication Workshop
2.30 PM Break
2.45 PM Blitz Talk Competition
4.15 PM Poster Session II  &  Reception
5.15 PM Awards announced
5.30 PM Symposium ends

9:15 AM Panel Discussion: AI for Postdocs

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping how postdocs conduct research, develop their careers, and navigate an evolving professional landscape. This interactive panel will bring together experts from across UW and industry to examine practical and responsible uses of AI throughout the postdoctoral experience.

Through flash talks and moderated discussion, panelists will address:

  • Ethical considerations
  • AI-supported research tools and campus resources
  • Applications for career exploration and job materials
  • Perspectives on how AI is being used in industry

Attendees will learn about available tools, strengthening professional development, and improving research workflows while also considering issues such as transparency, bias, privacy, and appropriate human oversight.

The session will conclude with audience discussion focused on how postdocs are currently using AI, emerging needs, and strategies for integrating these technologies thoughtfully and effectively into research and career development.

1:00 PM Workshop: Better Research Communication Through Improv 

This 90-minute workshop is designed for postdocs to grow their messaging, listening, empathy and overall communication skills. In research, and really any field, ideas often need to be shared in real time with diverse audiences- from colleagues and collaborators to employers, decision-makers and the public. This session provides a lively, low-stakes supportive space to build confidence in handling the unexpected. Through applied improv and playful practice, participants will experiment with spontaneous speaking, responding to mistakes, and refining how they connect with others.

Goals of the workshop:

  • Increase comfort with spontaneous communication in various professional settings
  • Build resilience and adaptability by practicing how to recover and pivot when the unexpected happens
  • Develop various versions of research overviews to adapt on different real-world scenarios
  • Foster new connections and networking opportunities

This workshop will be led by Dr. Ben Rush, PhD, MPH (Amalgam Improv).

Thank You To Our Sponsors

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Morgridge Institute for Research

Morgridge Institute for Research

The Morgridge Institute for Research is a biomedical research institute working toward a fundamental understanding of biology to drive the next advances in human health.

The mission of the institute is to improve human health through innovative, interdisciplinary biomedical discoveries, spark scientific curiosity and serve society through translational outcomes, in partnership with the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

WARF

Shepherding the cycle of research, discovery, commercialization and investment at UW-Madison. The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) was created by University of Wisconsin visionaries to enable the university’s research to solve the world’s problems. As the designated patenting and licensing organization, they’ve helped advance transformative discoveries to market for the past century.

Office of Postdoctoral Affairs

The UW–Madison Office of Postdoctoral Affairs strives to enhance the postdoctoral experience by:

  • Providing postdocs with access to robust professional development training.
  • Assisting faculty in the recruitment, mentoring and professional development of postdocs.
  • Advocating for postdocs and optimizing the postdoctoral training experience.
  • Educating the campus community on issues related to postdoctoral training.
  • Collaborating with local offices and national organizations to address the unique needs of all parties involved in the postdoctoral training enterprise.

2026 Postdoc Symposium Committee

  • Mathew Bloomfield (Co-chair), Cell & Regenerative Biology, SMPH
  • Enze Chen (Co-chair), Mechanical Engineering, CoE
  • Cade Bourque, Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics, CoE
  • Jie Cai, Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, SMPH
  • Siddharth Dey, Geoscience, L&S
  • Yasara Dharmadasa, Mechanical Engineering, CoE
  • Diana Esparza, Food & Nutritional Sciences, CALS
  • Connor Henley, Computer Sciences, CAI
  • Malachi Henry, Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, SMPH
  • Yiran Hou, Medical Microbiology and Immunology, SMPH
  • Kyle Fouke, Geoscience, L&S
  • Alexander Kwakye, Genetics, CALS
  • Cemre Orhan, Medicine, SMPH
  • Mandar Ravindra Bhutkar, Biochemistry, CALS
  • Sam Salemink-Harry, Civil and Environmental Engineering, CoE
  • Yojet Sharma, Waisman Center, OVCR
  • Brittanni N. Wright, Population Health Sciences, SMPH
  • Imogen Hurley (Committee Advisor), Office of Postdoctoral Affairs
  • Wesley D. Marner II (Production Advisor), Morgridge Institute for Research