The University of New Mexico brought together postdoctoral scholars, faculty, students and research professionals from across the state for the fourth annual New Mexico Postdoctoral Research Symposium, held recently at the Student Union Building.
The symposium featured participants from UNM, New Mexico State University, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories and other institutions, highlighting the breadth of research taking place across New Mexico. The event provided a platform for postdoctoral scholars to present their work, connect with peers and explore collaborative opportunities.
“Postdocs are critically important scholars who perform research, teach and mentor all across the state of New Mexico,” said Raquela Thomas, director of the UNM Office of Postdoctoral Affairs. “This symposium is about sharing ideas across a wide variety of disciplines while fostering a collaborative and productive environment for our postdoctoral scholars.”
The daylong event included short research presentations, poster sessions, a keynote address and a professional development workshop focused on salary negotiation. A resource fair and networking opportunities were also offered throughout the day.
The keynote address was delivered by Jim Gould, Ph.D., director of postdoctoral affairs and program director for responsible conduct of research at Harvard Medical School and author of Making the Most of the Postdoc. His talk, “From Self-work to Network: A Postdoc Adventure,” focused on career development, encouraging postdoctoral scholars to reflect on their goals, navigate professional challenges and build meaningful networks to support their next steps.
Gould has led research, career and professional development programs for early-career scientists since 2011 and has shared his expertise nationally and internationally through publications, speaking engagements and his podcast, Propelling Careers.
Organizers noted growing interest in the event, with the number of research abstracts submitted nearly doubling since the symposium’s launch in 2022. This year, approximately 50 postdoctoral scholars attended, most of whom presented their research.
Research topics reflected the wide-ranging impact of postdoctoral work across the state, including studies on educational models, hantavirus, alternative energy, immigration and other pressing issues. In addition to advancing their respective fields, postdoctoral scholars contribute as educators, mentors, policy advisors, project managers and community leaders.
During the poster sessions, researchers shared projects spanning diverse disciplines.
Lana Bolin, an evolutionary ecologist, presented research examining how plant traits influence stability in changing climates.
“My work looks at what can predict whether a species remains stable over time or experiences dramatic population changes,” Bolin said. “We found that plant traits and climate sensitivity play a major role in how species respond to environmental variability.”
Tyler Hipple, a researcher at the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center, highlighted a personalized medicine approach to ovarian cancer treatment.
“We’re developing a room temperature-stable immunotherapy that can be stored and used when needed,” Hipple said. “The goal is to create a more accessible and effective treatment option for ovarian cancer.”
For more information on the UNM Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, visit postdoc.unm.edu.
