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Faculty Volunteer Request - Chicagoland STEM Postdoc Recruitment Event

*Thank you for your interest! We are not currently seeking additional faculty volunteers for this event at this time. Additional questions may be directed to Beth Healey.*

Overview

On October 14–15, 2021, Northwestern University will co-host an inaugural Chicagoland STEM Postdoc Recruitment Event for Underrepresented and Minoritized Postdocs in partnership with the University of Chicago (UChicago) and University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). The Graduate School’s Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) is organizing this two-day virtual event and is seeking support from graduate faculty volunteers.

As a member of the graduate faculty engaged in the training of STEM disciplines, we invite you to participate in this experience. This event is open to advanced graduate students, early-stage postdoctoral trainees, and other recent graduates. It is an opportunity for Northwestern to recruit the best postdocs for our labs and research groups while improving the “pipeline” challenge in academia by expanding access for underrepresented and minoritized scientists.

For this event, we will be recruiting advanced graduate students and early-career postdocs to participate in two days of programming on October 14-15 designed to introduce them to the postdoctoral programs in the Chicagoland area and the cutting-edge science/research happening across Northwestern. Participants also will learn about how to find postdoctoral opportunities, how to apply for postdoctoral positions, and how to maximize their postdoctoral experiences. Following these two days of programming, participants will are invited to informational interviews with our faculty over the next two weeks.

This event is part of our shared institutional commitments to increase representation across STEM fields at the postdoctoral level. We invite applications from advanced graduate students and early-stage postdoctoral trainees who meet the National Institutes of Health’s definition of underrepresented minorities. We also encourage applications from participants who identify as first-generation low-income (FGLI)/Pell-eligible; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning, intersex, and/or asexual (LGBTQIA+); disabled; or a veteran. Participants may be international or domestic. The OPA, in partnership with the The Graduate School Office of Diversity and Inclusion, is recruiting participants for this event from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs), tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), as well as via other organizations that serve underrepresented and minoritized graduate students.

We are very excited to partner with UChicago and UIC on this regional recruiting event. We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to recruit top talent, contribute to the University’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, and expand opportunities for these promising individuals.

Role of Faculty Volunteers


If you wish to volunteer, your role would be to hold virtual informational interviews with up to three event participants between October 14–31, 2021. Participants and faculty volunteers will be matched based on mutual interests. You do not need to be hiring to participate, but this is a good opportunity to scout new talent for your lab or training grant and contribute to the development of these early-career researchers. Following the event, faculty volunteers also will receive a list of all participants for future recruiting efforts.

Faculty Volunteer Application


Please complete this application by Friday, June 4, 2021 for the opportunity to be a faculty volunteer. The application asks about your research, mentoring philosophy, efforts related to diversity and inclusion, optional demographic info, and past postdoc outcomes, if any. This information also will be used to help promote the event to potential postdocs—faculty involvement is the key draw for participants! 

Event Timeline

Frequently Asked Questions

Which faculty may participate?

Graduate faculty members in Feinberg, McCormick, or a STEM discipline within Weinberg are invited to participate.

Who are the potential postdoctoral trainees?

Postdocs who self-identify as underrepresented minorities (URM) and minoritized postdoctoral trainees, including NIH-defined URM; first generation low-income(FGLI)/Pell-eligible; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning, intersex, and/or asexual (LGBTQIA+); individuals with disabilities; and veterans. Participants may be international or domestic. Participants must be an advanced graduate student (i.e. past candidacy, recent graduate, or early-stage postdoctoral trainee).

What programming is provided for potential postdoctoral trainees during the two day event in October?

Programming will introduce participants to the postdoctoral programs in the Chicagoland area and the cutting-edge science/research happening across the three universities. Participants will also learn about how to find postdoctoral opportunities, how to apply for postdoctoral positions, and how to maximize their postdoctoral experiences.

Where do I apply?

Please complete this application by Friday, June 4, 2021 for the opportunity to be a faculty volunteer.

Who do I contact with questions?

If you have additional questions about the event, the application, or how you can help, please email Beth Healey in the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at beth-healey@northwestern.edu.