The 5th Annual Arizona Postdoctoral Research Conference (APRC)
Back row from left to right: Holly Andrews, Miriam Keppler, Amanda Zidmal, Angela Greenman, Nicole Jimenez, Robert Jackson, Laura Amaral, Marlene Medel, Kassu Beyene, Brian Scott, and Levin Welch
Front row from left to right: Rebekah Mokry, Daniel Nuyujukian, Sara Lewis, Leonard Mukosi (kneeling), Eyitayo Owolabi, Jessica Judd, Naomi Lee (Keynote Speaker), Amber Coleman, Rebecca Kariuki, Marjan Aghajani, and Consuelo Grant
The 5th annual Arizona Postdoctoral Research Conference (APRC), co-sponsored by University of Arizona (UArizona) and Arizona State University (ASU), was held in Phoenix on September 22 during National Postdoctoral Appreciation Week. Postdocs from ASU, UArizona, and the Veterans Administration presented their research findings on topics ranging from land use in southern Africa, school discipline practices, greenhouse gas production, black holes, joint stiffness, pipe metal corrosion, and much more. The two keynote speakers – Dr. Melissa Herbst-Kralovetz and Dr. Naomi Ruth Lee – addressed the conference theme, Decolonizing Research: Challenging Assumptions and Fostering Inclusivity, by telling their own inspiring stories of finding their career paths.
The APRC is a completely postdoc-run conference that makes it possible for postdocs to gain experience with speaking to a diverse audience, gives them a state-wide peer-reviewed presentation to add to their CV, offers opportunities to network with fellow postdocs with intersecting research interests, and ultimately creates community among postdocs across the state of Arizona. We extend a special thanks to this year’s organizing committee of postdocs from ASU (Leonard Mukosi, Committee Chair, Kassum Mehari Beyene, Amber Coleman, and Eyitayo Owolabi) and UArizona (Angela Greenman, Rob Jackson, Nicole Jimenez, Miriam Keppler, and Daniel Nuyujukian)