Arizona Postoctoral Research Conference 2026
The University of Arizona welcomed postdoctoral scholars, research scientists, faculty, students, and academic supporters from across the state for the 2026 Arizona Postdoctoral Research Conference (APRC), held September 25 at the Grand Challenges Research Building under the theme “Desert Network: Connecting Arizona Postdocs and Cultivating Careers.” Co-sponsored by the University of Arizona and Arizona State University and organized by the U of A Postdoctoral Association and ASU Postdoc Council, this annual conference brought together researchers from institutions across Arizona to showcase innovative scholarship, build professional connections, and strengthen the statewide postdoctoral community.
The conference began with an opportunity for participants to network over coffee and pastries. The formal program began with a series of workshops geared to assist postdoctoral scholars with career development. The workshops were facilitated by Lisa Elfring, Vice Provost for Assessment, Teaching, and Technology, who presented “Finding Your Way from Postdoc to Professor,” and provided insights to help postdoctoral scholars integrate teaching in their career development. Rachel Small and Alice Solomon of Research Development Services led a session on the process of locating available grants, assessing their fit with the interests of the funder, and developing a grant proposal.
This year’s keynote speaker was Dr. Jennifer Barton, Professor and Thomas R. Brown Distinguished Chair of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Arizona. In her keynote address, Dr. Barton reflected on her own research and academic journey, sharing experiences that shaped her career as a researcher and academic leader. Drawing on those experiences, she offered advice to postdoctoral scholars as they navigate their own career paths, encouraging them to embrace opportunities, learn from challenges, and thoughtfully consider the directions their careers might take.
Following the morning sessions and lunch, postdoctoral scholars took center stage to share their research with colleagues from across disciplines. Two blocks of individual presentations and a dedicated poster session created opportunities for researchers to communicate their work to a broad audience, exchange ideas, and discover connections across fields. New to APRC this year was the chalk talk format: a short, slide-free presentation designed especially for first-year postdocs who are in the early stages of a project and may not yet have results to present. Alongside traditional oral talks and posters, this new format expanded opportunities for postdocs at different stages of their research to participate in the conference.
Through research presentations, professional development, and opportunities for networking, the 2026 APRC highlighted both the breadth of research conducted by Arizona’s postdoctoral scholars and the value of building connections across disciplines and institutions. Reflecting this year’s theme, “Desert Network,” the conference demonstrated how a strong statewide postdoctoral network can support researchers not only in sharing their discoveries but also in cultivating their careers and building a collaborative scholarly community.
Next year, Arizona State University will host the 2027 Arizona Postdoctoral Research Conference.
