UVA Celebrates National Postdoc Appreciation Week
The UVA Brain Institute is pleased to celebrate neuroscience postdoctoral scholars across the University as part of National Postdoc Appreciation Week (September 21–25). The Brain Institute is committed to the career development of trainees through recognition, programming, and funding opportunities.
Three BRAIN Postdoctoral Fellows Earn Prestigious NIH Funding
William (Tre) Mills was recently awarded a K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award—a highly competitive NIH mechanism that supports the transition from postdoctoral training to an independent research career—from the National Institute on Aging (NIA). Elizabeth Wenzel and Brianna Gifford were each awarded F32 Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Awards from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), respectively.
All three awardees were recipients of the UVA BRAIN Postdoctoral Fellowship, a GCRI-BN-funded program that provided two years of salary supplement, research funding, and structured professional development. Congratulations to Tre, Elizabeth, and Brianna!
Postdocs Gain Career Insights at Industry Workshop
The Brain Institute co-sponsored the SciPhD Business of Science Workshop with Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and the UVA and VCU Comprehensive Cancer Centers, as part of our career development offerings. Hosted by VCU, the full-day program introduced the industry environment, highlighted key differences between academia and industry, and helped attendees strengthen their application competitiveness through insights ranging from the business of science to people and project management.
Growing Investment in Postdoc Professional Development
Since its launch in 2025, the Brain Institute Professional Development Award for postdoctoral scholars and medical fellows has provided nearly $50,000 to support 22 postdocs’ career and professional development. These career-advancing opportunities include conference attendance, training programs, and certifications.
