Purdue Opportunities
Supplemental Travel Award
Purdue Postdoctoral Affairs is proud to offer Postdoctoral Scholars a competitive travel award that supports professional development through research presentations and invited talks. The award is offered four times per year, with each cycle covering travel within a designated three-month period.
Currently, we have $36,000 to award each year with individual awards averaging $500. Awards are merit-based and postdocs can apply each cycle. Applicants with the greatest professional investment in event attendance are prioritized. Funds are distributed to the postdoc’s Concur account to reimburse travel expenses. To access the application during an open-portal period, click here. For more information, please download our Postdoc Travel Award Application Guide.
| Award | Travel Months | Portal Opens | Portal Closes | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | October to December | September 1 | September 15 | October 1 |
| Winter | January to March | December 1 | December 15 | January 1 |
| Spring | April to June | March 1 | March 15 | April 1 |
| Summer | July to September | June 1 | June 15 | July 1 |
Excellence in Postdoctoral Mentoring Award
Purdue University is proud to announce the inaugural Excellence in Postdoctoral Mentoring Award, established by the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Scholars to formally acknowledge the essential role postdoctoral trainees play in advancing our research, teaching, and engagement missions.
*NEW for 2026* Postdocs must be nominated through their college or institute. This is a two-phase process, where each college or institute selects one finalist to be considered for the institutional award. Each finalist will be recognized by OGSPS as the top mentor for their respective college. From among finalists, OGSPS will then select one institutional winner who will be distinguished with a $1,500 check and invited to the OGSPS Awards Reception on April 23rd, 2026.
The call for nominations will be sent to college deans in November, and selections will be made in March. If you are interested in applying, (1) review the linked Eligibility and Nomination Process Guide and (2) reach out to your college’s Associate Dean to learn college-level deadlines and application protocols. For additional information regarding the award criteria or nomination process, please contact Postdoctoral Affairs at postdoc-affairs@purdue.edu.
InnovatED Research Magazine
InnovatED Magazine celebrates the innovative research and real-world impact of Purdue’s graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. Each year, we feature ten exceptional scholars whose work reflects the Boilermaker spirit — bold, driven, and committed to taking the next giant leap. From groundbreaking discoveries to community-centered solutions, InnovatED showcases the research shaping the future of every discipline.
Are you a graduate student or postdoc with a story to tell? Submit your work and join a growing community of scholars dedicated to effective science communication. Authors selected will receive an award of $500 per accepted manuscript.
Purdue holds this competition fall semester. Learn more here!
Three Minute Thesis (3MT)
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition, developed by The University of Queensland, challenges graduate students and postdoctoral scholars to clearly and compellingly explain their research to a non-specialist audience—in just three minutes with one slide.
This fast-paced event builds presentation and research communication skills while encouraging participants to distill years of work into a concise, engaging format. It’s not about “dumbing down” research—it’s about making complex ideas accessible and impactful.
Top finalists compete for cash prizes, including Winner ($5,000), Runner-Up ($3,000), and People’s Choice Award ($2,000).
Purdue holds this competition spring semester. Learn more here!
Say It In 6®
What is Say It In 6®? Based on SMITH magazine’s “Six-Word Memoirs” concept, Say It In 6® is a competition that challenges you to tell a story about your graduate or postdoctoral research experience — in a clear, concise, and, most importantly, creative way — by using only six words and one visual aid.
The competition is open to all graduate and professional students, non-degree students, and postdoctoral fellows at Purdue. Entries will be published on the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars website and social media pages.
Top finalists compete for cash prizes, including Winner ($1,000), Runner-Up ($500), and People’s Choice Award ($500).
Purdue holds this competition spring semester. Learn more here!
External Opportunities
CTSI Postdoc Challenge
The Postdoc Challenge offers postdoctoral researchers at Indiana University, IU School of Medicine, IUI, Purdue University, and the University of Notre Dame valuable proposal writing and reviewing experience in areas related to translational research.
There is also opportunity to compete for a $5,000 award in the form of an expense account for use of core facility services. Funding is to be used ONLY for services provided by the Indiana CTSI designated core facilities. Indiana CTSI-designated core facilities are listed on the Indiana CTSI website.
Annual RFAs come out in December and applications are due in March. Use the flyer QR codes to link to current information. If you still have unanswered questions, reach out to the competition coordinators:
Matt Allen matallen@iu.edu Aaron Zych ajzych@iu.edu
Contact Information
Postdoctoral Affairs
Young Hall, Room 160. 155 Grant Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907-21147
Email address: postdoc-affairs@purdue.edu
Phone number: (765) 494-2600