Leadership Opportunities
The Purdue Postdoctoral Association (PPDA) is guided by a council of engaged postdoctoral scholars who work to support and enhance the postdoc experience at Purdue University. PPDA leadership fosters professional and social connections, advocates for the contributions of postdocs, and facilitates career development through workshops, events, and university engagement. Serving on the PPDA Council provides postdocs with meaningful leadership experience by offering a variety of officer and committee roles, including positions in programming, communications, advocacy, and diversity initiatives. The council also acts as a bridge between the postdoc community and university administration, ensuring postdoctoral voices are heard. Communication is maintained through the Purdue Postdoc Listserv email.
At least once per year, new council members are elected!
The Susan Bulkeley Butler Center for Leadership Excellence serves as a catalyst for cultivating purposeful, grounded, and resilient leadership in higher education. Through research support, educational programming, and interactive workshops, the Center equips both emerging and experienced leaders with tools to navigate the evolving demands of academic life. As higher education faces increasing complexity, change, and competing demands, the Center offers space for reflection, growth, and connection to strengthen leadership at every level.
Purdue Postdocs are often invited to attend the Butler Center’s programs, including Lunch and Learns. Opportunities are advertised through the Postdoc Listserv.
Every summer, The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) announces an application call for their IMPACT Fellowship Program. Through a 16-month, interactive fellowship that uses a variety of tools, IMPACT empowers participants to strategically build upon existing skills, recognize opportunities, and advance more confidently in their careers. IMPACT Fellows are expected to use the knowledge, tools and resources they gain from the program to implement activities or initiatives.
To be chosen as one of the 6 postdocs for the cohort, you have to propose a project that will enhance the postdoc community at Purdue or the local community (just the concept at this point). In return, you will get seed money to implement the project, travel costs to the annual conference in March, and connect to postdoc peers and NPA leaders—not to mention how great this leadership opportunity will look on your CV!
Purdue had its first IMPACT Fellow, Dr. Tanya Paes, in the 2021-22 cohort!
Sanford Burnham Prebys leads a premier leadership development program designed for early career PhDs. Each summer, they select 25 postdocs from around the country to participate in this year-long program consisting of one, 4-hour Zoom module per month.
Purdue has its first participant in the 2025-26 cohort! Congratulations, Dr. Radhika Bhaumik, Department of Biological Sciences!
Contact Information
Postdoctoral Affairs
Physical/mailing address:
Young Hall, Room 160. 155 Grant Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907-21147
Email address: postdoc-affairs@purdue.edu
Phone number: (765) 494-2600