The Office of Postdoctoral Services welcomes Duke postdocs to virtual orientation!
Please note that Duke postdoctoral appointees are employees, and therefore must attend New Staff Orientation. New postdocs must also attend any required departmental, lab, safety, DLAR, and Responsible Conduct of Research orientations. International postdocs must meet with their Visa Services Advisor, and are encouraged to attend Duke International Center Orientation. Virtual Postdoc Orientation is a supplement to existing orientations, not a replacement or requirement.
If you have questions about orientations that are required for your position, please contact your departmental HR or Business Manager (Campus, School of Medicine, Pratt School of Engineering, Nicholas School of the Environment, Sanford School of Public Policy, Fuqua School of Business, Divinity School, School of Law).
Links to session recordings and/or resources are posted beneath the descriptions.
Duke Office of Postdoctoral Services
Are you new to Duke and wondering how to make the most of your time here, or are you a current postdoc who wants to learn more about the resources that are available to postdocs? The Office of Postdoctoral Services promotes postdoctoral training at Duke and prepares Duke postdocs for successful careers both within and beyond academia. In this session, Molly Starback, Director of Duke Postdoctoral Services, will welcome new and current postdocs to the Duke community and provide information on the many resources and services available to Duke postdocs. Bring your questions!
Watch session on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
Duke Office of the Ombuds
The Duke Office of the Ombuds offers impartial and confidential support on a variety of issues. In accordance with the International Ombuds Association’s Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics, the Office of the Ombuds serves as a resource to listen, discuss concerns, and help Duke community members navigate options for resolution of issues related to their work or education. Use of the Office of the Ombuds is voluntary. No one is required to meet with an Ombuds. Those who choose to meet with an Ombuds agree to abide by the Terms of Use and Office of the Ombuds Charter. The Office of the Ombuds provides a range of services that complement but do not replace other offices at Duke.
Speakers: Jessica Kuchta-Miller, University Ombuds; Keegan Cary, Associate Ombuds
Watch session on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
Duke Office for Institutional Equity
The Office for Institutional Equity (OIE) responds to and supports the prevention of complaints of discrimination, harassment and sexual misconduct. In this session, you will learn about the Duke reporting process for discrimination, harassment and sexual misconduct concerns and what happens once issues are raised. You will also learn about resources for support and solutions through the Office for Institutional Equity.
Speaker: Nikki Stovall, Equity Compliance Investigator
Watch session on the Duke OIE YouTube Channel
Finding Funding Workshop
Looking for funding? Seeking a fellowship to support research? Want to fund travel for a summer project? Take this opportunity to learn how to search for funding by using a variety of tools, including the Duke Research Funding Database, MyResearchHome, and Pivot. Find funding in all disciplines: sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities. This is a special session just for postdocs led by Alicia Korenman, Duke’s Assistant Director for Research Support.
Watch session on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
NIH Loan Repayment Programs for Health Professionals (LRP)
Did you know that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will help pay back your student loans? You’re invited to an in-depth overview of the NIH Loan Repayment Program from the Division of Loan Repayment Director, Matthew Lockhart. The NIH Loan Repayment Program (LRPs) are a set of programs established by Congress designed to recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals into biomedical or biobehavioral research centers. The NIH LRPs pay up to $50,000 annually of qualified educational debt in return for a commitment to engage in NIH mission-relevant research.
Applicants must hold a PhD, MD, PharmD, DVM, or equivalent doctoral-level degree. The NIH LRPs will accept applications from Sept 1 – Nov 16. Don’t miss your opportunity to learn how you could receive up to $100,000 in educational debt relief!
Watch session on the NIH Grants Channel
BWF Career Awards at the Scientific Interface (CASI)
Postdocs often seek awards providing independent funding and financial support to facilitate the transition to faculty. Career Awards at the Scientific Interface (CASI), offered by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF; headquartered in RTP), presents an award that provides $560,000 over five years to bridge advanced postdoctoral training and the first three years of faculty service. BWF recently enhanced their CASI awards with increased postdoctoral stipend levels ($80,000-$85,000), and assistance to offset childcare expenses (up to $5,000/year).
This award is targeted to scientists trained in the physical, computational, mathematical, and engineering sciences who are applying these approaches to answer biological questions. Awards are open to non-US citizens from all countries and awardees may conduct their research at US or Canadian institutions. BWF strongly encourages persons from groups historically underrepresented in the sciences to apply.
In this session, Dr Tammy Collins, Program Officer at BWF and Duke Biochemistry PhD, gives an overview of the CASI program and provide tips for writing a competitive application by understanding what reviewers are looking for. Additionally, you will learn about some of the advantages of philanthropic funding, and we will briefly compare and contrast CASI with the K99/R00.
Speaker: Tammy Collins, PhD, is a Program Officer at the Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF), a nonprofit philanthropic organization whose mission is to nurture a diverse group of leaders in biomedical sciences to improve human health. At BWF, Collins directs the Career Awards at the Scientific Interface (CASI) program and the Innovations in Regulatory Science Awards (IRSA). Prior to joining BWF, she was the Director of the Office of Fellows’ Career Development at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).
Watch session on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
Scholars@Duke
Discover the world of research and scholarship at Duke! Scholars@Duke is a research discovery system featuring the research, publications, scholarship and activities of Duke postdocs and faculty members in all disciplines. Scholars displays web profiles that summarize a person’s roles at Duke and their connections with colleagues. Search by name, topic or subject area to find anything on Scholars profiles.
In this special session just for Duke postdocs, Lamont Cannon, Senior Outreach Coordinator, will explain how to set up and use Scholars@Duke to maximize your research profile.
Watch session on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
Duke Office of Campus Research Development
The Duke Office of Campus Research Development (OCRD) provides proposal development and grant writing programming to help the Duke community submit high quality proposals. OCRD also co-coordinates institutionally limited submissions for the University and serves as a liaison between Duke and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). OCRD services are free to Duke faculty, postdocs, and students. Sohini Sengupta, PhD, MPH, ORCD Director, will provide an overview of services ORCD provides for postdocs.
Watch session on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
Managing Your Research Career Using an Individual Development Plan (IDP)
For better or for worse, your experiences and the training you receive as postdoctoral researchers and graduate students can greatly shape the rest of your career. However, there are strategies and resources that can increase your chances of getting what you came for. During this program, participants will learn how to develop clear and specific goals and objectives, along with a plan for executing them.
Topics include:
- The importance of setting goals and developing an IDP
- Introduction to the SMART goals model
- Resources for crafting and executing your IDP
- Strategies for establishing expectations and effectively communicating research and career goals with your mentor/PI.
SPEAKER: Dara Wilson-Grant is the Associate Director at the UNC-Chapel Hill Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor. With over fifteen years experience providing career management education and counseling, Dara’s mission is to help individuals develop a framework for choosing a meaningful and rewarding career path, plus develop the skills necessary for a lifetime of career success.
Resources for Creating Your IDP
Duke Office of Research Initiatives
The Office of Research Initiatives facilitates research and collaborations for the Duke research community. We serve researchers from across Duke’s schools, centers and institutes, and offer our services to all researchers – faculty, staff, and trainees – including:
- myRESEARCHhome: An online portal that helps members of the research community manage their research portfolio by consolidating their tools and info in one place, including personalized funding recommendations, locating potential collaborators at Duke, and access to required training.
- myRESEARCHnavigators: A team of experts dedicated to providing tailored consultations & research onboarding, and assistance identifying funding and educational programs.
Watch session on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
Duke University Postdoc Association (DUPA)
Join Briana Simms, PhD, President of the Duke University Postdoc Association (DUPA), and other DUPA council members to hear about the many ways you can get involved in DUPA. DUPA is here to address the needs and concerns of all Duke postdocs and celebrate their accomplishments. DUPA committees include Communication, Diversity, International, Professional Development, Service, Social, and Sports.
Watch session on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
Duke Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity
The Duke Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity (CSGD) strives to achieve an inclusive campus climate for students, staff, faculty, and alumnx with marginalized sexual orientations, romantic orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions through education, advocacy, support, mentoring, academic engagement, and providing space. Join representatives from CGSD as they discuss programming and support for the Duke community.
List of Duke University Identity and Cultural Centers
Watch session on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
Duke WorkOUT
WorkOUT creates space for employees identifying with marginalized SOGI to meet their peers across Duke University and to find support and sense of community, respect, and inclusion. WorkOUT hosts social events, campus lunches, and more. Join WorkOUT members to discuss how you can get involved!
Duke Sexual and Gender Diversity Advisory Council
Durham-Duke Center for AIDS Research Collaborative Community Council
Duke Libraries
Duke University Libraries hold millions of books, and offers access to books and articles from other universities via Interlibrary loan. Library staff provide specialized research assistance and instruction to library users. Join Ciara Healy, Librarian for Psychology & Neuroscience, Mathematics, and Physics, and liaison to the Duke Institute for Brain Studies, to learn how Duke Libraries can help you with your research, teaching, and more
Watch session on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
Duke Libraries Resources to Support Humanities and Social Sciences Research
Duke University Libraries has many resources to support humanities and social sciences research. Join Arianne Hartsell-Gundy, Head, Humanities & Social Sciences department, to learn more about how these resources can support your work. There will be a special focus on finding primary sources both in the Rubenstein Library and in our digital resources.
Watch session on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
Duke Medical Center Library
The Duke Medical Center Library & Archives provides services and collections to further educational and research activities in the biomedical and medical field. Services are available to postdocs, faculty, and students in the School of Medicine, School of Nursing, allied health programs, and basic science departments.
Lesley Skalla, PhD, MSLS, Research and Education Librarian, is the liaison to Biomedical Research and Population Health, and is the IACUC librarian. She is also the lead for data management for the Medical Center Library.
Watch session on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
Duke Parking and Transportation
Parking and Transportation Services provides parking facilities, buses and shuttles, and various means of alternative transportation throughout the University. Tyler Dewey will answer your questions about parking and parking alternatives. Tyler is a full-time bike commuter and the Alternative Transportation Lead & Associate Transit Planner for Duke.
Watch session on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
Durham Medical Orchestra
The Durham Medical Orchestra connects volunteer musicians from the health professions and the community to promote wellness, provide cultural enrichment, and deliver the benefits of music to all. In this session, Anna Loksztejn (flute/piccolo and former Duke postdoc) will tell you how to get involved in what she describes as “a joyful group of people who share a common passion for playing music.”
Watch session on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Advancement, and Leadership in the Sciences (IDEALS) Office
The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Advancement, and Leadership in the Sciences (IDEALS) Office contributes to the diverse scientific climate in the Duke School of Medicine. The office works to bring talented underrepresented graduate students and postdoctoral scholars to the School of Medicine and to enrich their experiences over the course of their training and studies. The IDEALS office is dedicated to maintaining a climate of inclusiveness and celebrating the richly unique scientific community at Duke University. Join Johnna Frierson, Assistant Dean for SOM Graduate and Postdoctoral Diversity & Inclusion, to learn how you can get involved in IDEALS.
Watch session on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
Duke International Scholar Orientation
The Duke International Student & Scholar Center welcomes all new international postdoctoral scholars, their spouses, partners, and their families to Duke. We strive to provide you with the support you need and an environment where you and your partner/spouse can connect, learn, and grow. International Scholar Orientation takes place every Monday at 10:30 am, with the exception of University Holidays.
Register for International Scholar Orientation
Duke Visa Services
Duke Visa Services determines the visa and employment options for international students, scholars, visitors, and employees. In this session, Dylan Sugiyama, Associate Director, will give an overview of Visa Services and answer questions about the visa process for Duke postdoctoral appointees.
Watch session on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
Information Sessions with Immigration Law Firms
The DUPA International Committee periodically hosts information sessions with immigration law firms for postdocs interested in applying for US permanent residency. These seminars are for members of the Duke international community who are interested in the legal process of US immigration.
Watch the April 2024 Non-Immigrant Visa Basics (OPT, H-1B, O-1) session with Ellis Porter, PLC
Watch the May 2024 US Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) session with Ellis Porter, PLC
DCI Office of Cancer Research Training Education & Coordination (CRTEC)
The mission of the CRTEC Office is to decrease the burden of cancer and inequities associated with cancer by facilitating the training of a diverse cohort of cancer researchers and care providers across the training continuum. We support roughly 1,300 active DCI-affiliated trainees including middle & high school students in the Durham community, graduate/medical/nursing students, postdocs, medical residents/fellows, and junior faculty. Key offerings include an internal grant review mechanism (mock study section), cancer biology journal club, education and training newsletter, DCI-affiliated trainee listserve, and DCI shared resource tours.
Please visit our website, subscribe to our DCI-trainee listserve (search for “dci-trainees” and click subscribe) and/or reach out to us at DCITraining@duke.edu to learn more about our work. We welcome your ideas regarding how to best support your cancer-research training journey.
Key Personnel:
- Gerard Blobe, MD, PhD, CRTEC Associate Director of Training and Education
- Kathryn (Katie) Dickerson, PhD, CRTEC Assistant Director (former Duke Postdoc)
- Colleen Bauer, MA, CRTEC Program Manager
Watch session on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
Cancer Research Training & Education (CRTEC) Trainee Resources
Duke Sequencing and Genomic Technologies
Duke Sequencing and Genomic Technologies (SGT) is a basic science research core affiliated with the Duke Cancer Institute (DCI) that offers a full range of state-of-the-art genomic services, including Nucleic Acid Extraction, Short Read Sequencing, Long Read Sequencing, and Single Cell Sequencing.
In this session, SGT Director Devjanee (Devi) Swain Lenz, PhD (former Duke postdoc) discusses the SGT core.
Watch session on the Duke Postdoctoral Services YouTube Channel
