What is the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA)? 

The NPA was established with the goal of fostering necessary improvements to the postdoctoral situation in the United States. There was no organization with the sole aim of achieving improvements in the postdoctoral experience. The NPA sought to crystallize the diffuse postdoc debate and provide a focal point for achieving administrative and policy changes. 

What is KU Medical Center's involvement with NPA?

KU Medical Center (KUMC) is a sustaining member of NPA and as such, all postdoctoral scholars are entitled to a free affiliate membership. The KPA makes it a priority to continue their improvement within NPA. The board sends two board members to the National NPA conference every year. At the national conference is the opportunity to gather and enhance their professional development and leadership skills. NPA's mission is to improve the postdoctoral experience by supporting enhanced research training and a culture of enhanced professional growth to benefit scholarship and innovation. KUMC is able to use NPA's trainings and resources to help enhance our postdoc experience. Take a moment and follow the steps below to start your free membership.

How to Sign Up as an Affiliate Member

Step One

Go to https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/ and click on "Join" in the upper right corner.

Step Two

Select your member type: Affiliate Graduate Student, Affiliate Postdoc or Affiliate Nonpostdoc/Other

Step Three

Enter your institutional email address as your username, along with your first and last name

Step Four

Enter all required information and any other information that you wish to have in your profile.

Step Five

Click on "Submit." The NPA will review your membership within 10 days and you will receive an email when it has been approved.