Postdoctoral Training at Northwestern University
Postdoctoral trainees play a vital role in our intellectual community and contribute to innovative scholarship across the humanities, sciences, and social sciences.
1030+ Postdocs at a Glance:
- 100+ Departments and Centers
- 49% in STEM
- 43% in Medicine
- 3% in Behavioral Sciences
- 3% in Humanities and Social Sciences
- 2% in Law and Business
- 59% Male, 41% Female
- 60% International, 40% Domestic
- 64+ Home Countries Represented
- 10% Domestic Postdocs from URM Backgrounds
- 48 Training Grants with $17.5 Million Supporting 98 Postdocs, 582 Mentors
A postdoctoral appointment represents a unique type of training that provides early-career researchers with the academic, technical, and professional skills necessary to advance their professional careers. The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) supports and represents the 1,000+ postdocs who contribute to the University’s research mission on the Evanston and Chicago campuses.
Resources for Postdoctoral Training at Northwestern
Professional Development
The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at Northwestern sponsors multiple professional development opportunities for postdocs to learn about science communications, US immigration, bystander intervention, loan forgiveness, the academic job market, non-academic career paths, and resources for parents and families, among other topics. Specific professional development opportunities include:
Photo of Northwestern University gate on Chicago campus.
Northwestern University Postdoctoral Association
The Northwestern University Postdoctoral Association (NUPA) develops and supports the NU postdoctoral community by fostering professional and social interaction. NUPA also:
- provides a forum to disseminate accurate information and address issues relevant to the postdoctoral community at Northwestern University.
- provides resources and a forum for discussion for the large number of international postdoctoral scholars at Northwestern University.
- promotes a positive and constructive dialogue among postdoctoral scholars, faculty, and the administration.
Photo of Silverman Hall at Northwestern University.
Benefits
The Northwestern Postdoc Benefit Plans provide postdocs with:
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Paid Time Off (PTO) and Holidays
- Short and Long-term Disability Insurance
- Childcare Assistance
- Basic Life Insurance
- Accidental Death and Dismemberment Coverage
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Wellness Programming
Photo of Deering Memorial Library on the Northwestern University campus in Evanston, IL.
TGS Office of Diversity and Inclusion
The Graduate School (TGS) promotes a transformative educational experience for graduate students and postdoctoral trainees at Northwestern University. The Graduate School’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) focuses on the recruitment and support of underrepresented populations to foster an inclusive environment and facilitate community engagement. We are committed to the personal and intellectual growth of our diverse student population.
Learn more about postdoctoral training at Northwestern at postdocs.northwestern.edu. Questions? Email Beth Healey at beth-healey@northwestern.edu.
Photo of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
