Postdoc Appreciation Week (PAW)

Postdoc Appreciation Week (PAW) was started in the USA in 2009 to recognise the significant contributions that postdocs make to research and discovery. This year, PAW took place between 18 and 22 September 2023 at universities in the UK and US. 

In recognition of the postdocs who make Imperial a leading research and educational institution, the PFDC and PAW Committee  hosted a variety of events, both virtual and in person, to mark PAW at Imperial. These activities ran alongside other national events. 

Learn more about the Imperial 2023 PAW events below. Also check out this year's postdoc appreciation board, highlighting a variety of messages for postdocs from the Imperial community. 

Postdoc Appreciation Week (PAW) 2023 - past events

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Postdoc Appreciation Week: Games with Move Imperial
Ethos Sports Centre, South Kensington Campus
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Postdoc Appreciation Week: Crafting your professional narrative
Online only
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Postdoc Appreciation Week | Postdoc & Fellows Drinks and Pizza Night
Commonwealth Building, Hammersmith Campus
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Imperial PAW 2022 programme

Postdoc Appreciation Week (PAW) 2022

In 2022, PAW took place between 20-23 September. Events included:

  • Welcome event: What the PFDC can do to support you
  • Q&A with Vice-Provost (Research & Enterprise)
  • Crafting your professional narrative – Increasing your visibility
  • Taming your inner critic
  • IPFEN and IPC event: Boost your research career by working with industry
  • Pathways for Postdocs Panel Event: Where will your career take you?
  • Fellowship interviews - In Person Event
  • Networking in South Kensington 

The week was also marked by a series of appreciation messages from across the College, which can be viewed below: 

Postdoc Appreciation Week (PAW) 2021

In 2021, PAW took place between 20-24 September. Events included: 

  • Q&A with the Provost
  • Pop-up: Increasing visibility – social media for academics
  • Workshop: Taming your inner critic
  • Pop-up: LinkedIn - How to build your profile and how to make the most out of it
  • Pop-up: Starting to think about a fellowship application
  • EDU: Teaching for postdocs
  • Workshop: Getting the best from people – Mentoring and coaching
  • IPFEN and IPC event: Boost your research career by working with industry 

Postdoc Appreciation Week (PAW) 2020

In 2020, PAW took place between 21-25 September. Events included: 

  • HoD virtual ‘coffee and cake’
  • “Transition to independence and leadership” panel discussion, followed by Q&A
  • “Postdoc life in a pandemic panel discussion”, followed by Q&A
  • Networks: How to Build, Maintain and Make the most of your Network