Postdoctoberfest is UC San Diego’s month long celebration of our postdocs. We hope you will join us in recognizing the valuable contributions our postdocs make to research, to our campus, and to society.
2025 Events
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Postdoctoberfest Buttons and Zoom Background |
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To show your support and appreciation of our postdocs, we welcome you to stop by the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs (GEPA) office on the 4th floor of the Student Services Center (SSC) to pick up a Postdoctoberfest button to wear during the month of October and to download and use our Postdoctoberfest zoom background. Buttons will be available starting Tuesday, October 1 during standard GEPA office hours (Tue & Wed from 9 am - 4 pm) while supplies last. |
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Postdoc Pizza Party UCSD postdocs are invited to start their Postdoctoberfest celebrations by enjoying pizza, salad, soda and dessert with their fellow postdocs! Pre-registration by September 30th is required to attend this celebration lunch sponsored by GEPA. RSVP to join us at Dirty Birds and enjoy free lunch, meet new people, and pick up a Postdoctoberfest button.
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PhD Careers & Culture in Industry Are you interested in learning more about careers outside of academia? This session will provide an overview of the various career pathways and roles available in industry and the different types of industry employers and companies. Participants will learn about the importance of culture in industry settings and how fit can be an important consideration for a role and within an organization. Differences between industry and academic cultures and tips for learning about and finding opportunities in industry will also be discussed. Don’t miss this chance to gain insights about industry careers and culture from a PhD who successfully transitioned from an academic postdoc position! This event is hosted by the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs (GEPA) as part of the UC-Wide Fall Biotech Industry Career Series.
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Postdoc Community Bike Ride with SDBC San Diego, with its close-to-perfect weather, offers the ideal environment for outdoor activities such as cycling. However, cycling in unfamiliar surroundings - especially alone - can be scary and discouraging. For this event, we teamed up with one of San Diego’s numerous cycling communities: The San Diego Bicycle Club (SDBC)! SDBC welcomes bicyclists of all experience levels to their weekly community bike rides on Saturday. Whether you are an experienced cyclist looking for a fast, competitive group ride in San Diego, or you’re new to cycling and would like to explore the vast Southern Californian landscapes on two wheels, please join us for an unforgettable, easy-going adventure with SDBC!
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Yoga in the Park Find your balance and connect with nature during this relaxing outdoor yoga session led by one of our talented PDA Board Members, Florencia! Bring your yoga mat, water bottle, and positive energy to Doyle Park to unwind from the day and recharge.
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Coffee Connection with GEPA Dean and PDA Take a break and reward yourself with a cup of joe and some conversation with Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs (GEPA) Dean Judy Kim and your Postdoctoral Association (PDA) Board members during Postdoctoberfest! Postdocs can also pick up a Postdoctoberfest button at this event. Don’t miss this chance to converse with GEPA Dean Judy Kim and meet fellow UCSD Postdocs while enjoying free coffee and snacks sponsored by GEPA.
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Postdoc Beach Day & Volleyball Join us for some fun in the sun to connect with fellow postdocs while playing beach volleyball and enjoying a laid-back picnic! Whether you're a volleyball pro or just want to play a casual game with friends, this is a great chance to get active, soak up the sun, and meet new people. Bring your sunscreen, a blanket or chairs for lounging, and your favorite picnic treats and join us for a beach day at South Mission Beach!
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Professional Headshot Photo Session for UCSD Postdocs To help UCSD postdoctoral scholars make professional connections, GEPA has arranged for a skilled photographer to capture your best angles and provide you with a high-quality digital headshot image. Spaces are limited and will be assigned to UCSD postdoctoral scholars in the order in which they register. Don’t miss your chance to get a free headshot photo to help build your professional brand!
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Postdoc Pitch Mesa-Wide Competition Come and cheer on our UCSD Postdoc PITCH champions Dr. Aalok Varma and Dr. Natasha Anita as they compete against postdocs from the other Torrey Pines Training Consortium (TPTC) Institutions for the inaugural TPTC Postdoc Pitch Competition. Postdoc Pitch is a dynamic research communication challenge that invites postdoctoral researchers to present their work in a compelling, accessible, and engaging way… in just three minutes. Speakers in this event are postdoctoral researchers selected through internal competitions held at each TPTC partner institution, Salk, Sanford Burnham Prebys, Scripps Research, and UCSD. This event is sponsored by the Torrey Pines Training Consortium.
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Hiking Adventure: Torrey Pines Join the Postdoctoral Association (PDA) and fellow UCSD postdocs for a scenic hike through the trails of Torrey Pines! Enjoy stunning coastal views, fresh ocean air, and the company of fellow outdoor enthusiasts as we trek through this iconic reserve. Pack your water, sun protection and snacks and get ready to connect with nature and make new friends!
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Postdoc Run Club Start your week fresh, with a quad-busting 5k run around UCSD! We will head out from Geisel Library and the route will combine some of our favorite trails, paved roads, and tracks on UCSD campus. The run will conclude at Art of Espresso, where runners can chat over a coffee. Runners of all skill levels are welcome!
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Inter-Institute Postdoc Mixer Get ready to mix, mingle, and make meaningful connections with fellow postdocs from institutions across the Torrey Pines mesa! This year, the Postdoctoral Associations of LJI, Salk, SBP, Scripps, and UCSD are joining forces to host a spooktacular celebration filled with food, snacks, drinks, eerie games,and plenty of Halloween spirit. Get ready for a fangtastic evening at the InterPDA Halloween Spooktacular! Don't forget to dress up for the costume contest and bring your family, friends, and colleagues along for a night of spooky networking and fun.
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Halloween Trivia & Board Game Night Join the PDA and your fellow postdocs for a spook-tacular evening of eerie fun and ghoulishly friendly competition. Whether you’re a board game enthusiast or just looking for a frightfully fun night, this event is for you! We’ll have a cauldron of bone-chilling board games for everyone to enjoy, and if you have a beloved game from your childhood that still haunts your memories, bring it along to share with the group! This is a perfect chance to connect, meet new creatures, and celebrate our wickedly unique experiences while having a ghostly good time. We hope to scare... er, see you there!
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