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.
2026 Events
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Postdoctoberfest Zoom Background To show your support and appreciation of our postdocs, the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs (GEPA) welcomes you to download and use our Postdoctoberfest zoom background during the month of October.
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Postdoc Pizza Party UCSD postdocs are invited to start their Postdoctoberfest celebrations by enjoying pizza and salad with fellow postdocs! Pre-registration by September 29th is required to attend this celebration lunch sponsored by GEPA. RSVP to join us at Dirty Birds and enjoy free lunch and meet new people!
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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. We will offer pace groups for everyone, from beginner to athlete. The run will conclude at Dirty Birds, where runners can socialize over some (self-sponsored) drinks and snacks. Runners of all skill levels are welcome.
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Professional Headshot Photo Session for UCSD Postdocs To help UCSD postdoctoral scholars make professional connections, GEPA has arranged for the Triton Photo Studio 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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Sunset Hike: Annie's Canyon Wind down the week with a sunset hike to Annie's Canyon Trail in the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve. We will meet at 4:30 PM at the Park & Ride and walk about 2 miles round trip along the lagoon, with one short climb to a viewpoint. You can squeeze through the slot canyon (which has one short ladder) or take the easier switchback trail to the same viewpoint. The trails close at sunset (6:23 PM), so we will be back at the parking lot by about 6:00 PM. Make sure to bring water and comfortable shoes. Please note that there are no restrooms at the trailhead and while dogs are allowed on the trail, they are not allowed in the slot canyon. Please RSVP with your cell phone number so we can reach you on the day of the hike and coordinate carpooling from campus.
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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! 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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Community Board Game Night Join the PDA and your fellow postdocs for a night filled with strategic fun and friendly competition. Whether you are a board game enthusiast or just looking for a fun evening, this event is for you. We'll have a variety of board games available for everyone to enjoy, and if you have a cherished favorite from your childhood, please bring it along to share with everyone! This is a great opportunity to connect, make new friends, and celebrate our unique experiences while having a blast. We hope to see you there!!
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Postdoc Pitch Mesa-Wide Competition Come and cheer on our UCSD Postdoc PITCH champions Dr. Ido Avivi and Dr. Jiyo S. Athertya as they compete against postdocs from the other Torrey Pines Training Consortium (TPTC) Institutions at the second annual 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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Mission Beach Day and Bonfire Bash Join us for some fun in the sun to connect with fellow postdocs enjoying a laid-back day at the beach! This is a great chance to get active, soak up the sun, and meet new people. As the sun sets, we will light up a cozy beach bonfire. Bring your sunscreen, a blanket or chairs for lounging, and your favorite treats and get ready to create some lasting beach memories!!
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Postdocs Paint! Come join us for a fun, low-pressure painting session with your fellow postdocs! Bring your creativity to make a new masterpiece or we’ll help you recreate a famous painting at your own pace. Painting supplies will be provided for those who RSVP by October 21.
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Gaslamp Pub Crawl Get ready to paint the town red with your fellow postdocs at our Gaslamp Pub Crawl! If you are looking for a casual evening of drinks and conversation or an adventurous bar-hopping experience, this event has it all. Meet us outside the Bird Rock Coffee stand in front of the Central Campus Trolley Station at 6:00 PM to kick off a memorable night. We will take the Blue Line Trolley to Gaslamp Quarter and explore various bars. Please RSVP with your cell phone number so that we can keep you updated on the group’s location. Note: All drinks, food and transportation for this event are self-sponsored. |
Non Discrimination Statement: In accordance with applicable Federal and State law and University policy, the University of California does not discriminate, or grant preferences, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and/or other protected categories.More information about Proposition 209 can be found here.More information about the University of California Anti-Discrimination Policy can be found here.