Overview: About Us

Locations

1124 Bioinformatics
919-962-9982 (ph)
919-843-3654 (fax)
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7017 

 

301B Bynum Hall
919-962-9982 (ph)
919-962-6769 (fax)
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7017

Professional Staff

Sibby Anderson-Thompkins, Director
(919) 843-4169 | sibby@email.unc.edu

Dara Wilson-Grant, Associate Director
(919) 843-2340 | dwgrant@email.unc.edu

Jennifer Pruitt, Administrative Asst.
(919) 962-9982 | pruittj@email.unc.edu

Doug Cyr, Faculty Adviser
Natural and Life Sciences
(919) 843-4805 | dmcyr@med.unc.edu

Charles Price, Faculty Adviser
Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
(919) 843-7809 | cprice1@email.unc.edu

Manzoor Bhat, International Faculty Adviser
Cell & Molecular Physiology
(919) 966-1018| manzoor_bhat@med.unc.edu

Susan Walters, HR Resource Liason

(919) 966-4041| susan_walters@unc.edu

 

Mission

The mission of the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs is to enhance, support and promote postdoctoral training at the university. OPA is supported by the Office of the Provost, the Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development, and the School of Medicine, the office services postdoctoral scholars, faculty, and staff in all disciplines, schools, and colleges at the University.

Goals

  • To administer, monitor, and support the UNC Postdoctoral Scholars Policies
  • To serve as the central resource unit on the UNC campus for postdoctoral issues (i.e. postdoc health insurance, benefits, or grievances)
  • To provide career services and professional development programs for postdocs
  • To develop a sense of community among UNC postdocs and integrate postdocs into the larger university community
  • To support faculty in the recruitment, retention, and success of postdocs at UNC

Services for Postdocs

  • New Postdoc Orientation
  • Confidential crisis intervention and advising
  • Consultations on mentoring relationships, postdoc rights, and policy issues
  • Individual career counseling
  • Career and professional development seminars and symposia
  • Postdoc E-newsletter

Services for Faculty

  • Faculty Newsletter
  • Individual and department consultations
  • Assist faculty in recruiting postdocs, meetings with candidates during campus visits 

Sample Seminars and Symposia

  • The Academic Job Search
  • Finding Funding Sources for Research
  • The Academic Book: From Proposal to Publication
  • Mentoring Diverse Populations: How to Build Trust and Communicate Effectively
  • How to Land a Job in Industry
  • From Grad Student to Start-up: Understanding the Patenting Process
  • Adapting to Life and Culture in the U.S.
  • Grant Writing for Success
  • Career Options for Scientists

In addition to services and programs listed above, OPA supports the UNC Postdoc Association and co- sponsors social activities for postdocs.  OPA also offers the Postdoctoral Awards for Research Excellence to recognize achievements as a postdoc at UNC. These awards, which carry stipend of $1000, support professional development endeavors, such as travel to meetings, courses, and materials.

For more information about OPA, read the 2008 Annual Report and the 2007 Annual Report