Office of Postdoctoral Affairs & Development

We are delighted you have considered MD Anderson at this critical stage of your career.  The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and Development (OPAD) enhances the scientific training of over 600 postdoctoral fellows by creating and implementing initiatives for your professional growth, providing one-on-one career advising, and fostering a robust community through networking activities. 

OPAD enriches the postdoc experience by directing the planning, organization, strategy and evaluation of professional and career development initiatives for our postdoctoral scientists.  These activities include offering career development seminars and workshops ranging from oral and written communication, interpersonal effectiveness, professionalism, management and leadership.  These activities provide first-class career development experiences to round out the
postdoctoral research experiences.  Additionally, OPAD guides the processes of the Postdoctoral Association Executive Committee (PDAEC) and promotes
communication through regular meetings with the PDAEC, the Postdoctoral Advisory Committee (PDAC) and the annual Postdoc Town Hall. Regular meetings of the PDAEC subcommittees encourage and promote routine updates regarding organizational awareness and other initiatives related to the postdoc community.  While these efforts help promote an understanding of the role of postdocs within the larger context of the UT System, MD Anderson and the postdoc community, more in-depth awareness of the postdoctoral community and activity is held at the team and subcommittee levels. 

OPAD guides the processes of various annual and monthly events including the Annual Postdoctoral Science Symposium, Robert M. Chamberlain Distinguished Mentor Award and the Academic Insights Seminar Series.  Additionally, OPAD organizes and leads Trainee Research Day, an annual event in which postdoctoral scientists and graduate medical education fellows and residents present their research in basic science, clinical science, population science, translational science, quality improvement and cancer survivorship and are rewarded for their academic accomplishments through various endowed fellowships. 

Serving as a resource to institutional constituents on postdoc life and work, we support the activities of the MD Anderson Postdoctoral Association, deliver an orientation that prepares you for this phase of your training, facilitate mentorship and other training programs, partner with  Alumni & Faculty Association, faculty mentors and other institutional offices to enrich your postdoc experience that equip you for professional development and, ideally, career advancement.

Contact OPAD

Victoria McDonnell, Dr.PH
713-792-8061
OPAD@mdanderson.org