MD Anderson Postdoctoral Association

The Postdoctoral Association Executive Committee (PDAEC) plans events that promote community among postdocs at MD Anderson and fosters interactions between postdocs of other Houston-area institutions. Postdocs active in the PDAEC drive the PDA agenda, network with faculty and other scientists and develop career-enhancing skills that can inform their resume. 

The PDAEC is comprised of three teams:  Governance, Community Engagement and Career Advancement. Each team has three to four subcommittees (arranged accordingly below).

The Governance Team facilitates communication between the postdoctoral community and The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and Development (OPAD) to develop and implement Postdoctoral Association Executive Committee policies that are beneficial to postdocs of the Postdoctoral Association.

• Internal Communications
• Policy
• Responsible Conduct of Research

The Community Engagement Team engages and brings a sense of community to the postdocs at MD Anderson through hosting, raising awareness, and increasing participation of events. The Team also enhances the interaction between postdocs and mentors by acknowledging and highlighting mentors’ accomplishments.

• Communications
• Mentor Award
• Outreach
• Science Park

The Career Advancement Team provides resources that guide postdoctoral fellows through all of the stages of their training towards their professional career goals and through the course of their career development.

• Annual Presidential Career Symposium
• Annual Postdoctoral Science Symposium
• Career Development

While any postdoc can become a regular member of the PDAEC by simply attending one or more meetings and joining one or more of the bulleted subcommittees, chairs and subcommittee chairs are elected positions unless extenuating circumstances dictate otherwise.

Postdoctoral Advisory Committee is comprised of faculty, the chair and co-chair of the PDAEC and up to 10 subcommittee chairs of the PDAEC.  The faculty members of the PDAC serve in an advisory capacity to the Executive Committee and as an advocate for the postdoctoral community.