Postdoctoral researchers are an essential part of the research community, bringing fresh ideas, expertise, and energy to the work of discovery. Last year, The Scientist launched a new initiative, Postdoc Portraits, to celebrate these researchers and shine a spotlight on them and their stories during Postdoc Appreciation Week. But what initially began as a weeklong initiative quickly grew into something more, and we couldn’t resist featuring as many postdocs as possible throughout the year.
In honor of this year’s Postdoc Appreciation Week (September 21–25, 2026), we want to thank the postdocs—and the colleagues, mentors, friends, and networks who support them—for helping make this initiative possible and keeping their stories in the spotlight.
Over the year, we received more than 200 submissions from postdocs working in diverse fields and geographies. Naturally, we dove into the data to get a better picture of the fields, places, and specific research represented by our postdoctoral community. So, without further ado, here is what we found.
The Many Flavors of Postdoc Research, From Cancer to Biophysics
Of the 200-plus submissions, researchers represented a wide range of scientific fields and research interests, from cancer and oncology to neuroscience, microbiology, computational biology, biophysics, and more. Some researchers are driven by questions that began long before they entered the lab.
For immunologist Alok Kumar at the University of Pittsburgh, that curiosity started with a familiar childhood saying. Growing up, he heard his grandmothers repeat the adage, “Starve a fever, feed a cold,” but instead of simply taking it at face value, Kumar wondered about the science behind it. That early curiosity eventually helped spark his interest in immunology.
For others, like biologist Priya Bhardwaj at Washington University in St. Louis, her fascination with science charted a different path. She first dove into how natural plant-derived molecules could inhibit tumor formation in skin cancer. This sparked her interest in mechanistic biology and translational research, and her research question evolved to involve the intersection of endocrinology, metabolism, and bone biology today.
What the Data Shows: Neuroscience and Cancer Researchers Dominate Submissions
Over the last year, The Scientist received more than 200 submissions for the Postdoc Portrait series. Of these, the most common research fields fall under Cancer/Oncology and Neuroscience.
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A Global Community of Postdocs Across Five Continents
In addition, while most submissions came from North America, followed by India, Sweden, the United Kingdon, and Switzerland, The Scientist received responses from people hailing from 20 countries. For many scientists, the pursuit of discovery means crossing not only institutional but also national borders, following research questions wherever they lead. For instance, Nigerian-born researcher Abdullahi Usman shared his experience of combining materials science with computational methods at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. Other respondents are based in countries including Brazil and South Africa. Wherever the research takes them, they are finding opportunities to carve out a place in science.
What the Data Shows: Global Postdoc Portrait Submissions
The Scientist received Postdoc Portrait submissions from researchers living in 20 countries across five continents.
Generated by Claude
Postdocs Get Personal
Beyond their research, these postdocs shared personal experiences and motivations that shaped their scientific journeys. Their portraits revealed the people behind the research—from unexpected hobbies and childhood experiences to the curiosity that keeps them asking new questions.
For instance, neuroscientist Nikollas Benites at the University of Florida. His research focuses on the development of the auditory nervous system, but his connection to sound extended beyond the lab: he is also a musician. By bringing these two passions together, Benites studies how the auditory system develops—and draws inspiration from the parallels between neuroscience and music.
As in an orchestra, all the instruments must be tuned. In this case, the instruments are the brain nuclei. All this fine-tuning starts before the day of birth. Studying the development of this system is complex, as in a good song.
—Nikollas Benites, University of Florida
For Henry Janse van Rensburg, a molecular plant biologist at Aarhus University, the connection between his research and his personal history is rooted in his upbringing. Janse van Rensburg studies how plant root exudates shape soil microbiomes and subsequently influence plant health. Growing up on a farm himself, he was already surrounded by plants, soil, and saw the constant challenge of managing pests and environmental stresses.
These personal connections were just one part of what postdocs shared throughout the year. They also opened up about the people who have influenced their careers and personal lives and the misconceptions they encounter about their research. Plus, these researchers had plenty of advice to offer. They shared career advice to newly minted postdoctoral fellows, from finding the right mentor to navigating the challenges—and opportunities—of building a career in science.
For instance, Hannah Waterman, a metabolic physiologist at Duke University, shared, “Remember that science is a marathon, not a sprint. Progress is rarely linear, and setbacks are often where the most valuable learning happens. Stay curious, be resilient, and focus on becoming the kind of scientist you want to be, not just the next paper you want to publish.”
Postdoctoral Representation and Appreciation Matters
For some of the researchers who have been featured throughout the year, Postdoc Portraits has captured a moment of transition. Since their profiles were published, several have moved on to their next chapters, joining new institutions and stepping into roles as assistant professors. As these researchers continue to explore new questions, build careers, and make their mark on science, their stories are far from finished. We’re grateful to have been able to share a part of their journeys and look forward to following what comes next.
