OSU launches Office of Postdoctoral Affairs

Wednesday, September 3, 2025

Media Contact: Sydney Trainor | Communications and Media Relations Specialist | 405-744-9782 | sydney.trainor@okstate.edu

New office to support researchers, strengthen mentoring and build community 

Oklahoma State University has created its first Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, a new resource dedicated to supporting postdoctoral researchers and the faculty members who mentor them. 

The office will provide guidance, professional development opportunities and a sense of community for postdoctoral fellows while also serving as a resource hub for OSU departments and faculty supervisors. 

“Postdoctoral researchers are fundamental to the success of an R1 research institution like OSU,” said Dr. Kenneth Sewell, OSU vice president for research. “They bring fresh ideas, expertise and energy that help drive discovery across disciplines. Establishing the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs ensures these scholars have the support, mentorship and community they need to thrive — which in turn strengthens OSU’s research enterprise and advances our land-grant mission.” 

Among its services, the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs will: 

• Provide resources to department heads and faculty on best practices for hiring and mentoring postdocs. 
• Offer career development opportunities, networking events and coaching tailored to postdoctoral fellows. 
• Increase visibility of OSU’s postdoctoral community by emulating programs at other leading research institutions. 
• Establish consistent elements for position postings and mentoring plans, including guidance on Individual Development Plans often required in grant applications. 
• Create a central platform for sharing resources and directing postdocs to the right offices if issues arise. 

The need for this office was underscored by a 2024 climate survey of OSU postdoctoral fellows, which revealed that: 

• 63% of respondents reported feeling isolated 
• 37% said they do not feel part of a postdoctoral community 
• 42% indicated they do not have a mentor 
• 67% reported lacking a written career plan 
• 38% reported experiencing a great deal of stress unrelated to their training 

The survey achieved a 51% response rate, reflecting the experiences of over half of OSU’s postdoctoral community. 

“Postdocs are in a unique stage of their careers — highly trained but often navigating uncertainty about their next step,” Sewell said. “We want them to know they belong here, that OSU is invested in their growth, and that they have a community of support to help them reach their goals.”