Postdoctoral Support Directory

Administrative Structure for the Best Postdoctoral Contacts at Penn State

Penn State postdocs benefit from administrative support systems dedicated to research excellence, inclusivity, and their own personal and professional growth. Key roles vary by host and may include:

  • Associate Dean for Research: Leads research endeavors in alignment with the college’s strategic research goals, reporting to the college dean.
  • Associate Dean for Equity and Inclusion: Champions diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the college, contributing to an environment where postdocs from all backgrounds feel supported and valued.
  • College Human Resources Team (led by a Human Resources Strategic Partner): Provides assistance for postdocs navigating HR-related matters within the college in partnership with the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, including college policies, procedures, and conflict resolution. Please copy the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs director (postdoc@psu.edu) on HR-related concerns.
  • Department Heads: Provide leadership, supervision, and management of staff/faculty, and representation of the department in work with administrative deans and others.
  • Other Key Support Positions: Your host may have additional people who can listen impartially and begin addressing concerns through referrals and suggestions of resources.  In cases of uncertainty regarding best point of contact, please reach out to the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (postdoc@psu.edu).

In addition to the renowned colleges supporting the majority of postdocs across campuses, Penn State features seven interdisciplinary institutes leading collaborative research across a wide range of disciplines. These institutes provide postdocs with unique opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research, access state-of-the-art resources, and work alongside leading scholars. In each one, there is an “institute director” who, like everyone in the roles above, is deeply invested in the quality of the postdoctoral experience.

College of Agricultural Sciences

  • Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education; Director of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station: Dr. Blair Siegfried
  • Assistant Dean for Access and Equity; Research Professor of Quantitative Forest Ecology: Dr. Laura Leites
  • Human Resources Strategic Partner: Erikka Runkle

College of Arts and Architecture

  • Associate Dean for Research, Creative Activity, and Graduate Studies; Professor of Landscape Architecture: Dr. Mallika Bose
  • Associate Dean for Access and Equity; Professor of Art: Dr. Folayemi Wilson
  • Human Resources Strategic Partner: Jerry Henry

College of Earth and Mineral Sciences

College of Education

  • Interim Associate Dean for Research; Distinguished Professor of Education; Social Science Research Institute co-funded faculty member: Dr. P. Karen Murphy
  • Associate Dean for Access, Equity, and Inclusion: Dr. Leah Hollis
  • Human Resources Strategic Partner: Jerry Henry

College of Engineering

College of Health and Human Development

  • Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education; Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders: Dr. Kathryn Drager
  • Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Professor of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management: Dr. Nicole Webster
  • Human Resources Strategic Partner: Lisa Garbacik

College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST)

College of the Liberal Arts

  • Senior Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies; Distinguished Professor of Political Science: Dr. D. Scott Bennett
  • Director of the Office of Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity: Earl Merritt
  • Human Resources Strategic Partner: Amanda Gallo

Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing

  • Interim Associate Dean for Research and Innovation; Elouise Ross Eberly and Robert Eberly Endowed Professor: Dr. Marie Boltz
  • Dean for Equity and Inclusion: Dr. Sheldon Fields
  • Human Resources Strategic Partner: Jerry Henry

Eberly College of Science

  • Associate Dean for Research, Professor of Statistics and Public Health Sciences: Dr. Aleksandra Slavkovic
  • Associate Dean of Diversity and Inclusion: Dr. David Simpson
  • Assistant Dean for Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs; Professor of Chemistry and of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Dr. Scott Showalter
  • Associate Head for Postdoctoral Affairs and Verne M. Willaman Professor in Astronomy and Astrophysics: Dr. Suvrath Mahadevan
  • Human Resources Strategic Partner: Adrian Weaver
  • GUIDES (G - Guide to resources, U - Unbiased, I - Informal assistance, D - Discreet discussion, E - Everyone): Members of Eberly GUIDES

Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences

  • Interim Huck Director, Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics, of Neurosurgery, of Biology, and of Biomedical Engineering: Dr. Christina Grozinger
  • Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives, Associate Research Professor: Dr. Camelia Kantor
  • Managing Director: Emily Martell
  • Human Resources Strategic Partner: Chad Simpson

Institute of Computational and Data Sciences

Institute of Energy and the Environment

  • IEE Director; Evan Pugh University Professor and Kappe Professor of Environmental Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dr. Bruce Logan
  • Managing Director of the Institute of Energy and the Environment: Daniel Heckman
  • Human Resources Strategic Partner: Chad Simpson

Materials Research Institute

Penn State College of Medicine

  • Vice Dean for Research and Graduate Studies; Associate Vice President for Health Science Research; Professor of Medicine: Dr. Leslie Parent
  • Vice Dean of Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging; Professor of Medicine: Dr. Inginia Genao
  • Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Training; Professor of Cellular and Molecular Physiology: Dr. Daniela Zarnescu
  • Office of Postdoctoral Affairs Director; Professor of Medicine: Dr. Gail Thomas
  • Administrative Support Coordinators for the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs: Jaci Wildner & Victoria Millard
  • Director of Career Services: Jessica Kirkwood
  • Human Resources Strategic Partner: Jill Curry
  • Human Resources, Postdoc Coordinator: Renee Karstetter

Penn State Cancer Institute

Penn State Erie, The Behrend College

Smeal College of Business

Social Science Research Institute

Penn State Sustainability

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

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