Postdoctoral Association of the 夜色视频
The 夜色视频 Postdoctoral Association (UNRPA) is a volunteer organization formed in 2021 both by and for the University's postdocs.
Our mission is to improve the postdoctoral experience both at the University and in academia. We do this by supporting fellow postdocs in your transitions to and from the University; enhancing your research and training opportunities while here; and advocating for the inclusive and equitable transformation of academia. We empower postdocs to become bold and effective leaders in academia, industry and community.
Membership
All postdoctoral scholars at the 夜色视频 are automatically included in UNRPA and welcome to attend meetings, events and discussions relevant to postdocs.
Executive leadership
Angie Lenard, Ph.D.
Chair
Angie is a postdoctoral scholar working in the Biology Department. Angie is an ecologist and evolutionary biologist broadly interested in how organisms respond to anthropogenic change. Her current research focuses on pollinator biodiversity and landscape pesticide contamination of butterfly host plants in the Central Valley. She is the current Chair of the 夜色视频 Postdoctoral Association. She is passionate about mentoring and enjoys reading, video games, and hiking with her dog.
Alex Aupetit, Ph.D.
Operations Manager
Alex is a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Physiology and Cell Biology at the School of Medicine. As a physiologist specializing in vascular research, his work explores the regulation of blood flow in the eye and brain. Beyond research, Alex has been actively engaged in University governance, serving on academic and laboratory boards during his previous appointments. He is currently operations manager for the 夜色视频 Postdoctoral Association. Passionate about his field, he also enjoys practicing yoga and cooking French cuisine.
Cristian Franco
Events and Social Media Coordinator
Cristian is a postdoctoral scholar in the department of physiology. Graduating from the University of Nevada Reno with a Ph.D. in Biochemistry, his research focuses on the cerebral vascular network in disease states such as Alzheimer's and Dementia. Outside the lab he is passionate about health and fitness, video games, technology, and movies.
Adnan Akif
Finance Officer
Adnan Akif is a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Physiology and Cell Biology. His doctoral research on CNS disease mechanisms contributed to securing approximately $400K in NIH R21 funding for his previous lab. He has first authored 5 peer-reviewed publications (>60 citations) and is regularly invited to serve as a reviewer for journals including British Journal of Pharmacology, CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics, Frontiers in Endocrinology, Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, Comprehensive Physiology, Pharmaceutical Biology, Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, and The FASEB Journal. Now, he investigates human gastric systems, focusing on biomarker discovery and improved disease phenotyping. As Finance Officer of the 夜色视频 Postdoctoral Association, he will work to strengthen resources, funding opportunities, and professional development for postdoctoral scholars. In his free time, he enjoys traveling and hiking across different regions of the US.
Organizational structure
The chair oversees the effective running of the association with close support from the officers. A key focus of this position is enhancing postdoc recognition and the association’s long-term sustainability within the university environment through advancing relationships with the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, administration, relevant faculty, student groups, and associations, as the official representative of UNRPA. Further, the Chair collaboratively networks with postdoctoral associations and other relevant higher education stakeholders. Within the association, the Chair provides strong leadership and guidance in developing actionable initiatives that contribute to the association's longer-term strategic directions.
The Operations Manager will acquire all the Chair's responsibilities when the Chair is unable to perform them and assist in fulfilling the Chair's duties as needed, through agreement with the Chair. Other duties include managing meeting agendas and minutes, and disseminating a draft of these minutes to UNRPA members via the e-mail listserv (or another form of communication, e.g., Slack Channel) before the next meeting, and the efficient archiving of information. The incumbent provides administrative support to the association’s endeavors and relevant stakeholders, including that relevant information, is communicated to postdoc members.
The Events and Social Media Coordinator develops initiatives and resources to enhance the postdoctoral experience at the University, by creating opportunities for professional development and networking for postdoctoral scholars, in addition to organizing events that raise the profile of postdocs and highlight their work at the campus scale. Responsibilities of this position include community-building both within the postdoctoral community, and within the larger University community including students, staff, and faculty. Other responsibilities include developing and maintaining the Postdoctoral Association’s communications channels and online outreach activities.
The Finance Officer is responsible for the financial status of the Association. The incumbent will manage and monitor the expenditure of funding and provide regular reporting on the financial health of the Association to the directors and relevant University parties and maintain compliance with university regulations. A key focus of this position is to develop initiatives that enhance the association’s financial health and longevity, including developing alternative and non-traditional mechanisms to obtain funding that lie outside of the University.