Postdocs mingle at college social

Postdoctoral researchers from across the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences gathered today on the lawn in front of Mrak Hall to enjoy coffee, get to know each other and support each other in their unique roles at UC Davis.

Among the early career scholars was Rukmangada M. Srikant, from the Department of Plant Sciences. After finishing a doctoral degree in India in 2019, he arrived in Davis in late 2022. He’s working in the lab of Ming-Chen Luo on wheat genetics.

Srikant sees important differences in this new phase of his career. “Before, we worked to get the Ph.D. As a postdoc, we try to learn more specific things. We’re improving our research skills and our thinking abilities,” he said. New instruments, new concepts, new people and a longer-term vision for solving problems shape his work now – apt for his focus of finding the genes that cause perennial wheat to grow back after being cut.

While doctoral students typically find a “home” in the labs of their principal investigators, the networking and support systems for postdocs are not so clear or well-established, said Marcel Holyoak, the associate dean of environmental sciences for the college. Wednesday’s social was one step to foster a stronger sense of belonging and connection.

Dept. of Plant Sciences Chair Gail Taylor, college Dean Helene Dillard, Associate Dean for Agricultural Sciences Jason Bond and Executive Associate Dean Anita Oberbauer also attended the event.

The Postdocs Appreciation Coffee and Bagels Social was part of Postdoc Appreciation Week Oct. 23-27 on campus. This fall, UC Davis is home to 744 postdocs, 214 (29%) of whom are in CAES. The campus averages about 1,000 postdocs each year, from all over the United States and the world, according to Ellen Hartigan-O'Connor, associate dean for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. They play key roles in campus research, scholarship, mentorship and instructional support, Hartigan-O'Connor wrote.