Welcome

Office Location    Room 2401, Graduate School, Computer Science Building, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-4433
Associate Dean     Joel.Levine@stonybrook.edu
Assistant Dean
Telephone          631-632-9712  
Fax                        631-632-7243
E-mail                postdocs@stonybrook.edu
Website               www.stonybrook.edu/postdocs

In response to the growing number of Postdoctoral scholars who work at Stony Brook, the University opened its Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) on November 1, 2010. The mission of the OPA aligns with the National Postdoctoral Association's mission: to advance the U.S. research enterprise by maximizing the effectiveness of the research community and enhancing the quality of the postdoctoral experience for all participants.

Stony Brook University recognizes the contribution Postdocs make to the research community and we expect your time here at SBU to be personally satisfying and professionally rewarding. We encourage you to explore the vast array of campus resources and services available to you on campus and in the surrounding area. We also suggest that you take a moment to look at the different pages on our website to see what resources, upcoming workshops, seminars or programs may be of interest to you. Good luck in your journey here at Stony Brook University.

View a message from Dean Charles Taber

Who is a Postdoc?

Our definition of a Postdoctoral Scholar is an individual holding a doctoral degree who is engaged in a temporary period of mentored research and/or scholarly training for the purpose of acquiring the professional skills needed to pursue a career path of his or her choosing. This definition includes but is not limited to the following SBU titles: Postdoctoral Associate; Senior Postdoctoral Associate; and Postdoctoral Fellow.

Note: If you consider yourself a Postdoc in training, regardless of your title, you are welcome to participate in any of our programs.

Join our email list

In addition to our website, the OPA manages an email list for all Postdocs on campus who are interested in taking advantage of our resources. We send out notifications of upcoming workshops, certificate programs and important events; breaking news stories; special alerts for hot topic items; invitations to campus networking socials; etc. If you would like to join our email list, please send your name, contact info, title and department to postdocs@stonybrook.edu.

Free membership to the National Postdoctoral Association

Because our office is a sustaining member of the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA), all postdoctoral scholars may apply for a free affiliate membership. A few of the benefits of joining the NPA are listed here:

A subscription to the NPA’s official quarterly newsletter
Reduced registration fees to the NPA Annual Meeting
Eligibility for the NPA Travel Award Program
Professional & Leadership Development including opportunities to serve and contribute your expertise on a variety of NPA committees
Networking opportunities with colleagues nationwide
National representation on postdoctoral issues

If you are interested in joining the National Postdoctoral Association, please email postdocs@stonybrook.edu.

Volunteers wanted

In an effort to help new Postdoctoral Scholars adjust to life at Stony Brook University, the OPA has set up a volunteer ‘buddy’ system where ‘seasoned’ Postdocs already on campus help newcomers by lending an ear, a helping hand and/or any other advice they can to help Postdocs acclimate to life on campus and the surrounding area. If you are interested in volunteering for this program, please contact the OPA at postdocs@stonybrook.edu, and we will match you with an incoming Postdoctoral Scholar.

Feedback wanted

The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs is always interested in what our constituents have to say. Please email postdocs@stonybrook.edu and let us know your thoughts about anything and everything to do with life as a Postdoc at SBU. Tell us what workshops you would like to see offered; tell us what resources you would like to see us post on our website; tell us what opportunities you would like to see made available. We take your suggestions seriously and will do our best to accommodate all requests.

The OPA has also developed a survey for all Postdoctoral Scholars so that we can hone in on the specific kinds of career-oriented workshops that would interest you. Please take a moment to fill out the Career Center Survey. Your responses will help shape the future line-up of workshops offered by the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs.

The OPA also has a Postdoc Experience Survey for those Postdoctoral Scholars who have been on campus for more than a year. This survey is completely anonymous and is aimed at providing our office with invaluable feedback about how you evaluate your experiences here on campus.

Join us on Facebook

The OPA has a page on Facebook. We regularly post information about our events and all the latest news. Find your colleagues and chat about what is important to you. Visit SBU Postdoc Facebook page.

Join us on LinkedIn

The OPA has a members-only group on LinkedIn. If you are interested in joining, just log onto LinkedIn, look for SBU Postdoc Group and request entry. This is an excellent place to network, to find out about job opportunities and to read the latest articles on the best job hunting practices.

Our office is located in the Graduate School on the second floor of the Computer Science Building. Assistant Dean Lynn Allopenna administers the office and can be reached at postdocs@stonybrook.edu, or you can set up an appointment to speak with someone by calling 631-632-9712.

Employment Verification

For any institution looking to verify a Postdoc's employment at SBU, you either fax your verification document to 631-632-1428 or you can call Human Resources verification department at 631-632-1393, 1394.

Directions to campus

Stony Brook University is situated on a 1,100-acre site on the north shore of Long Island in southeastern New York. We are approximately 60 miles east of New York City.

Directions By Car:  Take the Long Island Expressway to Exit 62, and follow Nicolls Road (Route 97) north for 9 miles. The main entrance to the University is on the left.

Directions By Train:  Take the Long Island Rail Road's Port Jefferson line to Stony Brook. The LIRR station is at the north end of the campus; bus service to the central campus is provided. Trains to and from Penn Station generally require transfers at Jamaica, Huntington and sometimes Hicksville. Click here for a timetable of all LIRR stops including Stony Brook.

For a campus map, click here.

Postdocs' Coffee Hour, First Tuesday of every month

LISEF judges needed, February 12 and March 13

"Research Your Future" Career Symposium, March 19

Chalk Talk, April 11

Tips to Win NIH Fellowships, April 25

Networking Social, May 30

Getting Your Academic Career Off to a Good Start, October 19

Recurring Events

Editors Club

Conversational English

Practice public speaking