A Convening to help Postdocs Ascend

On January 30th, 2026, we will have a focused gathering of postdoctoral fellows and invited mentors to write, plan, and build the future of postdoc to faculty development programs.

Schedule (Friday, January 30th)

Check in and Breakfast (Engineering Center 221A) Sign-in, name tags, light breakfast (coffee will be available).

8:30 — 9:00 am

Intro / Welcome Opening remarks from ASU leadership and goals for the day.

9:00 am

Keynote Talk — Dr. Vanessa Sanchez From ASCEND Fellowship to Faculty.

9:15 — 9:45 am

Panel — Leadership Pathways & Science Policy Panel discussion with ASCEND alumni, faculty, and policy advocates.

9:45 — 10:30 am

Morning Break Informal networking and refreshments.

10:30 — 11:00 am

Guided Writing / Brainstorming Guided activities to help write impact/policy statements

11:00 — 12:15 pm

Lunch Catered lunch.

12:15 — 1:30 pm

Guided Writing Proposal strategy and seed-grant next steps.

1:30 — 2:30 pm

Writing Block Quiet writing time with templates and prompts.

2:30 — 3:30 pm

Break Coffee & snacks.

3:30 — 3:45 pm

Writing Block & Report Out Group summaries, share progress, agree on next steps.

3:45 — 4:45 pm

Closing Remarks Confirm mailing list, shared drive, and action items.

4:45 — 5:00 pm

Dinner Dinner at Blanco Cocina

5:30 pm

Logistics & campus info

Venue: Arizona State University — Tempe campus (Engineering Center A/Wexler Hall).
Parking & maps: ASU parking and campus maps — ASU Parking, ASU Campus Maps.

Nearby attractions & things to do (optional)

If you are traveling early or staying extra days, here are a few popular places to consider visiting while in Arizona:

Grand Canyon National Park (day trips available)
Sedona (scenic drives and hikes)
Phoenix Zoo
Desert Botanical Garden
Hole in the Rock (Papago Park)

Register

If you are an ASU local, please register by January 12th so we can confirm headcount for catering and room setup. If you are an ASCEND person who already registered, please disregard :)

If you need accessibility accommodations or have dietary restrictions, please let us know on the form or email us.

Contact & organizers

Please email for further support/information: jimmie [dot] adriazola [at] asu [dot] edu

Organizing support is provided by the Simon A. Levin MCMSC within SoMSS at ASU.