The transition from postdoctoral research to a faculty position is one of the most important and challenging milestones in a scientist’s career. To support that leap, the Stowers Institute’s Faculty EDGE workshop offers postdoctoral researchers a valuable opportunity to practice and refine every aspect of the faculty application process in a supportive setting.

“I had seen the Faculty EDGE workshops before and always found them inspiring,” said Tathagatha Biswas, Ph.D., a participant in the 2024 workshop.  “I finally got to participate, and it was incredible. It confirmed that I’m on the right path and helped me make my science more accessible to a broader biology audience.”

The Faculty EDGE series, now in its 11^th year, includes a spring prepatory seminar series followed by a summer workshop that simulates a realistic faculty interview experience. Postdocs prepare application materials, give formal research seminars, and participate in chalk talks—interactive sessions where they outline their future lab’s vision in front of invited external faculty. The faculty, invited from research institutes and Universities across the country, provide constructive and detailed feedback. To date, 38 postdocs have participated, and 63% have successfully secured faculty positions.

“The Faculty EDGE Workshop provides a rare opportunity to practice under realistic conditions and receive meaningful guidance from faculty who have served on search committees,” said Rashmi Raj, Ph.D., Assistant Dean for Student and Postdoctoral Affairs. “It’s an immersive experience that helps postdocs refine their materials, sharpen their presentations, and see the big picture of their scientific goals.”

This year, the Faculty EDGE Workshop will be hosted in two sessions: June 30–July 1 and July 9–10, 2025. Six postdocs will outline their vision for an independent lab and discuss the broader impact of their work.

The external faculty participating will include Gary Gorbsky, Ph.D., from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Robert Unckless, Ph.D., from the University of Kansas, Michael Levine, Ph.D., from Princeton University, Nancy Speck, Ph.D., from the University of Pennsylvania, Melissa Wong, Ph.D., from the Oregon Stem Cell Center, and David Ussery, Ph.D., from the University of Arkansas.

Natasha Shylo, Ph.D., also participated in Faculty EDGE as a postdoctoral researcher in 2024. She described the experience as “one of the best programs available to postdocs,” particularly for how it pushed her beyond her immediate field. “We’re trained to do good science, but this is a completely different kind of communication,” she said. “It was great to learn what worked—and what didn’t—before heading into real interviews.”

For former participant Michael Church, Ph.D., the workshop helped him focus less on technical minutiae and more on the overall story of his future research. “I found it surprising that some of the things I’d been worried about weren’t the most important. Getting feedback on the big picture helped me reframe everything,” he said.

The Faculty EDGE series is just one of the many career development opportunities available through the postdoctoral training program at the Stowers Institute. From mentorship and training to having access to cutting-edge resources and collaboration with experts, the program supports postdocs as they transition into future leaders in foundational research.

Anand Sasidharan, Ph.D., also reflected on his participation in 2024. “I’d never thought about where I wanted to be 10 years from now,” he said. “This workshop helped me answer questions I didn’t even know I should be asking. Every postdoc should participate.”

Raj said, “I hope our postdocs walk away not only prepared, but also proud of how far they’ve come.”

2025 Faculty EDGE Workshop Participants & Topics

Session 1: June 30 – July 1

• Leonardo Gomes de Lima, Ph.D.
  Satellite DNA as driving forces of evolution: how repeats shaped the genomes of human and non-human primates
• Ayantika Sen Gupta, Ph.D.
  Origins of aneuploidy through the lens of centromere organization and function
• Biff Mann, Ph.D.
  Unleashing the genetic potential of planarian regeneration
  

Session 2: July 9 – 10

• Lu Deng, Ph.D
  Signal integration in the crypt: regulation of intestinal epithelial stemness
• Xinjian Mao, Ph.D.
  Hematopoietic stem cell niche and its impact on ex vivo culture
• Charles McAnany, Ph.D.
  Visualizing the cis-regulatory code