Gladstone Institutes Receives National Recognition for Excellence in Postdoc Programs

Gladstone Institutes has been selected as one of 12 institutions nationwide to receive an Institutional Policy Award from the National Postdoctoral Association’s new Excellence Recognition Program. The honor highlights Gladstone’s strong alignment with the association’s rigorous recommended policies and practices for supporting postdoctoral scholars through mentorship, professional development, workplace policies, and career advancement.

“At Gladstone, we recognize that our postdoctoral scholars are primary engines of scientific advancement,” says Deepak Srivastava, MD, president of Gladstone Institutes. “They are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and turning ambitious hypotheses into life-saving discoveries. Their success is, quite literally, Gladstone’s success.”

Indeed, postdoctoral researchers are central to Gladstone’s scientific mission, helping drive discoveries that advance the understanding and treatment of disease. Gladstone trains well over 100 postdoctoral scholars annually, with support spanning every stage of the training experience.

Through its Postdoctoral and Graduate Student Education and Research Development Affairs office, Gladstone provides extensive professional development training, individualized career counseling, leadership development, grant and manuscript writing support, and career exploration resources. Postdoctoral scholars also benefit from structured mentoring practices, including annual individual development plans, mentor and mentee standards, and opportunities to build strong professional networks across the organization.

“Our commitment to postdocs goes far beyond simply providing research training,” says Sudha Krishnamurthy, PhD, director of Postdoctoral and Graduate Student Education and Research Development Affairs at Gladstone. “We aim to develop the whole scientist—ensuring they have the technical rigor, leadership skills, and mentorship network necessary to become the next generation of global leaders in biomedicine.”

Gladstone’s postdocs go on to become research investigators, educators, life science industry professionals, government workers, and more, Krishnamurthy adds.

The policies and programs at Gladstone recognized by the National Postdoctoral Association include transparent compensation practices, comprehensive employee benefits, dedicated services for international scholars, and resources that support mental health and well-being.

“Improving the postdoctoral experience is a community effort,” says Erin Heckler, PhD, vice chair of the National Postdoctoral Association’s board of directors. “The NPA, recognizing the work of these institutions as examples of policies and practices, shares what progress is possible for everyone.”

The Institutional Policy Award acknowledges Gladstone’s efforts to create a training environment where early-career scientists can develop the skills, experience, and professional networks needed to make impactful discoveries and become future leaders in biomedical research.

Learn more about Gladstone’s postdoc programs at Gladstone.org.