With approximately 300 postdocs in training, this limited population is critical in propelling research forward at UAB. “Postdocs are small in number, but they are mighty in impact,” said Lisa M. Curtis, Ph.D., newly appointed associate dean for Research & Training within the UAB Graduate School and Global Affairs (GSGA).
After a thorough search and interview process of applicants, Curtis assumed her new role effective May 1, 2024. In this new position, she leads the Office of Postdoctoral Education (OPE), the Training Grant Support Office (TGSO), and training in Responsible Conduct of Research. She will oversee postdoctoral fellows' training and research activities, ensuring that scholars and researchers receive the highest standard of support while fostering an environment of innovation and discovery.
“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Curtis as our associate dean for Research & Training in Graduate School and Global Affairs. She joins a wonderful team of dedicated staff who are eager to advance the mission of UAB and GSGA and support our postdocs and scholars,” said Shadi Martin, Ph.D., vice provost for Graduate and International Education and dean of Graduate School.
Curtis is an associate professor in the Department of Medicine and serves as the director of the medical student summer research program of the UAB-UCSD O’Brien Center for Acute Kidney Injury Research. She has graduate faculty status in the Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology and has mentored trainees at the undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral levels, many of whom have continued to pursue academic careers. She has received mentoring awards, including the Department of Medicine Excellence in Mentorship Award and the Graduate Dean's Award for Excellence in Mentorship.
“Dr. Curtis brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to this important leadership role,” said Martin. “Having received her Ph.D. in Cell and Developmental Biology from the University of Florida (UF) and completed postdoctoral training at both UF and UAB, Dr. Curtis is well suited to lead our Offices of Postdoctoral Education and Training Grant Support.”
Spend five minutes talking to Curtis about postdocs, and it’s clear that she is passionate about supporting this community. She brings abundant understanding and experience to the forefront of postdoctoral education, along with a healthy curiosity. Her time as a postdoc at UAB provided first-hand experience of the OPE, which she will draw upon now that she's on the other side.
“Some of the challenges of today’s postdocs are similar to those of 20 years ago,” said Curtis. “Knowing that they are facing some of the same challenges that I faced motivates me to try and do what I can to push things along.”
Curtis was also a member of the National Postdoc Association executive board. “In that role, I was meeting postdocs from around the nation who talked about their challenges as postdocs. I saw that we didn’t have some of those problems here at UAB because UAB has been a leader in the nation in addressing challenges faced by postdocs,” Curtis said as she reflected on that time. “I was always aware of differences from institution to institution and how important it was that a postdoc office was able to be a clearinghouse of resources for postdocs.”
UAB has been at the forefront of recognizing and addressing the need to support the postdoc community. It was one of the first few institutions in the world to have an OPE. “UAB has always been cutting edge,” Curtis remarked. "Being part of that legacy and being able to contribute to continuing to create change not only for UAB postdocs but potentially providing a model to other institutions is gratifying."
With Curtis at the helm of the OPE, the institution is poised to continue its tradition of excellence. Her leadership is expected to enhance postdoctoral training in career skills and to increase community among the postdocs on campus, contributing to UAB's mission of improving health and well-being through groundbreaking research and education.
The UAB community is excited to support Curtis in her new endeavor and looks forward to the advancements she will bring to the GSGA and OPE. Her appointment is a testament to her outstanding contributions to the field and her unwavering commitment to academic leadership.
Heersink School of Medicine met with Curtis to check in after her first 90 days.
Reflecting on your first 90 days, what have been your most significant observations?
Postdocs across campus are doing amazing things. There is a lot of support across campus to maintain our excellence in training for postdocs.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your new role?
Attempting in whatever way that I can to the success of postdocs as they find their next step. I get excited talking to postdocs about what they want to achieve.
What challenges have you encountered so far, and how have you addressed them?
Reinvigorating the programming offered through the OPE. During the height of the pandemic, some of the programming to provide ‘beyond the research’ skills was suspended. I have been working with various stakeholders and with our team to identify specific programming that we hope to bring back in the near future.
How do you plan to engage with the broader academic community to benefit our postdoc trainees?
I have started meeting with various stakeholders here at UAB. I am working to provide communication pathways so that faculty, administrators, and postdocs have a means of reaching out with concerns, opportunities, and achievements. I also am working to understand the needs of the different schools across campus to provide ‘beyond the research’ career development for postdocs. Many faculty aren’t aware of the Council on Postdoctoral Education (COPE), an advisory body that has been in existence for decades. COPE is composed of faculty representatives from each school who provide input to many aspects of postdoctoral education and are a voice for faculty concerns and needs. I want faculty to know who their representatives are so that we increase communication to and from OPE.
What project(s) are you currently focusing on?
At the moment, OPE is working very hard on Postdoc Appreciation Week. Postdoc Appreciation Week is a celebration that is held at universities across the nation the third week of September, the 16 through the 20 this year. Initiated years ago by the National Postdoctoral Association, this week is set aside to celebrate the critical contributions of postdocs to the research enterprise by letting them know that they are valued at our university. We have events scheduled for each day, a couple of which are for faculty to attend as well. We are also looking forward to a presentation by Tika Benveniste, Ph.D, who started the UAB OPE 25 years ago.
In what ways do you hope to contribute to the university’s mission and values?
Postdocs are an important part of the research enterprise. Studies have shown that trainees tend to ask innovative questions in research and often contribute to the most cutting-edge research through their efforts. With the Growth with Purpose initiative that Ray Watts, M.D., has outlined, postdocs can play an important role in this effort. In addition, postdocs support our mission to educate the next generation. They contribute to educating those junior to them in research groups, but also in the classroom. By advocating for the best postdoctoral training at UAB, I hope to advance these missions.
Looking ahead, what are your primary goals for the next academic year?
I really want to make sure that we are integrating our postdocs across campus to prevent the isolation that can happen. They often work in research teams as the only postdoc, and being able to find their peers across campus can create a network that decreases that isolation. I also want to make sure that we are providing the ‘beyond the research’ career skills to each of our postdocs so that they can leave UAB confident that they are well prepared for whatever career path they choose.